Plant Controller, Project Lead

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Texas.

📋 Description

• Oversee the engineering design of a plant controller and a comprehensive SCADA program for a behind-the-meter hybrid energy facility operating in the ERCOT market.

• Act as the technical owner of the plant control and SCADA design, guiding it from requirements and concept of operations through detailed design, testing, commissioning, and project closeout.

• Direct multidisciplinary teams specializing in controls, SCADA/HMI, OT networking, cybersecurity, and power systems studies, as well as manage specialty subcontractors.

• Integrate engineering efforts into a cohesive design and serve as the primary technical liaison for the EPC client, equipment vendors, utilities, and owner's engineers.

• Create requirements, use cases, control narratives, and control algorithms for voltage/reactive power regulation, frequency response, point of interconnection (POI) and equipment limit control, and load coordination.

• Utilize power system modeling and study results to establish control limits, operating envelopes, and equipment sizing.

• Develop and oversee interface specifications with third-party controllers, OEMs, utilities, and stakeholders; resolve any technical discrepancies.

• Ensure that the design adheres to grid operator interconnection requirements and relevant NERC standards.

• Lead technical quality reviews of studies, drawings, specifications, points lists, network designs, and testing plans.

• Collaborate with the Project Manager on engineering budget, schedule, staffing, estimates to complete, scope adjustments, and change orders.

• Define hardware and software requirements while reviewing bills of material for control and network equipment.

• Manage technical responses to RFIs and submittals during the construction phase.

• Plan and conduct factory acceptance and hardware-in-the-loop testing; create commissioning test plans.

• Serve as the technical lead during site commissioning and compliance testing.

• Represent Leidos in technical design reviews and coordination meetings.

• Ensure compliance with cybersecurity and critical infrastructure information handling standards.

• Mentor project engineers and assist in operator training and knowledge transfer at project turnover.

• Regulate plant controls to manage voltage, frequency, apparent power, POI limits, renewable dispatch, and data center load.

• Report key performance indicators through SCADA, HMI, and historian systems.

• Design a secure architecture compliant with NERC CIP, facilitating future battery storage and natural gas generation integration.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering; degrees in Controls, Computer, or Power Systems Engineering may also be considered.

• At least eight (8) years of engineering experience within the electric power sector.

• A minimum of four (4) years of experience leading multidisciplinary design teams.

• Proven technical leadership in utility-scale power plant controller, SCADA, or substation automation projects from design to commissioning.

• Hands-on knowledge of voltage/VAR regulation, primary frequency response, curtailment, and POI limit control for inverter-based resources.

• Familiarity with ERCOT interconnection requirements and relevant NERC standards, including PRC-024/029, MOD-025/026/027, and CIP.

• Experience with PPC, OEM, and utility equipment interfaces and communication protocols such as DNP3, Modbus, IEEE C37.118, and IEC 61850.

• Ability to interpret power system study results and apply them to control design and operational constraints.

• Experience with the design review process and ensuring quality control of engineering deliverables.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, capable of presenting technical positions to clients and vendors.

• Proficient in MS Office Software (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).

• Ability to fulfill client background screening and site access requirements.

• Periodic travel to Texas is necessary; must be available to travel as required.

• Preferred: Professional Engineer (PE) license or the ability to obtain one; licensure in Texas is a plus.

• Preferred: Experience with hybrid plants, co-located large loads, or data center interconnections, including behind-the-meter configurations.

• Preferred: Familiarity with SEL RTAC/SEL-3555 programming and Ignition SCADA, HMI, and historian development.

• Preferred: Experience with integration of Vestas, TMEIC, or similar wind and solar power plant controllers.

• Preferred: Knowledge of PSS/E, PSCAD, ETAP, OPAL-RT, or RTDS.

• Preferred: Experience in OT cybersecurity design, including NERC CIP, IEC 62443, next-generation firewalls, jump host architectures, and network segmentation.

• Preferred: Background in ERCOT resource commissioning, QSE telemetry, or market qualification testing.

• Preferred: Understanding of future battery energy storage system (BESS) or gas generation integration in plant control architectures.

• Preferred: Experience in EPC or design-build projects and construction operations support.

• Preferred: Familiarity with MS Project, P6, Procore, and engineering budget tracking.

• Preferred: Strong organizational, multitasking, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.

🏝️ Benefits

• Flexible work hours and arrangements.

• Support for Professional Engineer (PE) licensure and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

• Access to formal mentorship programs.

• Learning and development resources available.

• Opportunities for continuing education programs.

• Paths for technical leadership and project management roles.

• Opportunities for career development and growth.