Teammate Spotlight: Peter Mitchell – Keep Making Big Stuff Work
For much of his career, Peter Mitchell was the person everyone called when something critical stopped working. As a refinery-wide subject matter expert for PLCs and Safety Instrumented Systems, he was often the sole technical authority, responsible for keeping complex industrial operations running. Today, as a Technical Consultant II at Hargrove Controls & Automation, Peter continues solving complex technical challenges, now with a true team behind him.
Peter brings decades of experience across refining, petrochemicals, and air separation processes to Hargrove, where he helps clients implement their processes safely and effectively. What stands out most to him in his role at Hargrove is the culture of collaboration: an environment where knowledge is shared, perspectives are valued, and complex challenges are tackled together.
“I love the culture of teamwork we have,” he says. “I find there is a true level of teamwork where being a Teammate is just part of who we are.”
From Blueprint Curiosity to Process Controls Expertise
Peter’s interest in engineering began early. As a teenager, he worked as an office helper at his father’s civil engineering consulting firm, where he became fascinated by blueprints and the process behind turning designs into something tangible.
That curiosity led him to earn a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia. From there, Peter built a decades-long career in process controls, working across petrochemical, refining, and air separation facilities. He gained extensive experience with DCS platforms, PLCs, and Safety Instrumented Systems, eventually serving as a refinery-wide subject matter expert known for both his deep technical knowledge and his steady leadership. One defining moment in his career came after Hurricane Sandy, when he led the assessment and recovery of critical refinery PLC systems impacted by the storm.
Peter first connected with members of the Hargrove team during a refinery turnaround, a planned shutdown for major maintenance and system upgrades. Years later, when the opportunity arose to join Hargrove, he saw it as a chance to apply his experience in a new and team-focused setting.
Finding Strength in Teamwork
After years of serving as the go-to technical authority, Peter says the biggest change in joining Hargrove has been the culture. “For a long time, I was a solo SME without a team to back me up or a team I backed up,” Peter explains. “Having Teammates behind me to help and being able to help my Teammates has been the most rewarding change so far.”
In just nine months with Hargrove, Peter is already contributing to a major advanced plastics recycling plant project, along with supporting several other initiatives and proposals. His experience across numerous controls platforms and industrial processes allows him to quickly recognize what’s unique about a project while understanding the common fundamentals. “I am kind of a bulldog in terms of technical problems,” he says. “If we don’t know the answer right now, we will figure it out together.”
“Peter brings an exceptional depth of controls knowledge and real-world refinery experience to Hargrove,” says Todd Majors, Industry Leader. “His background as a PLC and SIS subject matter expert gives our clients tremendous confidence in complex environments. Beyond his technical strength, Peter is a true Teammate. Generous with his knowledge, steady under pressure, and always willing to mentor others to ensure both project and team success.”
Community and Family
Originally from upstate New York near the Adirondacks, Peter grew up surrounded by lakes, mountains, and with a strong sense of community. Today, he and his wife remain active in their New Jersey community, supporting both charitable and professional organizations. Peter is involved with the Westfield Y Men’s Club, which raises funds for local charities, and participates in professional organizations including the New Jersey Society of Professional Engineers (NJSPE), the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), the American Chemical Society (ACS), the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), and the International Society of Automation (ISA).
Peter enjoys cooking and trying new recipes, traveling (especially to New England to visit his sons), and fitting in a beach vacation whenever possible. A lifelong music fan, he enjoys progressive rock bands like Rush and Kansas, along with 80s and 90s rock and new wave. Peter is also a proud Buffalo Bills supporter and an avid hockey fan. The New Jersey Devils are his favorite NHL team, but he enjoys watching hockey at every level from elementary school-aged Mighty Mites to high school, college, and both men’s and women’s professional leagues.
Looking Ahead
Personally, Peter looks forward to watching his sons continue building their own careers and lives, while he and his wife make time to travel more.
Professionally, Peter remains energized by growth, both his own and that of his Teammates. He takes great pride in helping large, complex industrial facilities operate safely and effectively. Just as important to him is the opportunity to mentor younger engineers while continuing to learn from those around him. “Part of my role acts as a technical mentor to help pass on my knowledge to my Teammates on our projects,” he says. “Never stop learning or teaching.”
For Peter Mitchell, the mission remains clear: apply experience, solve tough problems, and support the team. “Keep making big stuff work,” Peter says. “We have the tools and the team to make this happen!”
