Senior Instrumentation and Control System Engineer

We at Yara are part of a global network, collaborating to profitably and responsibly solve some of the world's key challenges - resource scarcity, food insecurity and environmental change.

About the role

This permanent full-time role reports to the Engineering & Reliability Superintendent , and acts as the discipline Subject Matter Expert (SME) for instrumentation systems and proficiency in control systems (DCS, PLC, ESD) across both of our sites (ammonia, and technical ammonium nitrate).

The role leads complex troubleshooting, capital projects, SIS lifecycle management, and long-term reliability and obsolescence strategies.

What you’ll do day-to-day

Act as the site Subject Matter Expert (SME) for instrumentation, control systems, analysers and control valves across both production plants.
Provide technical leadership for instrumentation and control system reliability, performance, safety and compliance.
Lead the lifecycle management of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), including HAZOPs, LOPAs, SIL assessments, testing and validation activities.
Develop, maintain and govern instrumentation, control and alarm management standards, philosophies and engineering specifications.
Drive troubleshooting, root cause investigations and reliability improvements for critical plant equipment and control systems.
Lead instrumentation and control aspects of capital projects, plant modifications and Management of Change (MOC) processes.
Develop long-term asset, maintenance and obsolescence strategies for instrumentation, SIS, fire and gas systems, analysers and field devices.
Optimise maintenance and reliability strategies to maximise equipment availability, plant performance and regulatory compliance.
Partner with operations, maintenance, engineering teams and OEMs to deliver technical solutions and continuous improvement initiatives.
Mentor engineers and technicians while providing day-to-day engineering support across the sites.

Your work-life balance

5 weeks paid annual leave
Optional RDO roster delivering 16 additional paid days off per year
Residential role based in Karratha - no FIFO

What’s on offer

Choice of complimentary employer-provided housing or a $46,000 per year Karratha housing allowance
$35,000 per year regional location allowance
Annual bonus - target of up to one month’s base salary
$1,000 per year Health and Wellness allowance
$3,000 per year utilities reimbursement (electricity/water)
Flights for you and your dependents, twice per year (after initial service period)
Relocation assistance
6 months paid primary parental leave
Salary packaging and active Social Club

Why Yara?

Low turnover, long‑tenured workforce
Strong internal promotion culture
Long-term career stability with a leading global organisation

About you

Bachelor's degree in Instrumentation Engineering, with experience in Control systems.
MIEAust and/or relevant professional certification. Functional Safety Engineer certification (e.g. TÜV) highly regarded.
12+ years' experience in petrochemical, gas processing, oil refining or similar process industries.
Strong experience with DCS, ESD and PLC systems, including configuration and troubleshooting.
Experience supporting both operating plant reliability and brownfield capital projects, including commissioning activities, within a process manufacturing environment.
Sound knowledge of engineering standards, functional safety requirements and statutory obligations.
Strong contractor management, root cause analysis and problem-solving skills.
Ability to review PLC logic and implement minor software changes.
Experience using SAP, instrumentation management systems and the Microsoft Office suite.

About Yara Pilbara

Yara Pilbara is part of Yara International, a global crop nutrition company. The Pilbara site is one of the world’s largest ammonia production facilities, with downstream processing through the Yara Pilbara Nitrates Technical Ammonium Nitrate plant, a joint venture with Orica. Together with ENGIE, Yara Pilbara is also developing a renewable hydrogen plant to produce renewable ammonia.

Find out more about:

Yara International: Yara International | Responsibly feed the world and protect the planet
Yara Pilbara: Yara Pilbara | Yara Australia

Additional Information

Yara reserve the right to withdraw this advertisement prior to the closing date without prior notice.

Recruitment Agencies

Yara engages recruitment agencies by invitation only. Please no unsolicited contact regarding this role.

Apply no later than

20 September 2026

Knowledge grows through differences
Yara is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We believe that creating a diverse and inclusive work environment is not only the right thing, but also the smart thing to do. To deliver on this, Yara has firmly anchored Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) in our business strategy and has more than 400 employees worldwide involved in D&I ambassadors networks.

As part of our recruitment process, where permitted by local law, we may conduct reference and background checks. These checks will only be performed when deemed necessary for the nature of the job. Candidates will be informed by HR before any background checks are initiated.