ESS SKOn Principal Network Engineer

SK Battery America; Troy (MI); On-site; USD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

SK Battery America is seeking a Principal Network & Cybersecurity Engineer to serve as the technical authority for network architecture, industrial communications, and OT cybersecurity across SK's next-generation energy storage platforms.

This role will define the network and communications architecture connecting energy management software, site controllers, power conversion systems (PCS), battery management systems (BMS), customer infrastructure, cloud services, and other distributed energy

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years in network architecture, industrial communications, or OT cybersecurity.
• Experience as senior technical authority or architect for complex networked systems.
• Strong knowledge of Ethernet, TCP/IP, VLANs, NAT, VPNs, firewalls, DNS/DHCP, and network redundancy.
• Familiarity with OT cybersecurity frameworks (IEC 62443, NIST 800-82, NERC CIP) and industrial protocols like IEC 61850, DNP3, Modbus TCP, OPC UA, MQTT.

Responsibilities

• Define end-to-end network architecture across embedded controls, plant-level systems, and cloud connectivity.
• Lead architecture reviews and provide technical direction across multidisciplinary teams.
• Establish architectural principles, reference architectures, and engineering standards.
• Mentor engineers in industrial networking and OT cybersecurity.
• Partner with customers, vendors, and internal teams on complex decisions.

Job description

Principal Network & Cybersecurity Engineer

Role Overview

We are seeking a Principal Network & Cybersecurity Engineer to serve as the technical authority for network architecture, industrial communications, and OT cybersecurity across SK's next-generation energy storage and energy management platforms.

This role will define the network and communications architecture connecting energy management software, site controllers, power conversion systems (PCS), battery management systems (BMS), customer infrastructure, cloud services, and other distributed energy resources. The Principal Engineer will own the technical strategy, reference architectures, hardware standards, cybersecurity approach, and engineering practices required to deliver secure, reliable, and scalable products across utility-scale energy storage, microgrid, and data center applications.

This is a senior individual-contributor role with broad technical influence. The successful candidate will work closely with the Chief Architect, controls engineers, systems engineers, software teams, cybersecurity organizations, and product leadership to establish platform-level standards and resolve complex cross-domain architectural decisions.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Architecture Ownership

• Serve as the technical authority for network architecture, industrial communications, and OT cybersecurity
• Own the end-to-end network architecture across embedded controls, plant-level systems, customer infrastructure, and cloud connectivity.
• Establish architectural principles, design standards, reference architectures, and decision frameworks used across products and customer deployments.
• Lead architecture reviews and provide technical direction across multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Network Architecture & Industrial Communications

• Define scalable network architectures connecting EMS, site controllers, PCS, BMS, protection systems, meters, SCADA systems, customer networks, cloud platforms, and third-party equipment.
• Establish standards for network segmentation, VLAN architecture, routing, switching, redundancy, firewall topology, secure remote access, and network management.
• Define and standardize industrial communication approaches using protocols such as Modbus TCP, DNP3, IEC 61850, OPC UA, MQTT, and RET APIs.
• Evaluate and select networking hardware and establish approved platforms, configuration standards, and lifecycle strategies.

OT Cybersecurity Architecture

• Own the cybersecurity architecture for networked EMS and controls products
• Establish defense-in-depth standards for segmentation, access control, authentication, encryption, certificate management, monitoring, and secure remote access.
• Incorporate cybersecurity requirements into product and system architecture from the beginning of development.
• Support threat modeling, cybersecurity risk assessments, vulnerability management, design reviews, and remediation planning
• Apply relevant frameworks and standards, including IEC 62443, NIST 800-82, and NERC CIP where applicable
• Establish network commissioning, validation, configuration, and acceptance-test standards.
• Support complex technical issues during factory testing, site commissioning, and field deployment
• Develop reusable technical standards and design patterns that reduce project-specific engineering
• Mentor engineers and strengthen organizational capability in industrial networking and OT cybersecurity
• Partner with internal teams, customers, vendors, and suppliers on complex technical decisions

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Network Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 10+ years of experience in network architecture, industrial communications, cybersecurity, distributed controls, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience as a senior technical authority or architect for complex networked systems.
• Deep knowledge of Ethernet networking, TCP/IP, routing, switching, VLANS, NAT, VPNs, firewalls, DNS/DHCP, and network redundancy.
• Strong knowledge of secure, segmented network architectures and OT cybersecurity principles
• Experience with industrial protocols and distributed-control architectures
• Experience evaluating and selecting enterprise or industrial networking hardware
• Ability to develop reference architectures, engineering standards, and technical specifications
• Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction across multidisciplinary teams without formal people-management authority
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex architectural decisions to technical and executive audiences

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with utility-scale battery energy storage, power generation, renewables, microgrids, data centers, or other critical infrastructure.
• Knowledge of IEC 62443, NIST 800-82, NERC CIP, or comparable OT cybersecurity frameworks
• Experience with industrial protocols including IEC 61850, DNP3, Modbus TCP, OPC UA, and MQTT
• Experience with industrial networking platforms such as Cisco, Hirschmann, Moxa, Phoenix Contact, Siemens, Fortinet, or similar.
• Experience with network monitoring, SIEM integration, intrusion detection, asset discovery, or OT security tooling
• Relevant networking or cybersecurity certifications are beneficial but not required