Remote Operations Center SCADA Engineer/Specialist - I&C Renewables Project Support

Southern Company; Birmingham (AL); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Company is seeking a SCADA Engineer/Specialist to support the SCS Remote Operations Center (ROC) for its BESS and renewable fleet. The role involves real-time on-call SCADA support, server admin, and patching to provide a highly reliable ROC environment.

You will work with ROC Operators, M&D Analysts, and other teams to ensure data integrity and system performance. The position requires on-site work in Birmingham, AL with some remote capability, and up to 10% travel.

Qualifications

• 3+ years experience with plant control systems or SCADA.
• SCADA integration, configuration and HMI development preferred.
• Familiarity with NERC CIP requirements for GOP entity preferred.
• Experience with Ignition/AVEVA/FrameworX platforms preferred.
• Data access/integration from multiple sources desired.

Responsibilities

• Provide 24x7 on-call support for ROC operations.
• Design, develop, and commission Ignition SCADA/HMI components.
• Maintain NERC CIP compliance for GOP-related systems.
• Create and maintain I&C/SCADA diagrams and documentation.
• Participate in change management and training of staff.
• Maintain and patch Ignition SCADA systems and servers.
• Support ROC SCADA integration for BESS/renewables facilities.
• Collaborate with network/security teams to secure SCADA environments.
• Assist with audits, project needs, and meetings.

Skills

SCADA

I&C Ops

BESS/renewables

NERC CIP

Ignition/FrameworX/AVEVA

SQL/MySQL

Windows Server/AD

Networking basics

Data integration

Scripting (Python/PowerShell)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/CS/IS

Associate degree in Engineering Tech/related field

Tools

Ignition

AVEVA

FrameworX

Microsoft SQL Server

MySQL

Windows Server

Active Directory

Job description

WORK LOCATION, SCHEDULE, & TRAVEL

• This position will be based out ofBirmingham, AL and located at the Energy Center.
• Relocation assistance may be provided if the successful candidate does not currently live within a reasonable commute distance.
• This position will require some travel (day and overnight, up to 10%) and the ability to work successfully in a remote/virtual environment with access to internet service.

POSITION SUMMARY

This position supports the SCS Remote Operations Center (ROC), which operates Southern Company’s BESS and renewable generation fleet 24/7. The SCADA Engineer/Specialist will work closely with ROC Operators and Monitoring & Diagnostics (M&D) Analysts to ensure reliable system performance and data integrity. The role also interfaces with Generation employees and other technical teams to maintain and enhance SCADA infrastructure.

This position is responsible for the administration, maintenance, monitoring, and support of the SCS ROC SCADA systems. The successful candidate will be a member of the I&C Renewables Project Support team, performing real-time on-call SCADA support, project support, server administration and patching to provide a highly reliable and available SCADA infrastructure for a real-time operations customer base.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems,or a related technical discipline is beneficial.
• Associate degree in Engineering Technology, Industrial Controls, or a related technical field is beneficial; relevant work experience in SCADA, I&C, operations, or plant systems may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Experience

• Minimum 3+ years of experience using and managing plant control systems or SCADA systems.
• SCADA integration, configuration and HMI screen development experience strongly preferred.
• I&C and operations knowledge of BESS and renewable power plants, including alarm management strategies strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with NERC CIP requirements for Generator Operator (GOP) entity and other related NERC functional entities preferred.
• Experience with industry SCADA platforms and systems (e.g. Ignition, AVEVA, FrameworX) preferred.
• Troubleshooting communications and/or system issues associated with plant controls preferred.
• Experience with data management techniques to access, integrate, and present data from multiple sources is desired.
• Experience with the following software platforms desired: Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL Server, Hypervisors, and Windows Server
• Experience with the following enterprise systems desired: Active Directory, Windows Clustering, terminal servers, thin clients, iSCSI, DNS, and DHCP
• Knowledge of networking fundamentals and remote connectivity tools a plus.
• Data management techniques using industrial automation communication protocols (e.g. Modbus, OPC, DNP3) experience a plus.
• Inverter Based Resource (IBR) SCADA or control system experience a plus.
• IT Systems knowledge a plus

Key Responsibilities

• On-call support for 24x7 remote operation centers.
• Ignition SCADA/HMI design, development, startup, and commissioning.
• Contribute to maintaining compliance with NERC CIP requirements applicable to GOP functional entity.
• Create and maintain I&C and SCADA documentation and diagrams as needed for existing systems, new implementations, upgrades, and changes.
• Participate in change management processes.
• Assist in training others on plant I&C and SCADA systems.
• Maintain the Ignition SCADA system including backups, AV updates, OS patching, and software updates.
• Work with business partners to support I&C and SCADA systems to maintain reliable operations.
• Provide project oversight and support for BESS and renewable facilities integrating into the ROC.
• Provide support to remote/onsite I&C and SCADA systems and I&C field technicians.
• Work with business partners to develop and support BESS and renewable facility integration schedules.
• Assist in developing and maintaining company standards for SCADA and HMI.
• Assist with maintaining hardware and software lifecycle models for onsite and ROC SCADA systems.
• Setup, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot hypervisors, physical servers, Windows Server OS systems, Microsoft SQL and MySQL systems.
• Assist with information gathering for audits, projects and other needs.
• Work closely with network and endpoint security teams to ensure SCADA systems are configured properly.
• Assist with server hardware troubleshooting and repairs.
• Participate in general and project meetings.

Additional Useful Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Structured Text, Python, PowerShell, other scripting languages
• High-level understanding of networking and firewalls, including concepts such as NATs and VLANs, and experience using tools such as Wireshark.
• Plant Operations/Control Room support
• Engineering Drawing Tools (e.g. Computer-aided drawing (CAD); AutoCAD or Microsoft Visio)
• Organizing and managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Behavioral Attributes

• Must consistently demonstrate the behavior of Our Values – Safety First, Intentional Inclusion, Act with Integrity, and Superior Performance
  • Safety First: Prioritize the safety and well-being of employees, customers, and communities.
  • Intentional Inclusion: Foster a culture of belonging and value diversity within the team.
  • Act with Integrity: Conduct business with honesty, respect, and fairness.
  • Superior Performance: Focus on continuous improvement and exceptional service delivery.
• People Priority: Commit to developing yourself and those around you.
• Growth Mindset: Take Lessons Learned opportunities to grow skills, learn from prior efforts, and foster collaboration.
• Proactivity: Take personal ownership and responsibility for work.

For a list of our competitive benefit offerings, please visit this link.