Senior OT Network and Cybersecurity Engineer, Solar and Storage

The role

This person will support the design, integration, and operation of communication and control systems for utility scale renewable energy assets. They will own site level communications architecture, machine to machine communications integration, and secure connectivity between sites, utilities, and cloud platforms.

What you will do

• Lead integration of site controllers, inverters, and auxiliary equipment into a unified plant communications architecture
• Design and configure machine to machine (M2M) communications
• Define and deploy end to end communication networks
• Design and support OT networks including firewalls, routers, switches, VLANs and segmentation, and fiber optic networks
• Manage secure communication interfaces between sites and utilities, transmission operators, ISOs/RTOs, asset owners, and cloud based platforms
• Configure and validate protocols for wide area communications
• Design and implement multi layer cybersecurity architectures
• Support compliance with NERC CIP standards, utility interconnection requirements, and internal cybersecurity frameworks
• Enable inverter monitoring, diagnostics, and fault detection through integration with cloud based dashboards
• Collaborate with O&M and engineering teams to troubleshoot issues and optimize system performance

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant work experience
• At least 5 years of utility communications, industrial networking, OT systems, or energy management systems experience
• Strong understanding of firewalls and network security fundamentals
• Ability to debug network connections using tools such as Wireshark
• Extensive hands on experience with utility scale OT communication systems, including RTUs, PLCs, industrial gateways, and edge/data collection devices
• Strong experience with industrial and utility protocols such as Modbus TCP/IP, DNP3, and OPC UA
• Strong understanding of OT cybersecurity principles, including defense in depth architectures, secure remote access/VPNs, and network segmentation and monitoring
• Experience implementing secure communication paths between OT and IT systems
• Comfort working with field data, diagnostics, and system telemetry
• Proficiency in English, both written and verbal

Nice to have

• IEC 61850
• Background in commissioning or field deployment
• Experience implementing unidirectional security solutions (data diodes)
• Knowledge of ISO/RTO integration requirements
• Strong cross functional collaboration across engineering, O&M, and IT/security teams
• Excellent troubleshooting and problem solving capabilities
• Ability to clearly communicate technical architectures to both technical and non technical stakeholders
• Familiarity with NERC CIP and cybersecurity frameworks for critical infrastructure
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Proven ability to work effectively in a matrix organization

Benefits

• Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates
• Medical plan options through Aetna, plus Kaiser in California
• $0 premium option
• SMA covers about 90% or more of medical premiums
• Contribution up to $1,500 a year to HSA on the high deductible plan
• $0 employee only dental and vision options
• Short and long term disability
• $50,000 in life and AD&D insurance at no cost
• 16 days of PTO, increasing with tenure
• 12 paid holidays
• 401k plan with a 100% match up to 5%
• Tuition reimbursement and opportunities for professional development

Before you apply

• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full time basis
• SMA America does not offer employment visa sponsorship of any kind
• Candidates who currently require or will in the future require visa sponsorship are not eligible
• Candidates operating under a temporary work permit or any visa tied employment authorization are also not eligible

About the company

SMA America is the U.S. subsidiary of SMA Solar Technology AG. They develop solar inverter technology for homes, businesses, and utilities.