Generation Operational Technology Program Specialist

ALLETE, Inc.; Minnesota; On-site; USD 94,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive Program

Health Savings Account & Flexible 110%

Life Insurance, Disability & Voluntary

Paid Time Off

Tuition Reimbursement

Professional Development Opportunities

Community Engagement

Job summary

ALLETE, Inc. is seeking a Generation Operational Technology Program Specialist in Cohasset, MN to advance safe, affordable energy delivery through expert OT coordination. You’ll work on PLC, CEMS, DCS, and DAHS programs across multiple facilities with a strong focus on reliability and compliance.

The role requires 6+ years in industrial controls, a technical degree or equivalent, and travel to various locations in the service area. Close date is 11/10/2026.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or higher in engineering technology, instrumentation and controls, industrial technology, information technology, or a related technical field.
• Six or more years of progressively responsible experience supporting industrial control systems, automation, OT programs, CEMS, PLC, DAHS, DCS, asset management or related technical program.
• High school diploma with eight or more years of relevant experience as an alternative.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel within the service area.
• Willingness to work occasional after-hours support during system issues or critical activities.

Responsibilities

• Support Generation OT programs for PLC, CEMS, and related control systems across facilities.
• Assist the DCS Administrator through knowledge transfer, backup support, and continuity planning.
• Support system reliability, asset lifecycle planning, and OT system upgrades/construction.
• Maintain fleet standards, documentation, version-control, and DAHS system integrity.
• Manage spare-parts strategies, vendor relationships, and service contracts.
• Support environmental compliance and cybersecurity initiatives for OT systems.

Skills

Industrial control systems

CEMS

PLC

DAHS

DCS

Education

Engineering technology degree

Technical certificate

High school diploma

Tools

DCS

SCADA

CEMS

DAHS

Job description

Generation Operational Technology Program Specialist Location Cohasset, MN Application Close Date 11/10/2026 Business Unit Minnesota Power

Generation Operational Technology Program Specialist
$94,000 - $117,000 | Report In Person to Cohasset or Duluth, MN

Advance operational performance and system reliability to enable safe, affordable, and reliable energy delivery through expert coordination of CEMS and PLC operations—driving standards, efficiency, compliance, and seamless cross-system support.

What You'll Do

• Support Generation Operational Technology (OT) programs for PLC, CEMS, and related control systems across company generation facilities.
• Support the DCS Administrator through knowledge transfer, backup support, and continuity planning for DCS program administration and technical operations.
• Support system reliability, asset lifecycle planning, capital budgeting, and execution of OT system upgrades and replacement projects.
• Maintain fleet standards, procedures, documentation, version-control practices, and DAHS system integrity to support consistent and reliable operations.
• Manage spare-parts strategies, vendor relationships, and service contracts to support system reliability and long-term supportability.
• Support environmental compliance and cybersecurity initiatives through risk identification, stakeholder coordination, and continuous improvement of OT systems.

What you'll bring

• Associate degree or higher in engineering technology, instrumentation and controls, industrial technology, information technology, or a related technical field
  OR
• Completion of an applicable technical certificate/program combined with progressively responsible related experience
  AND
• Six or more years of progressively responsible experience supporting industrial control systems, automation, OT programs, CEMS, PLC, DAHS, DCS, asset management or related technical program
  OR
• High school diploma (or equivalent)
  AND
• Eight or more years of progressively responsible experience supporting generation operations, industrial controls, maintenance, automation, or related technical systems.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to multiple locations in the service area.
• Ability to work occasional after-hours support during system issues, outages, projects, or other critical activities.

How To Stand Out

• Experience with CEMS, PLC, DAHS, DCS, SCADA, or other industrial control systems in a power generation or utility environment.
• Experience with asset lifecycle planning, obsolescence management, replacement planning, and capital or O&M budgeting.
• Experience developing technical standards, procedures, system documentation, and version-control practices.
• Experience coordinating vendors, contractors, technical projects, system upgrades, and cross-functional stakeholders, including I&C technicians, Environmental & Land Management, CTS, Engineering Services, and Operations.
• Experience supporting NERC CIP, environmental compliance, industrial cybersecurity, access controls, and backup and recovery activities.

Minnesota Power, an ALLETE company, is an electric utility headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota. We provide electricity in a 26,000-square-mile service area in northeastern Minnesota to 150,000 customers, including 14 municipal systems and some of the nation’s largest industrial customers. Minnesota Power is committed to a sustainable future for the climate, our customers and our communities while delivering safe and reliable energy. We play a unique and significant role in ALLETE’s sustainability-in-action strategy. Our culture drives excellence through our shared values of integrity, safety, people, and the planet.

The expected annual compensation range for this position is $94,000 - $117,000. Compensation offered to the selected candidate will vary depending on relevant knowledge, skills, training, and experience. Additionally, this position qualifies for a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Incentive Program
• Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance, Disability & Voluntary Benefits
• Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Community Engagement, and more.

This position may be subject to assessment of skills, job match and/or aptitude.

Employer will not sponsor Visas for position.

ALLETE is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on business need without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, status as a qualified individual with disability, or any other status otherwise protected by law.
If you are an individual with disabilities who needs accommodation or you are having difficulty using our website to apply for employment, please contact our Human Resources department at 218-723-3921.

ALLETE, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.
If you are an individual with disabilities who needs accommodation or you are having difficulty using our website to apply for employment, contact our HR department at 218-723-7553.