Control Systems Engineer (III or IV)

Applicants are required to submit a combined cover letter and resume in one PDF document. Your cover letter must summarize your related education and/or your experience working with SCADA Systems, Computers and Networks, writing custom coded applications, or your experience working with NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection standards.  Incomplete materials will not be considered.

To expedite the application process, combine your cover letter and resume into one PDF document before applying and upload electronically when requested in the online application process.

This position is OPEN UNTIL FILLED and applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.  The first review date for application materials is scheduled for April 1, 2026.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Chelan PUD does not sponsor work visas such as H-1B, E-3, F-1, OPT, student visas, TN, or any other visas. Candidates and employees must be eligible to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Interested parties are also invited to contact Human Resources at joblist@chelanpud.org to discuss the position.

The starting salary range for Control Systems Engineer III is $109,040 - $136,300 (based on qualifications).  With tenure and strong performance in this role an employee may earn up to a maximum of $163,560, annualized.

The starting salary range for Control Systems Engineer IV is $125,200 - $156,500 (based on qualifications).  With tenure and strong performance in this role an employee may earn up to a maximum of $187,800, annualized.

Introductory Period: New employees holding regular positions must complete an introductory period of twelve months.

In addition to competitive wages Chelan PUD employees also enjoy outstanding benefits which include zero cost employer funded medical, dental, and vision healthcare benefits, access to the employee assistance program, and a VEBA health reimbursement account.

Washington state retirement PERS participation and optional 457 plan participation with an employer matching 401(a) plan.

Leave, life & disability benefits including paid leave starting at 21 days per calendar year up to 35 with tenure, 11 paid holidays per calendar year in 2025, changing to up to 12 days per calendar year in 2026, paid jury duty, short-term disability & long-term disability, and basic life, AD&D, and optional voluntary life.

The work life benefits include optional flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care, educational assistance, various rewards and recognition programs and position specific stipends.

For more explanation of the district benefits please visit our benefits website www.mychelanpudbenefits.org.

Control Systems Engineer III

Overview
This is the third level position in the Control Systems Engineering Group responsible for developing and implementing supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), energy management (EMS), or other systems typically used by system operators to monitor and control integrated utility systems. Designs networked system interfaces and applications used to supervise and operate remote terminal units (RTUs), programmable logic controllers (PLCs), or similar intelligent electronic devices (IED) in real-time. Implements cyber security controls that conform to North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standards. Documents system processes and controls. A fully skilled employee in this role is able to perform all of the essential functions listed below, and will work primarily on moderate-high risk and moderately-highly complex work assignments. Leads moderately complex projects.

Responsibilities

• SCADA (EMS/GMS): Perform work on advanced networked systems with a moderate-high risk level to operational compliance, revenue stream, equipment and human safety. Design, develop, implement, document and maintain Transmission, Distribution, Generation, Hydro Optimization, Hatcheries, Water/Wastewater, Mid-Columbia Hourly Coordination, Security and Compliance systems and related human machine interfaces, database structures, control models, multi-system architecture, communication topology, code, data storage, tools and procedures. Follow change management procedures. Design work practices. Provide control room Operators, Energy Planning & Trading, Outage Coordinators, Engineers and Project teams with SCADA system tools, prototypes, processes and procedures; data analysis, visualization, and analytical tools; system documentation; and engineering analysis and technical support. Develop integrations and interoperability for multiple systems. Identify system issues and develop solutions. Purchase, implement, document and maintain servers, workstations, and network equipment. Configure and manage multiple operating systems. Develop new or existing vendor applications. Develop test scripts and conduct testing. Investigate, evaluate and benchmark new display and tool technologies. Act as a subject matter expert for multiple system performance standards, and contributes to the development strategy for tools and applications. Mentor and train less experienced engineers. Maintain critical asset information. Maintain knowledge of emerging trends and industry best practices. Represent the District in industry meetings, discussions and forums.
• Reliability Compliance: Perform work on advanced networked systems with a moderate-high level of risk to regulatory compliance and company reputation. Create and maintain program documentation and perform applicable processes to meet NERC CIP requirements. Provide support for internal and external audits, including annual self-certifications, and peer review, audit worksheet maintenance, and audit interviews. Evaluate NERC alerts. Develop and implement mitigation actions to resolve potential compliance concerns. Create work orders for other work groups to address NERC CIP-related requirements. Act as a Standard Owner, Subject Matter Expert or Contributor to NERC CIP Standards. Research regulations by reviewing regulatory bulletins and other sources of information. Prepare reports by collecting, analyzing and summarizing information. Develop, implement, document and maintain technical tools and security controls required to meet compliance objectives identified in the program documentation. Attend compliance working groups, forums and related industry events.
• Cyber Security: Perform work on advanced networked systems with moderate-high level of risk to operations, regulatory compliance and company reputation. Define, develop, and document secure architecture and solutions. Implement technical security solution policies in alignment with business risk. Prepare and maintain technical user guides, System Operating Procedures, security architecture documentation and diagrams. Provide recommendations and strategies for ensuring remediation of gaps and deficiencies as projects develop. Monitor alerts and logs. Audit security controls. Perform security risk assessments and develop mitigation plans. Develop and maintain security tools and technologies such as event management; multi-factor authentication; intrusion detection; logging, alerting and monitoring; data retention and restoration; anti-virus/malware detection; software and security updates; configuration management; asset management and baseline monitoring; system hardening; network access control; least access privilege implementation; vulnerability assessments. Conduct technical reviews. Conduct cyber security incident response plan tests. Coordinate third-party penetration tests. Evaluate and recommend new and emerging security products and technologies.
• Project Management: Perform work on advanced projects with moderate-high risk to operations and revenue stream. Lead multi-disciplinary project teams that may include consultants, contractors, legal, procurement, and other District departments. Work with District Project Managers to provide tasks and time estimates for projects requiring CSE time. Provide technical support to project teams assigned to designing, implementing or modifying District control systems. Perform project intake processes to add project work to DWP. Organize technical meetings associated with project work that impacts SCADA/EMS design.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance: Perform related duties and responsibilities as required. Comply with District policies. Complete all required training. Maintain a working knowledge and comply with District safety procedures and specific safety requirements of this position, and those in accordance with applicable provisions of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC).
• As an essential function, drive a motorized vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the District.

Reports To
Manager - Control Systems Engineering

Overtime exemption
Exempt

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree (B.S. or B.A.) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field is required.

Experience

• 3+ years of experience performing as a Level II or a total of five (5) years progressively responsible experience with Control System Engineering is required.
• Candidates with a Master’s Degree may reduce total experience by 2 years.

Licenses and Certifications

• Valid Driver's License at hire and WA Driver's License within 30 days of hire is required.

Skills and Abilities
A fully skilled incumbent will have the following knowledge skills & abilities:

• Industrial control systems design, selection and specification of equipment and design of industrial communication and control networks for systems including Transmission, Distribution, Generation, Hatcheries, Water/Wastewater, Mid-Columbia Hourly Coordination, Security and Compliance
• Engineering and Industrial Control Systems security principles and practices
• Distributed control (DCS), host centric (SCADA) and Embedded System environments utilizing two (2) or more computing platforms, PLCs and RTUs
• Control systems theory and its practical application to process control and field instrumentation
• Computer programming in three (3) or more languages, preferably a combination of object-oriented and script languages
• Control protocols including DNP, OPC, Allen-Bradley and MODBUS
• Data communications protocols, networking equipment and computer operating systems
• Operating system hardening, configuration, troubleshooting and maintenance techniques
• Automation, system and communications integration methodologies
• River control and hourly coordination
• Power generation for hydro unit operation
• Energy accounting
• Regulatory laws, standards and requirements including FERC/ NERC Reliability Standards
• Complex spreadsheets and database applications
• Project management concepts, principles and practices
• Vulnerability Assessment and Management - Conduct assessments of threats and vulnerabilities. Determine deviations from acceptable configurations, enterprise or local policy. Assess the level of risk, and develop and/or recommend appropriate mitigation countermeasures in operational and non-operational situations.
• Synthesize and place intelligence information in context; draws insights about the possible implications.
• Collect, process and preserve computer-related evidence in support of network vulnerability mitigation, counterintelligence or law enforcement investigations.
• Work with a field support team to diagnose issues and propose resolution
• Respond to crisis or urgent situations within the pertinent domain to mitigate immediate and potential threats. Use mitigation, preparedness, and response and recovery approaches, as needed, to maximize survival of life, preservation of property, and information security. Investigates and analyzes all relevant response activities.
• Participates as a reviewer in technical reviews
• Strong reasoning, analytical and problem solving skills
• Data extraction, data analysis, research and report development
• Understand contract documents
• Communicate logically and clearly, both orally and in writing
• Interpret engineering problems and solutions and communicate technical information effectively to non-department and non-technical staff
• Technical writing
• Estimates project cost and schedule
• Seek long term benefits to the overall project when determining system and control design approach
• Actively look ahead to plan for and respond to project challenges
• Reviews company policies and industry practices, and develops and implements procedures, and standards.
• Learn new computer systems from documentation and training
• Act as a Subject Matter Expert for 3 or more SCADA, compliance and associated supporting systems
• Diagnose problems to isolate cause
• Maintain, troubleshoot and modify program HMI components
• Analyze programming, observe monitoring signals, troubleshoot systems
• Think beyond past approaches to propose and implement practical approaches to control design
• Identify solutions of moderate complexity by analyzing data, evaluating alternatives and recommending an appropriate course of action
• Apply technical knowledge of legacy systems to design new functionality
• Write clear system requirements and test plans for Security Controls and Automation
• Apply the principles of software management to organize and maintain software integrity
• Apply mathematical concepts such as scaling, conversions, raising to a power, logic ops (AND/OR/XOR), integration, and totalization
• Apply open-loop, closed-loop, time-weighted, and weighted-sum control theory algorithms for linear systems
• Act as a Subject Matter Expert as it relates to cyber security in industrial control systems
• Carry out highly complex technical tasks
• Identify, research and gather relevant information from a variety of sources
• Meet deadlines on multiple simultaneous priorities for multiple stakeholders
• Respond to after-hours call-outs
• Represent District at industry meetings and conferences, which may involve travel
• Train other engineers and dedicated District training professional staff
• Clearly communicate technical information to end users and stakeholders
• To perform this job successfully, an individual is required to have advanced/expert knowledge of Microsoft Excel; Microsoft Word; PC Hardware; Servers; General Office Equipment; PI Historian software; Compliance tools; Microsoft Windows server and Linux server and workstation operating systems; Visual Studio; Enterprise security management software; PLC, RTU, Meter, and IED hardware; C-family and scripting (PowerShell and Unix Shell) programming languages; and intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Outlook; Primavera; Maximo Asset Management; Monarch; Intellution; Network equipment operating systems; Microsoft Active Directory; SQL Server; Visio; and Telecommunication software.
• Must be proficient in reading, writing and speaking English.

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