Energy Control Systems Engineer (Level I – Senior) Position Available In DeKalb, Georgia

Job Description:

This position is a member of the Energy Control SystemsDepartment. This position leverages expertise in systemadministration, database administration, application support, andapplication development to maintain systems and applicationscritical to GSOC’s system operations function. This position isresponsible for the application and system administration of theEnergy Control Systems (ECS), including Supervisory Control andData Acquisition (SCADA) and other associated applications. Thisposition ensures the security and operational readiness oftechnology to support GSOC’s real-time System Control Center,Energy Control Center, and Operational Technology Control CenterOperators. This position is also responsible for applicationadministration and support for other GSOC operational applications.

Among others, these include applications used for Scheduling Membersupport, load forecasting, interchange scheduling, and generationdispatch. This position responds to any and all problems thataffect or may affect the ECS regardless of the time-of-day or theday-of-the-week. This position is responsible for supporting allmatters related to the performance, backup, and maintainability ofthe ECS, the Scheduling Member System, and other crucial subsystemsof the ECS to which they are assigned. This position is required tomaintain awareness of NERC Reliability standards including CriticalInfrastructure Protection Standards. This position is responsiblefor compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, industrystandards, corporate policies, guidelines, and procedures,including but not limited to, RUS, OSHA, NERC, FERC and ITSrequirements. Promotes an environment of security, compliance, andcontinuous improvement to meet the Corporation’s goals andobjectives.

Job Duties:

Engineer I & II:

Responsible for assistingSenior/Principal/Staff ECS Engineers in ensuring that all assignedapplications and systems are secured and well protected within ECSguidelines. Responsible for ensuring their assigned applicationsand systems afford the maximum protection of all ECS systems anddata. Assist with internal and external database administrators toensure compliance with ECS Security policies. Monitors on a dailybasis all assigned applications and systems for electronicintrusion. Assist Senior/Principal/Staff ECS Engineers oninstallation of all ECS vendor-related patches and ensures allvendor-related security patches are installed in a timely manner.

Assist Senior/Principal/Staff ECS Engineers in performingapplication and system support and/or problem resolution for anyand all types of problems that are software related, to the ECSsystem for those applications or systems assigned and within theguidelines of the ECS Department. Assist the ECSSenior/Principal/Staff Engineers, System Support Team and vendorsin the installation of all application security patches,application software upgrades/fixes. Participates in the review andapproval of all software changes, test plans, and softwarepromotion requests. Provides support to the software developers andusers, for all assigned applications and systems, to ensure thatall solutions meet the security, reliability, and performancerequirements of the ECS Department. Provides configuration andsystem support for critically assigned ECS applications such asInter Control Center Protocol (ICCP), Automatic Generation Control(AGC), Economic Dispatch (EDC), Alarms and Events logging,Historical Archive Server, and Dispatcher Training Simulator.

Provides support in managing all assigned ECS servers andworkstations, ECS application installations, and all ECSApplication setup in accordance with established guidelines.

Ensures all assigned servers and workstations are functioningoptimally so as not to impede Operator performance or systemoperations. Provides support to System Operators, applicationusers, and to other GSOC staff in the use of the assignedapplications. Assist in the backup of all data and all servers forall assigned application and systems are in accordance with ECSguidelines. Assist in the recovery of all assigned applications andsystems can be completed in a timely matter after an ECS systemevent that requires a complete rebuild. Assist others ensuring thatthe objectives of the backup and security processes are met forassigned applications and systems. Assist in preparingspecifications and purchase requisitions.

Senior Engineer:

Performapplication and system restoration and/or problem resolution forany and all types of problems, hardware and software related to theEMS system for those applications or systems assigned and withinthe guidelines of the ECS Department. This position is expected tomake recommendations pertaining to performance and restoration. Inconcert with the ECS Principle/Staff Engineers will directassociates, contractors, and vendors through problem resolution ina manner that maximizes the availability of systems, applications,and data to the system operators. Responsible for ensuring that allassigned applications and systems are secured and well protectedwithin Vendor and Security Operations guidelines. Collaborates andcoordinates with Security Operations to make recommendations to thePrincipal/Staff ECS Engineer(s) on the connection of all securitydevices such as firewalls and all external connections to theirassigned applications and systems. Responsible for ensuring theirassigned applications and systems afford the maximum protection ofall ECS systems and data. Coordinates with internal and externaldatabase administrators to ensure compliance with SecurityOperations Security policies. Monitors on a daily basis allassigned applications and systems for electronic intrusion.

