Lead Network Engineer 1 - Nuclear
About The Position
The Lead Network Engineer will support Sargent & Lundy's Instrumentation and Controls Engineering group, designing digital system networks for nuclear power plant instrumentation and controls systems. The role focuses on segmented, fault-tolerant operational technology (OT) networks for digital I&C, DCS, PLC, and SCADA systems. The position is hybrid, with three days per week in the Warrenville office and two days working remotely. When project activities require, the employee will work at the System Integration Lab in the Chicago office. Periodic travel to client sites, testing facilities, and other Sargent & Lundy offices is required. The engineer will develop and maintain network designs and formal engineering documentation, specify and configure network equipment, and support testing, installation, commissioning, troubleshooting, and plant outage work. The role operates within formal nuclear quality assurance programs and design change controls. The position also provides technical support requested by Digital Engineering and OT System Integration supervisors. Sargent & Lundy describes its Nuclear Power Group as working on nuclear engineering, design, and licensing, including small modular reactors, advanced reactor technology, reactor restart projects, life extensions, digital modernization, coal-to-nuclear conversion initiatives, and international nuclear new-build projects.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering from an ABET-accredited program, or equivalent professional experience.
- At least 10 years of experience in network architecture design and implementation, including OT/ICS, SCADA, DCS, or digital I&C.
- Demonstrated expertise in network design, such as CCNA or CCENT certification.
- Understanding of the function and design of routers, network switches, firewalls, data diodes, and network security configurations.
- Understanding of IP routing, subnetting, and spanning-tree protocols.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to respond to requests and provide updates in a timely manner.
- Ability to collaborate with control system design engineers, clients, and vendors.
- Must not require U.S. work authorization sponsorship for this position.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in design engineering for nuclear power plant control systems.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license.
- Interest in learning and effectively using emerging technologies relevant to the role; experience with AI, automation, programming, or similar technologies is valued but not required unless specified elsewhere.
Responsibilities
- Design and document segmented, fault-tolerant OT networks for digital I&C, DCS, PLC, and SCADA systems, including network topologies, IP plans, VLANs, routing, IDMZs, and secure access.
- Travel periodically to client sites, testing facilities, and other Sargent & Lundy offices.
- Specify industrial networking hardware, including appliances, cabling, and media converters, and integrate industrial protocols, network redundancy, and time synchronization.
- Prepare, review, and maintain engineering deliverables, including network architecture drawings, rack elevation drawings, cable schedules, specifications, bills of materials, and configuration workbooks.
- Confirm configurations of devices installed at sites against network diagrams and system documentation.
- Follow nuclear quality assurance programs, including 10 CFR 50 Appendix B and NQA-1, and comply with design change and modification control processes.
- Develop FAT, SAT, and commissioning test plans, test cases, and execution procedures for network hardware and integrated control systems.
- Stage, configure, and validate network equipment, switches, routers, and firewalls in laboratory test environments before field installation.
- Support on-site installation, system walkdowns, loop checks, and cutover activities during plant outages and modifications.
- Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve physical, data link, and network layer issues across legacy and modern OT equipment.
- Perform technical support requested by Digital Engineering and OT System Integration supervisors.
- Collaborate with control system design engineers, clients, and vendors.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision health plans
- Life and accident insurance
- Disability coverage
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Back-up daycare
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA)
- 401(k)
- Pre-tax commuter account
- Merit Scholarship Program
- Employee Discount Program
- Corporate Charitable Giving Program
- Tuition assistance
- First Professional Licensure Bonus
- Employee Referral Bonus
- Paid annual personal/sick time
- Paid vacation
- Paid holidays
- Paid parental leave
- Paid bereavement leave
- Flexible work arrangements
- Potential eligibility for a yearly discretionary bonus
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
