Damian Batiz
Senior Controls Engineer: GE Mark VIe, Gas Turbine Packages, Honeywell Experion PKS, DCS / PLC
Damian Batiz is a Houston-based senior controls and automation engineer with more than 8 years of experience. As Senior Controls Engineer at Relevant Power Solutions, Damian develops and validates GE Mark VIe and Mark VIeS control systems for Baker Hughes NovaLT16 gas turbine generator packages, taking them from software engineering to factory-test readiness. Before that, Damian spent five years at FieldCore (a GE company) commissioning GE 7H, 7F and 9F gas turbines and steam turbines from 50 to 420 MW. Next came Honeywell Academy, teaching Honeywell Experion PKS, C300 and Custom Algorithm Block (CAB) development. Damian also works on Emerson DeltaV, Ovation and Foxboro DCS and on Siemens and Allen-Bradley PLCs, learns new platforms quickly, and works in Spanish and English.
At a glance
- Based in
- Houston, Texas, USA
- Current role
- Senior Controls Engineer: Mark VIe controls for Baker Hughes NovaLT16 packages, Relevant Power Solutions
- Experience
- 8+ years in controls & automation
- Turbine controls
- GE Mark VIe / VIeS, ControlST, EGD, CIMPLICITY
- DCS
- Honeywell Experion PKS, C300, CAB; DeltaV, Ovation, Foxboro
- Machines
- Baker Hughes NovaLT16; GE 7H, 7F, 9F, 6F, 7E; steam turbines; HRSG
- Languages
- Spanish (native), English (C1), German (A2), Polish (A2), Russian (A1)
- Work authorization
- U.S. TN visa (USMCA), valid through 2029. Can start with no sponsorship; seeking an employer that sponsors H-1B
Open to
The right next role
Damian is employed and not job-hunting, but talks with employers offering a clear step up. That means senior turbine-controls, DCS or controls-lead work in Houston, on-site or hybrid.
Where engineering meets capital
Open to roles that use field-level knowledge of power generation commercially. Examples include technical due diligence for energy and infrastructure investors, power for data centers, gas turbine asset strategy and expert-network consulting.
Travel & sponsorship
Prefers roles based in Houston with little travel; short trips are fine. Can start on a TN visa with no sponsorship, and is looking for an employer that will sponsor an H-1B. Would relocate to Poland for the right role.
Core expertise
Turbine controls
GE Mark VIe, Mark VIeS / Mark VIe-SIL, Mark VI and Mark Ve (Speedtronic) in ControlST/ToolboxST using FBD. This covers turbine, safety (SIS) and auxiliary-skid controllers, EGD between controllers, crank and fired-start permissives, DLN tuning, IGV and valve calibration, and HRSG trip handshaking.
Honeywell Experion PKS
C300 control strategies in Control Builder (FBD), Custom Algorithm Blocks (CAB) in VB.NET on C300 and ACE nodes, HMIWeb Display Builder (HTML5/CSS), Quick Builder, Enterprise Model Builder, and Fault Tolerant Ethernet (FTE) redundancy design.
Power plant & package systems
Gas turbine generator packages (dual and single fuel), LCI static starters, excitation, lube and hydraulic oil systems and their protection logic, generator protection, Bentley Nevada vibration monitoring, and VMware control servers.
Other DCS / SCADA / HMI
GE CIMPLICITY with WorkstationST OPC DA/UA, Emerson DeltaV, Ovation, Foxboro, Woodward MicroNet, Siemens WinCC, DIGSI 5.
PLC programming
Siemens S7-1500 (TIA Portal V19), Allen-Bradley ControlLogix/CompactLogix (Studio 5000), WAGO 750 (CODESYS). FBD, LAD, SCL, STL, C++, C#, VB.NET, Python and Excel VBA.
Networks & field devices
EGD, CANopen, Modbus RTU (RS-485) and TCP, Foundation Fieldbus, HART, Profibus, PROFINET, EtherCAT, DeviceNet, OPC UA/DA, and Cisco switch configuration. Loop testing and ranging, PID tuning, and Druck, Emerson, Rosemount, ABB, Siemens and MSA devices.
Experience
Senior Controls Engineer
Jul 2026 – Present
Relevant Power Solutions · Houston, TX
Develops and validates the control system for Baker Hughes NovaLT16 dual-fuel and single-fuel gas turbine generator packages on GE's Mark VIe platform, taking units from software engineering through pre-FAT readiness.
- Three-controller logic review: reviews logic for the Mark VIe turbine controller, the Mark VIeS safety (SIS) controller and the auxiliary-skid controller in ControlST. Traces the crank and fired-start permissive chains across all three to find and clear start blockers before shop testing.
- EGD data exchange: verifies inter-controller Ethernet Global Data and resolves build/download revision mismatches and stale-data paths between the turbine, safety and auxiliary controllers.
- Loop-test tooling for ~570 field devices (wired I/O, CANopen, Modbus): built an Excel workbook that pulls LRV/URV, engineering units and contact states from the controller configuration. Audited the full I/O list against the as-built software, catching channel, range, alarm and tag discrepancies.
- HMI: configured and validated the GE OPC DA server (WorkstationST) linking the Mark VIe controllers to CIMPLICITY, and verified controller-to-screen communication point by point.
- CANopen: wrote CAN bus software to configure Druck DPS8000 resonant pressure sensors.
