Generation OT Network Engineer (BHM or ATL)

Southern Company • Birmingham, AL

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Generation OT Network Engineer designs, implements, commissions, and supports secure, reliable operational technology network infrastructure across Southern Company Generation facilities. The role supports new generation, renewable, battery storage, repower, and lifecycle projects while sustaining connectivity for existing plant operations.

Requirements

• Working knowledge of Ethernet, TCP/IP, subnetting, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, LAN/WAN design, routing, switching, VPNs, redundancy, and network security.
• Hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting Cisco routing and switching platforms and enterprise or industrial firewalls.
• Experience with OSPF, BGP, and packet-analysis tools such as Wireshark.
• Ability to troubleshoot complete communication paths across network devices, servers, control systems, and secure data-transfer boundaries.
• Ability to read and develop network diagrams, rack layouts, and technical implementation documentation.
• Strong planning, analytical, documentation, communication, and customer-service skills.
• Ability to manage concurrent field, operational, and project priorities.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in OT, industrial control, SCADA, utility, power-generation, or critical-infrastructure environments is preferred.
• Experience with Palo Alto firewalls; DNP3, Modbus, OPC, ICCP, historian connectivity, data diodes, relays, or RTAC communications is preferred.
• Network automation or scripting experience for configuration, backup, validation, or reporting is preferred.
• Relevant Cisco, Palo Alto, networking, or cybersecurity certifications are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design standardized OT network architectures for control systems, SCADA, DCS, historians, relays, remote operations, and vendor systems.
• Engineer routing, switching, segmentation, firewalls, redundancy, secure remote access, and controlled data flows.
• Configure, install, test, and commission switches, routers, firewalls, and related equipment at generation sites.
• Support factory and site acceptance testing, cutovers, outages, equipment replacements, and project turnover.
• Troubleshoot outages and degraded communications using end-to-end packet, traffic, routing, switching, firewall, and protocol analysis.
• Execute changes through required planning, risk review, validation, rollback, documentation, and closure processes.
• Apply Generation cybersecurity requirements and applicable NERC CIP controls to OT network work.
• Maintain diagrams, IP records, firewall documentation, configurations, backups, inventories, reports, and lifecycle plans.
• Partner with plant personnel, project teams, cybersecurity, Technology Organization groups, engineering firms, OEMs, and vendors.
• Provide escalation support and participate in an after-hours or on-call rotation as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Annual incentive awards for eligible employees
• Health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being
• Additional compensation, such as an incentive program
• Relocation assistance may be available

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree