SCADA OT Systems Specialist

at  Northwest Territories Power Corporation

Overview:
The SCADA Operational Technology (OT) team provides technical support for managing key OT infrastructure systems to promote reliable power generations across NWT communities. The SCADA OT Specialist role at NTPC provides senior level experience and leadership in the administration, planning and development of various enterprise and plant level SCADA OT systems. This role builds upon and supports numerous supervisory systems with the emphasis of maintaining high availability, continued operational improvements, and supporting best practices in security compliance.

Responsibilities:

• Primary role is supporting various OT SCADA systems at the enterprise level that interface with plant control systems.
• Responsible and accountable for supporting and improving operational systems while ensuring high standards of availability, integrity, functionality, and security of the OT systems.
• OT SCADA administration tasks include the development, configuration, commissioning, documentation of various enterprise OT SCADA systems in conjunction with field supervisory equipment and personnel.
• SCADA OT administrator roles include supporting all functions of various enterprise OT SCADA systems and leading the development, configuration, and commissioning aspects of the hosting systems and in conjunction with teams leads that manage field supervisory equipment. Administration support roles include managing data historians, developing solutions for data exchange of operational data, and integration of third-party systems that relate to Power Generation and Energy Management – SmartMetering (SMET2), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Operator Training Simulator (OTS) and Outage Management Systems (OMS).
• Effectively contributes to the collaboration process with internal IT Infrastructure partners in the role of administration, implementation of core infrastructure services used with OT systems such as Active Directory Domain Services, DNS, DHCP, and Server and Application Administration configuration, maintenance and focus on defining business and operational needs within the context of cybersecurity requirements.
• Participates in a team environment with the role to mitigate IT/OT security risks effectively across the Corporation’s Hydro and Thermal generation systems throughout the Northwest Territories service area in the continued measures and alignment of security industry standards such as NIST, NERC CIP, ICS.
• Responsible for providing oversight and administration of OT hosting environments, administration of server-workstations security, user accounts, and development of business applications.
• Effectively manages the collaboration process with internal OT and IT Infrastructure partners in the administration, implementation of core infrastructure services used with OT systems such as Active Directory Domain Services, DNS, DHCP, and Server and Application Administration configuration, maintenance, and support with additional focus on defining business and operational requirements in cybersecurity.
• Demonstrates strong familiarity with specific industrial protocols DNP, IEC, Modbus, Allen Bradley with ability to review network traffic for analysis and troubleshooting with network tools.
• Support operations to improve OT systems in terms of reliability, safety and cost-effective monitoring of its core assets.
• Provide advanced support of man machine interfaces (HMI) at generation facilities, substation automation equipment and data concentrators. To be able to support basic administration functions relating to the supervisory field equipment such as remote terminal units (RTU), programmable logic controllers (PLC), intelligent electronic devices (IED) in the field.
• Works with the members of the SAO Team and other sections to do preliminary designs, proposals and budgetary costs for new and additions to existing SCADA/telecontrol projects to enhance control and operation of the regional systems and satellite plants.
• Carries out evaluation and acceptance tests on new SCADA/host systems and associated equipment.
• Implement changes for improvement to support the 24-hour Supervisory Central Control Room and backup centers.
• Assists with selection of vendor support for Automation/SCADA systems, administer vendor support agreements for yearly hardware/software support, application upgrades and licensing.
• Administers and monitor contractors performing Automation/SCADA and telecontrol contract work. Assists with the preparation of contractors and suppliers progress and final payment claims.
• Provide training to and receive training from co-workers, as well as perform other responsibilities in applicable areas within your work unit as assigned by the Manager.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Sciences, or other related disciplines with 10 years of utility experience in Operational Technology field.
• Senior SCADA Specialist with direct related enterprise OT level supervisory systems experience, preferably with an electric utility with hands experience in SCADA System hosting environments from enterprise level to plant level HMI/automation software, development of database/graphics and commissioning changes.
• Is fluent or has experience in executing projects in the design, implementation, and auditing of SCADA security standards (NIST, NERC CIP, ICS, Purdue model) in OT/IT environments.
• A minimum experience of 5+ years related of information systems experience with implementing, administration of Operational Technology (OT) supervisory systems, supporting management of virtual environments, administration of Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, Proxy Servers, Bastion Hosts and Security appliances in IDMZ.
• High degree of knowledge and experience in operating platforms, in both Linux/VMWare/UNIX and Microsoft enterprise environments. Professional Certification in systems administration strongly desired, such as: Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA), Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), or comparable certifications.
• Senior level experience with SCADA historians and different types of databases systems, DBMS, RDBMS, Oracle, PI (Osisoft) and SQL, and developing scripts for automated processes.
• Experience with Project Management with lead roles in developing solutions, customer product enhancement, automation, reporting and integration of SCADA with enterprise systems.
• Have working knowledge of RTU, PLC, end devices and the industrial SCADA and automation communications protocols, programming, and network analysis tools.
• Experience with developing Backup and Disaster and Recovery procedures, conducting cybersecurity audits and risk assessments.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication, planning and organizational skills
• Excellent in time management and multi-tasking in a fast paced environment
• Class 5 Driver’s License or equivalent is required.
• Must undergo a successful criminal records check.

