CyberSecurity Engineer

VELCO Vermont Electric Power Company • Rutland, VT

5h • $68,744 - $146,357

About The Position

As the nation’s first statewide, “transmission only” company, VELCO manages the safe, reliable, cost-effective transmission of electric power throughout Vermont and as a part of the integrated New England regional network. Why you should join our team At VELCO, we are committed to protecting our organization’s data, infrastructure and digital assets. You’ll have the opportunity to directly impact VELCO’s risk posture to keeping a safe, reliable, secure and compliant operating organization. How you will make an impact You’ll be responsible for constructing systems that gather, analyze and measure adherence to North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection (NERC CIP) standards and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity frameworks. This role supports the secure operation of the utility’s business functions, customer support systems, and critical infrastructure, including substations, control centers, and related operational technology (OT) systems. The Cyber Security Engineer- Compliance will maintain, enhance, develop, implement, and monitor compliance controls, risk assessment workflows, and collaborate with NERC Compliance, IT, OT, and Information Security teams to maintain regulatory compliance and enhance cybersecurity risk comprehension.

Requirements

• Associate Engineer level - Entry-level engineer. Expectations are that individuals at this level will be learning the enterprise functions, as well as the processes, tools and physical attributes of the system. Qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Cyber Security or related technical discipline. Equivalent work experience considered. Having relevant security certifications or the ability to obtain GIAC GCIP and/or GIAC GCCC is expected. A Master’s degree may be substituted for some experience.
• Mid-Career (Experienced) Engineer level- This individual will be capable of and demonstrate the knowledge to fully complete assignments. Performs complex and specialized security analysis and compliance functions per CIP standard support functions. This level is for the practicing engineer with typically 2-7 years of experience.
• Senior Engineer level - This level recognizes the talent and skills of a practicing engineer capable of making competent engineering recommendations and decisions, managing technical projects with minimum level of oversight, and mentoring less experienced engineers. This level is for accomplished engineers, with typically more than 7 years of experience.
• Experience in regulatory compliance, information technology and/or cybersecurity.
• Familiarity with networking technologies, operating systems, regular expressions, and API/Script based data acquisition methods.
• Strong understanding of Information Security frameworks.
• A functional understanding of API and scripted data retrieval across various technologies.
• Proficiency with SQL Query languages
• Demonstrated ability to securely create and manage scripts for data acquisition
• Proficiency in risk assessment methodologies and cybersecurity tools.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and documentation skills.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to technical and semi-technical stakeholders.
• A desire to pursue training and certifications in information security & operational technologies as they evolve.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving skills, and project management skills.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to interact effectively and professionally with a diverse group of employees throughout the organization.
• Ability to plan and complete multiple, diverse tasks and meet challenging deadlines.
• Able to clearly present complex technical information to committees, management, external regulators and industry associations.
• Candidates may be asked to complete a skills evaluation/assessment or objective based activity for demonstration remotely or in-person.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to maintain fast pace while completing complex, analytical work, in potentially stressful situations, with competing priorities, within tight timelines and with frequent interruptions.
• Rotating, on-call coverage is required.
• Must be able to work additional hours when necessary.
• Periodic travel and overnight stays will be required when attending industry workshops, trainings, etc.

Nice To Haves

• Direct experience with NERC CIP standards and NIST frameworks is highly preferred.
• Familiarity with OT systems (e.g., SCADA, PLCs) and utility operations.
• Experience with Tripwire Enterprise, Sigma Flow Beacon, or governance risk and compliance (GRC) tools with workflow and ability to dynamically retrieve data is highly preferred.
• Knowledge of OT networks, and traditional on-premises/utility infrastructure is a plus.
• Experience with SCADA desired.

Responsibilities

• Regulatory & Business Compliance : Track compliance with NERC CIP standards (e.g., CIP-002 through CIP-014) and NIST frameworks (e.g., NIST 800-53, NIST CSF) for the protection of infrastructure & data.
• Risk Assessments : Catalog and document risk assessment findings for substations, control centers, and OT systems that will automate remediation and/or creation of compliance artifacts.
• Policy Lifecycle and Management : Integrate compliance policy requirements, procedures, and controls into digital workflows supporting subject matter experts with business processes and compliance artifacts.
• Audits and Reporting : Prepare for and support NERC CIP audit subject matter experts, including evidence collection, documentation, and response to audit findings.
• Awareness : Collaborate with NERC Compliance and Information Security to ensure adherence to current and future NERC CIP and NIST regulation/requirements, fostering a culture resilient to regulatory change.
• Incident Response : Collaborate with Information Security to scribe, document, and track the lifecycle of cybersecurity incidents, ensuring compliance with incident reporting obligations.
• System Monitoring : Monitor & correct the operational health of compliance data acquisition systems to ensure data quality and time bound accuracy.
• Continuous Improvement : Stay updated on evolving NERC CIP and NIST standards, recommending improvements to enhance compliance and security posture.
• Other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level