- Integration & networks: set up RS-485 Modbus RTU communication for third-party package devices, and configured Cisco switches for the unit control network.
Sr. Controls & Automation Instructor
Sep 2024 – Apr 2026
Honeywell Academy · USA
Designed and delivered Honeywell Experion PKS training for enterprise customers and Honeywell engineers across North America.
- C300 controllers: taught C300 process control strategies and C300 maintenance and hardware troubleshooting, using Control Builder and Function Block Diagram (FBD) logic.
- Custom Algorithm Blocks (CAB): taught CAB development and implementation on C300 controllers and ACE nodes, including VB.NET scripting for custom control logic.
- HMI: taught operator-display development in HMIWeb Display Builder with HTML5 and CSS.
- Servers & network: taught Experion server and workstation configuration with Quick Builder and Enterprise Model Builder, with in-depth coverage of Fault Tolerant Ethernet (FTE) architecture and redundancy design.
- Curriculum: built labs, simulations, assessments, manuals and training videos, and kept them current with each Experion release alongside engineering and product teams.
Automation & Controls Engineer
Jul 2024 – Sep 2024
Mayekawa USA, Inc. · USA
- Developed control software for industrial refrigeration systems on Allen-Bradley Studio 5000 (ControlLogix) and WAGO (CODESYS) PLCs, designed operator HMIs, and supported on-site commissioning and startup.
Automation & Controls Engineer
Sep 2023 – May 2024
Patterson-UTI Drilling Company · USA
- Rig automation: designed and deployed onshore drilling-rig automation on Siemens S7-1500 (TIA Portal V19) in FBD, LAD, SCL and C++, with Visual Studio source control.
- HMI & drives: built WinCC operator screens (HTML/CSS). Integrated VFDs over Modbus and fiber, and designed rig network topology.
- Live troubleshooting: found the root cause of faults during active drilling, applying knowledge of weight on bit, rotary speed, mud flow and hoisting systems. Wrote SOPs and operator training.
Controls Field Engineer: Gas Turbines & DCS
Jul 2018 – Aug 2023
FieldCore (a GE company) · USA & Mexico
- Turbine commissioning: installed, commissioned and maintained heavy-duty GE gas and steam turbines (7H, 7F, 9F, 6F, 7E, GE-Alstom D652, Lynn) at power plants from 50 to 420 MW.
- GE controllers: programmed and configured Mark VIe, Mark VIe-SIL, Mark VI and Mark Ve in ControlST (FBD) for standard and safety-instrumented applications.
- HMI / SCADA: developed GE CIMPLICITY screens, configured OPC UA between controllers and HMIs, and fixed data-link faults end to end.
- Plant integration: HRSG–gas turbine protection logic and trip handshaking, LCI, excitation, lube/hydraulic protection, generator protection, Bentley Nevada.
- Performance: supported DLN combustion tuning for emissions and stability. Tuned attemperator and valve PID loops, and calibrated gas/steam valves and IGVs.
- Multi-vendor DCS & security: maintained ControlST, Experion PKS, DeltaV, Ovation and Foxboro systems. Commissioned OT networks and performed ICS cybersecurity inspections.
- Customers supported included Dominion Energy, EthosEnergy, ExxonMobil, OXY, Air Liquide, LADWP and NAES.
Design Engineer Intern
Feb 2015 – Feb 2016
Daimler / Mercedes-Benz · García, Mexico
- 3D modelling of automotive components in Siemens NX, plus prototype logistics and design reviews.
Industrial Engineer Intern
Jun 2014 – Dec 2014
Ternium · Monterrey, Mexico
- Wrote Excel VBA automation and dashboards for inventory analysis.
Certifications (GE Power)
Mark VIe & Mark VIeS Gas Turbine Controls
Houston, TX · 2018
ICS Commissioning Engineer (Controls / Start-Up)
Houston, TX · 2019
Control Server: Networks & VMware
Houston, TX · 2021
Steam Turbine & Balance of Plant Operations
Houston, TX · 2022
Foundation Fieldbus Devices & Communication
Houston, TX · 2023
Education
B.S. Mechatronics Engineering, Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM), Mexico, 2018. GPA 3.9.
Admitted with a 70% academic merit scholarship, awarded for a strong high-school record and College Board admission test score, and kept every semester through graduation.
Languages
EspañolNative
EnglishFluent · C1
DeutschIntermediate · A2
PolskiIntermediate · A2
РусскийBasic · A1
Beyond the control room
Fast learner
Learns new software, devices and protocols from the manual and puts them to work quickly. Examples: writing CANopen configuration for Druck DPS8000 sensors, and moving between GE, Honeywell, Emerson, Siemens and Rockwell platforms across five employers.
Business development
Builds relationships outside engineering. Brought a $25,000 client engagement to a Houston professional-services firm through tennis networking. Comfortable selling, negotiating and representing technical work to non-engineers.
Markets & ideas
Follows the bond and equity markets, energy and power markets, macroeconomics and geopolitics. Reads history and philosophy.
Fit for the work
Competes in USTA tennis leagues and trains calisthenics, with a background in taekwondo, boxing and swimming. Comfortable with physical field work and long shifts when a startup or outage needs them.
Community
FIFA World Cup 2026 Host City Ambassador in Houston. Disaster-relief brigade volunteer after Hurricane Alex. Former parkour and robotics instructor for teenagers.