SENIOR ENGINEER - EMS/SCADA

Seminole Electric Cooperative - Tampa, FL

- Senior

Tampa, FL

Utilities

About the position

Provides technical support and analytical services with limited supervision for the daily management, design, specification, configuration, troubleshooting and support of systems and processes used within the Energy Management System (EMS) for the reliable operation of the transmission system. Requires the use of advanced techniques and application of theories, precepts, practice, and disciplines, including practical field experience. Duties may include general EMS support duties including periodic callout support; SCADA data maintenance; ICCP administration; building program interfaces, creating complex algorithms, and maintenance scripts; other EMS related applications and interfacing with customers. Provides the engineering, testing, and maintenance of the hardware, software, display and databases of the EMS, ensuring reliable operation and compliance with North American Reliability Corporation (NERC) Standards. Incumbents have the responsibility and authority to make decisions on engineering problems and methods applicable to the resolution of Operational Technology (OT) issues. Participates on and leads teams of field employees, technicians, engineers, and other personnel.

Responsibilities

• Assures that EMS databases (SCADA, FEP, ICCP) and displays are accurately implemented for all existing and new field installations, in consultation with operations technicians, engineers and System Coordinators.
• Configures and manages EMS databases, displays, alarms, real-time calculations, and other parameters to provide situational awareness to operations and support a highly reliable 24/7 control center.
• Evaluates and resolves complex control system problems that may involve: hardware, software, networks, control system algorithms and communication subsystems (front-end processors, ICCP, RTUs, PLCs) and associated interface equipment.
• Develops and implements code to streamline decision-making in the control-room and collaborates with operators and engineers to ensure grid reliability.
• Assures documented point-to-point validation of field (RTU) inputs through the SCADA database and to applicable operational displays prior to release for operations, in coordination with operators, field technicians, and engineers.
• Builds/updates/configures databases for SCADA/EMS applications.
• Adds or modifies configurations to Quality Assurance System (QAS) or production environment (e.g., RTU, displays, supervisory control, alarming, tagging, optimal power flow, contingency analysis, volt-var control, topology processor, etc.).
• Updates EMS Application databases to reflect equipment and facility electrical parameters, configuration, and operating limits. Maintains accurate and timely data exchange, as required, with FRCC and neighboring utilities.
• Coordinates, oversees, reviews, and performs owner's acceptance of work performed by contractors hired to perform major system projects and enhancements.
• Verifies field telemetry, real time values (status, analog, and accumulators) and alarms are accurate, configured and portrayed correctly in the EMS.
• Works and collaborates with other engineering teams to ensure remote data requirements for substation and generating facility capital and system improvement projects are incorporated into the Monarch EMS/SCADA system.
• Develops and implement processes and procedures in accordance with department Operating Instructions and Operating Practices to ensure system integrity and compliance with NERC CIP standards and Reliability standards.
• Leads and participates in strategic project planning and execution to keep Seminole's EMS and reliability applications current, adhering to NERC standards.
• Assists in the development and review of Operating Instructions, Operating Practices and RSAWs to maintain compliance with CIP and Reliability standards.
• Assists with drafting engineering specifications, reviews bid documents and evaluates bids for award to support control and monitoring systems and facility modernization projects.
• Understands, develops, and implements software development life cycle (SDLF).
• Leads troubleshooting efforts on EMS systems and databases, including on-call events and rotations.
• Participates in factory and site acceptance testing of real-time control systems.
• Leads and supports the EMS Training and simulation environment.
• Identifies trends and root causes of issues, investigates, and determines solutions, and makes recommendations for management consideration.
• Performs NERC Compliance Program roles if/as designated in Seminole's Standard Ownership Matrix (SOM) including ongoing evidence retention in 'audit-ready' form as applicable and directed.
• Performs other duties as applicable to the position or as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or a closely related area is required from an ABET accredited institution.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant or progressively responsible experience within an EMS environment is required.
• Florida Registration as a Professional Engineer is desired, but not required.

Benefits

• Some travel and work outside of normal business hours.
• Potential for exposure to hazards typical of an industrial working environment.
• Maintains critical EMS equipment in a real-time environment that requires 24/7 on-call support.