Head of OT & SCADA for Utility-Scale Solar & Storage

Avantus; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,544 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Medical and dental plan options

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Avantus is seeking a Manager, Operational Technology and SCADA in California to lead the data acquisition layer connecting solar and battery storage assets to downstream systems. You will own, scale, and evolve OT/SCADA data programs, coordinating with construction partners, utilities, and vendors.

The role mixes hands-on implementation with strategic design, requiring strong leadership, security focus, and the ability to align OT architecture with business goals across a growing portfolio.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field, or equivalent hands‑on OT/SCADA experience.
• 7+ years of OT/SCADA or industrial systems integration experience in energy, utilities, or industrial automation, with utility‑scale solar and/or BESS required.
• Hands‑on experience deploying hardware‑agnostic edge computing platforms for industrial data acquisition and protocol conversion.
• Strong proficiency with industrial communication protocols used in power generation, including end‑to‑end device‑level troubleshooting.
• Experience designing secure OT network architectures, including firewalls, segmentation, and remote access, with a security‑first mindset.
• Working knowledge of NERC CIP requirements applicable to Generator Owners/Operators.
• Comfortable with field work and travel, including on‑site commissioning and direct interaction with inverter, BESS, and tracker OEMs.
• Experience reviewing SCADA, controls, and data system contract language across construction, procurement, and interconnection agreements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to document systems clearly and present technical concepts to non‑technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead site integration and commissioning of OT and SCADA systems, including on-site deployment, configuration, validation, and documentation of edge devices, networks, and data points across utility-scale solar and BESS projects.
• Design, implement, and maintain secure OT network architectures, including industrial firewalls, segmentation, DMZs, and remote access in alignment with NERC CIP and internal IT security standards.
• Support the adherence to Avantus' NERC CIP compliance posture for all OT and control system assets, coordinating with Asset Management, IT, Cybersecurity, and external compliance partners to implement controls, maintain evidence, and stay current with evolving standards.
• Serve as the technical owner of OT data and vendor integrations, defining data scope, quality, frequency, and change management requirements while maintaining authoritative tag registers and documentation.
• Provide asset management and commercial support, including PPA compliance, availability and curtailment validation, NERC GADS reporting support, settlements dispute resolution, and technical due diligence for asset acquisitions.
• Act as the OT subject matter expert for operational incidents and cybersecurity events, leading or coordinating root cause analysis, remediation, and stakeholder escalation as needed.
• Partner with Project Development and EPC teams during project design and contracting to review SCADA architectures, identify integration or data access risks, and ensure alignment with the company’s hardware-agnostic data ownership strategy before construction.

Skills

OT/SCADA

Industrial systems integration

Edge computing

Industrial protocols

NERC CIP

Security-first mindset

Field work travel

Communication skills

Education

Electrical/Computer Engineering degree

Tools

SCADA platforms

Industrial firewalls

Job description

Avantus is seeking a Manager, Operational Technology and SCADA in California to lead the data acquisition layer connecting solar and battery storage assets to downstream systems. You will own, scale, and evolve OT/SCADA data programs, coordinating with construction partners, utilities, and vendors.

The role mixes hands-on implementation with strategic design, requiring strong leadership, security focus, and the ability to align OT architecture with business goals across a growing portfolio.