Job Information
Grant PUD Control Systems Engineer IV in Ephrata, Washington
Description
Closing Date to Apply: Open Until Filled
Number of Positions: 1
Salary : $103,168.00 to $180,523.20
Typically, selected candidates are hired at a salary rate between the minimum and midpoint of the range.
Benefits : This link below will provide you with Grant PUD’s benefit that may be available if hired, different employee types are eligible for different benefits.
Grant PUD — Unified Insurance Program (uip-wa.org)
Grant County PUD is a drug free workplace. A pre-employment drug screen and background check will be administered as part of the hiring process.
Position Summary
Under limited supervision, design, develop, implement, and maintain a wide variety of real-time control systems that support Grant County PUD’s operation of the Bulk Electric System (BES). The control systems include supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), energy management (EMS), energy accounting (EAS), generation management (GMS), data historian/database, and other supporting applications. The infrastructure includes firewalls, switches, servers, storage arrays, workstations, and all tools required to manage and secure the environment. Work with other team members to diagnose and resolve issues that arise whenever they occur, including after normal business hours. Set architectural direction for the installation, configuration, and maintenance of infrastructure, software, and databases used to operate the Bulk Electric System.
Support the district’s analysis, planning, design, implementation and operation of the organizations tools to meet the NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Standards and other NERC Standards related to balancing authority (BA), generation operator (GOP), transmission service provider (TSP), and transmission operator (TOP). Support district employees to ensure the district continually meets the regulatory obligations with NERC CIP by implementing process improvements and acting as an SME.
Essential Functions
Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
EMS Focused
Oversee, direct, maintain, configure, and repair the Utilities’ Energy Management and Data Historian systems and user interfaces used by operations improving functionality, accuracy, engineering compliance, and user interface optimization. Update system layouts, visualizations, and fields providing users with clear, consistent, and complete information on critical infrastructure.
Rebuild substation configurations by reviewing engineering documentation and providing feedback to stakeholders. Model EMS changes and configurations by verifying all requirements are within established standards. Update existing screens with new substation components. Validate changes with controls vendor in point-to-point verification of control operations, analog data collection, and alarm operations.
Review engineering drawings produced internally and externally to verify compliance with current system capabilities.
Represent Grant PUD to other utility companies as part of Inter-control Center Communication Protocol (ICCP) system. Support and administer changes with other utilities. Model effects of configuration inquiries, request, and implementations. Develop relationships critical to successful partnerships.
Design, configure and maintain Automatic Generation Control (AGC).
Support custom interfaces with the energy accounting system.
Troubleshoot existing custom applications and customized vendor supplied software when necessary.
Support custom applications where off-the-shelf solutions are not available. Applications could be in several different languages including: VB.Net, Java, JavaScript and CSS, HTML, and C++.
Cross-train with team members in one other focus area.
EAS Focused
Oversee, direct, maintain, configure, and repair the Utilities’ Energy Accounting and Water Accounting systems. Maintain and customize user interfaces used by operations to improve functionality, accuracy, and user interface optimization. Update system layouts, visualizations, and fields providing users with clear, consistent, and complete information.
Work with regional utility companies and marketers in supporting of EIDE communications.
Support internal and external inquiries and request with EAS data.
Maintain relationships critical to successful partnerships with internal and external partners.
Respond to and resolve user-reported data issues in a timely manner, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations.
Plan, coordinate, and execute updates, patches, and upgrades for locally hosted energy accounting applications and systems while minimizing downtime and ensuring data integrity.
Develop an understanding of the relationship between operational data with the hourly accounting systems.
Diagnose issues with source applications for energy accounting including EMS, Data Historian, third-party data exchanges and our OATI applications and interfaces.
Utilize and maintain source code repositories Subversion, Git and Visual Source Safe.
Lead configuration and support for OATI’s WebSmartTagging, WebScheduler, WebTrader, WebSmartOASIS, WebTrans and WIT.
Lead code reviews, support testing efforts at all levels, and collaborate with other team members to solve problems efficiently.
Support custom applications where off-the-shelf solutions are not available. Applications could be in several different languages including: VB.Net, Java, JavaScript and CSS, HTML, and C++. Frequently used APIs and platforms used include ASP.Net and WCF.
Cross-train with EMS or Infrastructure/Cyber Security team members.
Infrastructure/Cyber Security Focused
Oversee, direct, maintain and configure firewalls, virtual machine platforms, network switches, protocol converters, servers, workstations, and storage.
Analyze, design, and maintain infrastructure and security software including IDS, Active Directory, DNS, anti[1]virus, malware detection, vulnerability scanners, baseline management, backup and recovery, remote access, and multi-factor authentication.