Coordinates with the Principal/Staff ECS Engineer on installationof all patches and ensures all appropriate patches are installed ina timely manner. Ensures all internal and external groups andagencies, especially NERC and FERC, are contacted if a cybersecurity event occurs. Coordinates with the ECS Principal Engineerand vendors in the installation of all security patches, softwareupgrades, and hardware upgrades for the assigned applications andsystems. Participates in the review and approval of all softwarechanges, test plans, and software promotions requests. Providestraining to System Operators, application users, and to otherFamily Of Companies (FOC) staff in the use of the assignedapplications, as needed. Conducts application training as requestedby ECS customers. Supports the ECS Principal/Staff Engineers in thedevelopment and administration in tuning of all operationalapplication systems to meet performance and security objectives,and to maximize the availability to the system operators.

Recommends system tools that will be used to monitor and enhancesystem performance and security monitoring. Ensures that the backupof all data and all servers for all assigned application andsystems is in accordance with ECS guidelines. Ensures the recoveryof all assigned applications and systems can be completed in atimely manner after an EMS system event that requires a completerebuild/recovery. Directs others ensuring that the objectives ofthe backup and security processes are meet for assignedapplications and systems. Recommends hardware and software to theECS Manager and/or ECS Principal/Staff Engineer(s) for all assignedapplications and systems. Prepares specifications and purchaserequisitions. Configures all vendor software.

RequiredQualifications:

Education :

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering,Computer Science, or related field.

Experience :

Engineer I:

Entrylevel up to 2 years of experience in

EMS/SCADA

systemadministration or related computer system support and developmentenvironment is preferable. Experience in software development withincreasing degrees of responsibility for the continuous operationof software developed. Experience in database administration.

Additional experience in Project Management, System Security,Application and System Design, Programming, Testing, Deployment,and Support is desirable.

Engineer II:

Three years of experience inan on-call software and hardware support role for a Utility EnergyManagement System is required. Experience in related computersystem support and development environment preferably. AlsoExperience in software development with increasing degrees ofresponsibility for the continuous operation of software developed.

Additional experience in Project Management, System Security,Application and System Design, Programming, Testing, Deployment,and Support is desirable.

Senior Engineer:

Eight years ofexperience in an on-call software and hardware support role for aUtility Energy Management System is required. Additional experiencein related computer system support and development environmentpreferably. Individual should have four (4) years of experience insoftware development with increasing degrees of responsibility forthe continuous operation of software developed. Additionalexperience in Project Management, System Security, Application andSystem Design, Programming, Testing, Deployment, and Support isdesirable. Four (4) years of experience in System Administrationand System Support including UNIX(Linux), Windows OS, and IP basedNetwork environments is desirable.

Equivalent Experience :

EngineerI:

Eight years of direct electric utility application development,support and system administration with direct and significantresponsibilities related to industry specific applications andoperations. Should have at least two years of significant utilityrelated EMS project management experience and six years of Linuxand Windows Server/Workstation administration.

Engineer II:

Twelveyears of direct electric utility application development, supportand system administration with direct and significantresponsibilities related to industry specific applications andoperations. Should have at least four years of significant utilityrelated EMS project management experience and eight years of UNIXand NT administration.

Senior Engineer:

Sixteen years of directelectric utility application development, support and systemadministration with direct and significant responsibilities relatedto industry specific applications and operations. Should have atleast six years of significant utility related real-time EMSexperience and ten years of UNIX(Linux) and Windows OSadministration.

Specialized Skills :

Experience in ‘C’programming is desirable. Also experience in two or more of thefollowing languages C++, VB, Linux, Unix shell programming, SQL, orJava is desirable. Experience in the two of the following isdesirable: Object Oriented Design, Analysis, Software & Databasemodeling tools, XML, Windows Server and Workstation operatingenvironment, Oracle administration or programming, DataCommunications protocols, UDP and/or TCP/IP computer networkcommunications. Experience in project management in applicationdevelopment related projects and knowledge of MS Project isdesirable. Excellent organizational skills and customer/teamcommunications skills are needed to be successful.

Unusual Hours:

Due to the critical nature and continuous operation of the ControlCenter, this position will be subject to calls and occasionally maybe placed on call. This position is required to assist with theresolution of problems whenever contacted. The on-call supportstaff is responsible for correcting the problem, implementing awork around, or devising a work around. Georgia System OperationsCorporation is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, includingveterans and disabled. We are a drug-free workplace. All applicantsare subject to substance abuse testing.