Salary for this position ranges from $55.83/hr-$67.85/hr. We offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes health and dental benefits, long-term disability, life insurance, paid sick days and a defined benefits pension plan. Relocation assistance will be provided.
Please apply directly through Meridia, using this link: Scada OT Systems Specialist (meridiarecruitment.ca)
Affirmative Action Employer - Candidates must clearly identify eligibility status via our online application process in order to receive priority consideration.

• Primary role is supporting various OT SCADA systems at the enterprise level that interface with plant control systems.
• Responsible and accountable for supporting and improving operational systems while ensuring high standards of availability, integrity, functionality, and security of the OT systems.
• OT SCADA administration tasks include the development, configuration, commissioning, documentation of various enterprise OT SCADA systems in conjunction with field supervisory equipment and personnel.
• SCADA OT administrator roles include supporting all functions of various enterprise OT SCADA systems and leading the development, configuration, and commissioning aspects of the hosting systems and in conjunction with teams leads that manage field supervisory equipment. Administration support roles include managing data historians, developing solutions for data exchange of operational data, and integration of third-party systems that relate to Power Generation and Energy Management – SmartMetering (SMET2), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Operator Training Simulator (OTS) and Outage Management Systems (OMS).
• Effectively contributes to the collaboration process with internal IT Infrastructure partners in the role of administration, implementation of core infrastructure services used with OT systems such as Active Directory Domain Services, DNS, DHCP, and Server and Application Administration configuration, maintenance and focus on defining business and operational needs within the context of cybersecurity requirements.
• Participates in a team environment with the role to mitigate IT/OT security risks effectively across the Corporation’s Hydro and Thermal generation systems throughout the Northwest Territories service area in the continued measures and alignment of security industry standards such as NIST, NERC CIP, ICS.
• Responsible for providing oversight and administration of OT hosting environments, administration of server-workstations security, user accounts, and development of business applications.
• Effectively manages the collaboration process with internal OT and IT Infrastructure partners in the administration, implementation of core infrastructure services used with OT systems such as Active Directory Domain Services, DNS, DHCP, and Server and Application Administration configuration, maintenance, and support with additional focus on defining business and operational requirements in cybersecurity.
• Demonstrates strong familiarity with specific industrial protocols DNP, IEC, Modbus, Allen Bradley with ability to review network traffic for analysis and troubleshooting with network tools.
• Support operations to improve OT systems in terms of reliability, safety and cost-effective monitoring of its core assets.
• Provide advanced support of man machine interfaces (HMI) at generation facilities, substation automation equipment and data concentrators. To be able to support basic administration functions relating to the supervisory field equipment such as remote terminal units (RTU), programmable logic controllers (PLC), intelligent electronic devices (IED) in the field.
• Works with the members of the SAO Team and other sections to do preliminary designs, proposals and budgetary costs for new and additions to existing SCADA/telecontrol projects to enhance control and operation of the regional systems and satellite plants.
• Carries out evaluation and acceptance tests on new SCADA/host systems and associated equipment.
• Implement changes for improvement to support the 24-hour Supervisory Central Control Room and backup centers.
• Assists with selection of vendor support for Automation/SCADA systems, administer vendor support agreements for yearly hardware/software support, application upgrades and licensing.
• Administers and monitor contractors performing Automation/SCADA and telecontrol contract work. Assists with the preparation of contractors and suppliers progress and final payment claims.
• Provide training to and receive training from co-workers, as well as perform other responsibilities in applicable areas within your work unit as assigned by the Manager