O&M SCADA Platform Specialist

Noa Group; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A renewable energy firm in Cape Town is seeking an O&M SCADA Platform Specialist to oversee SCADA systems across solar, wind, and BESS assets. You will ensure data integrity, improve alarm configurations, and enhance operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will have a BSc in a relevant field and 7-10 years of SCADA experience. This role offers an opportunity to collaborate cross-functionally to support comprehensive energy solutions. Preference will be given to candidates in line with diversity policies.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 to 10 years of experience in SCADA systems for renewable energy O&M.
• Experience with data analytics tools and dashboards.
• Exposure to inverter controls and turbine controllers.

Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain SCADA platforms for operational excellence.
• Develop and maintain alarm and event configuration.
• Ensure data flow from field devices to central platforms.
• Collaborate with IT for cybersecurity and compliance.
• Provide technical support for SCADA-related issues.
• Support asset performance through improved analytics.
• Participate in design and commissioning of renewable projects.

Skills

Problem-solving skills

Strong communication and presentation skills

Ability to work independently

Analytical mindset

Knowledge of SQL databases

Advanced skills in Excel

Familiarity with SCADA systems

Education

BSc, BEng or BTech in relevant discipline

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

MAIN PURPOSE

NOA’s Optimisation, Operations & Maintenance (OOM) team is seeking an O&M SCADA Platform Specialist with a passion for overseeing the integrity, performance, and continuous improvement of NOA’s SCADA platform and systems across NOA’s portfolio of solar PV, wind, and BESS assets. Working cross-functionally with NOA internal teams including Engineering, Asset Management, Trading, and IT, as well as external SCADA vendors, OEMs, IPPs and O&M service providers, you will ensure that SCADA infrastructure supports operational excellence, safe remote control, and scalable growth across the renewable energy fleet. You will also play a pivotal role in standardising SCADA configurations across asset types, improving alarm and event handling, and enabling the rollout of automation and optimisation initiatives aligned with NOA’s asset strategy. This role focuses on ensuring real-time and historical data from all NOA and IPP operational sites are reliably captured, securely transmitted, and made accessible to NOA’s 2nd Tier SCADA Platform for performance monitoring, analysis, fault detection, and compliance reporting. As a platform specialist, you will serve as the subject matter expert in NOA’s SCADA architecture, communication protocols, and integration with NOA’s Mission Control and other data platforms especially those related to NOA Trading.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• SCADA System Oversight: Manage and maintain SCADA platforms across solar, wind, and BESS sites to ensure reliable and secure operation as per the Renewable Energy Grid Code. Monitor system health, communication integrity, and data availability in real-time and historically.
• Alarm & Event Configuration: Develop, optimise, and maintain alarm logic, event triggers, and fault detection schemes to support proactive asset monitoring and issue resolution.
• Data Acquisition & Integration: Ensure accurate and consistent data flow from field devices (inverters, turbines, BESS controllers, meters, etc.) to central platforms. Integrate SCADA data with internal systems such as PI historians, data lakes, asset management platforms, and forecasting tools.
• Platform Standardisation & Upgrades: Define and implement SCADA design standards across technologies and vendors. Lead or support SCADA system upgrades, commissioning of new assets, and integration of additional data points or subsystems.
• Cybersecurity & Compliance: Collaborate with IT and Cybersecurity teams to ensure SCADA networks and interfaces meet security and compliance requirements. Maintain documentation and change logs for all SCADA-related modifications and access controls.
• Technical Support & Troubleshooting: Act as the primary technical contact for SCADA-related faults and data communication issues. Work with IPPs, OEMs, O&M partners, and vendors to investigate and resolve system problems.
• Project Involvement & Commissioning: Participate in the SCADA design, review, and commissioning of new renewable energy projects. Validate data points and ensure system functionality during handover from Construction to Operations.
• Performance Optimisation: Support the O&M and Asset Performance teams by improving data visibility and analytics capabilities via the 2nd Tier SCADA Platform. Implement new tools or dashboards that enhance operational decision-making and root cause analysis.
• GCC & RETEC Support: Ensure Signal List Testing documentation is prepared for RETEC submission and support all future statutory evaluations. All renewable facilities operate as per the SAREGC, related codes and operational parameters as specified in the DCUOSA.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: Work cross-functionally with Engineering, Asset Management, Trading, and O&M teams to ensure SCADA systems meet business needs. Coordinate with third-party vendors for SCADA maintenance, support contracts, and custom development.
• Training & Knowledge Sharing: Provide training and documentation for internal users on SCADA capabilities, alarm management, and data access. Share best practices across the fleet to build a consistent, scalable SCADA environment.

POSITION SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications

• Education: BSc, BEng or BTech in a relevant discipline.

Experience

• 7 to 10 years in a related role, with demonstrated expertise in SCADA systems for utility‑scale Solar PV-, BESS-, and Wind O&M.

Industry knowledge, technical competence and skills

• Familiarity with renewable energy generation systems, including inverter controls, turbine controllers, BESS EMS/PCS systems, and site‑level instrumentation.
• Knowledge of SQL databases, scripting (e.g. Python), or basic PLC logic interpretation is a plus.
• Exposure to data analytics tools and dashboards (e.g. Power BI, Tableau, etc.).
• Understanding of regulatory or grid compliance requirements (e.g. SCADA reporting).
• Advanced skills in Excel or other spreadsheet modelling tools.

Behavioural Competencies / Performance Drivers

• Strong problem‑solving skills with a systematic and analytical mindset.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with an ability to convey technical solutions effectively to diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Flexibility to adapt and thrive in a dynamic, high‑growth business environment.

Please note that preference will be given to candidates in line with NOA’s diversity and inclusion policies.