Architect and maintain Grant PUD’s monitoring, alerting, and reporting tools.
Maintain and operate cyber systems to identify, detect, protect, respond, and recover from cyber threats and incidents.
Ensure technologies and procedures comply with all Grant PUD's internal computing control requirements, cyber related legislations, industry regulation and guidance (NERC CIP, FERC) and all other Federal, State, and Local regulations.
Develop, implement, and maintain automated cyber security controls. Implement ideas to improve processes based on lessons learned over time in performing assigned duties.
Develop and employ scripts, cookbooks, checklists, and other tools/methods to automate tasks and enable efficient and repeatable outcomes of operational security controls.
Cross-train with either EMS or EAS team members.
GMS Focused
Oversee, direct, maintain, configure, and repair the Utilities’ Generation Management and Data Historian systems and user interfaces used by operations improving functionality, accuracy, engineering compliance, and user interface optimization. Update system layouts, visualizations, and fields providing users with clear, consistent, and complete information on critical infrastructure.
Expand system functionality by reviewing engineering documentation and providing feedback to stakeholders. Model GMS changes and configurations by verifying all requirements are within established standards. Update system as needed to support new or changed Plant systems. Validate changes with point-to-point verification of control operations, analog data collection, and alarm operations.
Work with technicians, operators, and team members to support design, implementation, testing, and troubleshooting
Develop recommendations for system integration requirements; develops or assist with developing cost estimates, funding requests, or proposals based on needs for system upgrades or maintenance; perform data analysis using a variety of tools, reports, and ad-hoc report creation required by stakeholders; coordinate, perform, and analyze system needs and make recommendations to improve the Control System.
Provide training and development of upgraded or modified Control System software and hardware changes that affect end users.
Develop and support asset management and budget strategies for hardware and software applications.
Cross-train with team members in one other focus area.
Review engineering drawings produced internally and externally to verify compliance with current system capabilities.
Support energy management system and energy accounting system teams.
General
Oversee diagnosing and resolving communications and data issues related to application communication, telemetry and infrastructure. This includes capturing and/or analyzing network traffic with Wireshark and other similar tools.
Collect, store, and report on data required to prove Grant PUD is meeting relevant regulatory requirements; complete Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and other compliance reporting requirements including documenting system failovers, generating change control documentation, assisting with patch management, upgrading system firmware, and testing configuration changes for security risks; run SQL queries providing evidence of compliance.
Create and maintain comprehensive documentation, including troubleshooting guides, standard operating procedures, and best practices.
Support procurement and contract management processes to obtain hardware, software, and contract labor support. Facilitate vendor support by onboarding contractors with our processes and addressing needs to keep work flowing.
Support onboarding, mentoring, and training for less experienced team members
Perform related duties as required or assigned.
Demonstrate commitment to Grant PUD’s mission, vision, values, and strategic plan. The employee should be familiar with these organizational priorities and behave in a way that aligns with these expectations.
Understand and adhere to compliance requirements for this position that may include laws, regulations, security guidelines, Grant PUD policies and procedures.
Actively participate in all aspects of our safety program, including but not limited to:
Following all safety policies and procedures.
Alerting supervisors and coworkers to unsafe or hazardous working conditions.
Reporting any safety incidents or close calls within 24 hours to your supervisor.
Accepting feedback from supervisors and coworkers regarding your own safety performance
Education and Experience
Required
Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Technology or ten years of equivalent experience.
Five (5) or more years of experience in maintaining applications providing 24x7 support of critical operations.
Preferred
- Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or Cyber Security.
License and Certification
Required
- A valid State driver's license with no restrictions.
Preferred
- Professional Engineer (PE)
Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of NERC standards and regulations.
Knowledge of concepts, principles, theories, and methods surrounding electrical engineering industry standards and best practices.
Knowledge of data processing sufficient to be able to review program specifications, design programs and write or modify software code.
Knowledge of common application development patterns, including, but not limited to, Software Engineering best practices for all applicable technology, client-server architecture, service applications, object-oriented, and object-based software design.
Skill in problem-solving and thinking critically.
Independently adapting, interpreting, and applying written guidelines, precedents, and standardized work practices to a variety of unprecedented and problematic situations.
Written and oral interpersonal communication; workflow and time management.
Utilizing MS office products; specialized software, tools, and applications.
Physical Requirements
Position may be eligible for hybrid work arrangement: ☒Yes ☐No
Majority of work is performed in a standard office setting.
Some field work that may require operation of a vehicle.
Typical shift of employees in this position: ☒8 hours ☒9 hours ☒10 hours ☐12 hours
*applicant/incumbent should refer to the Physical Capacity Evaluation (PCE)
The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions for this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas.