Plant Controller Project Lead

Leidos•Amarillo, TX

12d•$175,000 - $225,000

About The Position

Leidos Engineering is hiring an experienced Project Lead to direct engineering design for a plant controller and plant-wide SCADA program at a large behind-the-meter hybrid energy facility in the ERCOT market. The facility combines utility-scale wind and solar generation with a mission-critical AI data center load and connects to the grid through dual 345 kV points of interconnection. The Project Lead will work with the Project Manager and program leadership within Leidos Energy, serving as the technical owner of the design and leading controls, SCADA/HMI, OT cybersecurity, power systems studies, and specialty subcontractor contributions. The role serves as the lead technical voice to the EPC client, equipment vendors, and owner’s engineers from detailed design through commissioning. The site-level plant controller will orchestrate facility operations by issuing validated setpoints, constraints, and priorities to downstream asset controllers while respecting vendor-certified control logic. The design aims to establish a predictable operating envelope for the data center load; dispatch wind and solar generation to regulate voltage, frequency, and apparent power at the POIs in accordance with ERCOT and interconnection requirements; coordinate plant controllers, capacitor banks, and transformer tap changers; maximize renewable generation and reduce unnecessary curtailment; report performance indicators through SCADA, HMI, and historian systems; and support secure future integration of battery storage and natural gas generation. This is a permanent, salaried position with no projected end date. Although the initial focus is one project, the selected candidate can expect to participate in ongoing Leidos projects. Periodic travel to Texas is required. The stated salary range for the post is $175,000–$225,000, depending on experience and qualifications. The posting also lists a Leidos job-level pay range of $107,900–$195,050 and notes that actual compensation may depend on responsibilities, education, experience, skills, internal equity, market data, and other factors. Leidos describes a fast-paced, diverse work environment with flexible work hours and work arrangements, and managers who encourage career development and growth. Development opportunities include support for PE licensure and PMP certification, formal mentorship, learning and development resources, continuing education programs, technical leadership tracks, and project management opportunities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering; Controls, Computer, or Power Systems Engineering may be considered.
At least eight years of engineering experience in the electric power industry, including at least four years leading multidisciplinary design teams.
Demonstrated technical leadership of utility-scale power plant controller, SCADA, or substation automation projects from design through commissioning.
Hands-on experience with plant-level control functions such as voltage/VAR regulation, primary frequency response, curtailment, and POI limit control for inverter-based resources.
Working knowledge of ERCOT interconnection requirements and applicable NERC standards, such as PRC-024/029, MOD-025/026/027, and CIP.
Experience developing or reviewing interface specifications with third-party PPC, OEM, and utility equipment, including DNP3, Modbus, IEEE C37.118, and IEC 61850 communication protocols.
Ability to interpret power system study results and apply them to control design and operating limits.
Experience with design review processes and quality control of engineering deliverables.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presenting technical positions to clients and vendors.
Experience with MS Office software, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Ability to meet client background screening and site access requirements.
Availability for periodic travel to Texas as needed.

Nice To Haves

Professional Engineer (PE) license, or ability to obtain one; Texas licensure is a plus.
Experience with hybrid plants, co-located large loads, or data center interconnections, including behind-the-meter configurations.
Hands-on experience with SEL RTAC/SEL-3555 programming and Ignition SCADA, HMI, and historian development.
Experience integrating Vestas, TMEIC, or similar wind and solar power plant controllers.
Experience with power systems modeling tools such as PSS/E, PSCAD, and ETAP, and real-time simulation for CHIL testing using OPAL-RT or RTDS.
Knowledge of OT cybersecurity design, including NERC CIP, IEC 62443, next-generation firewalls, jump host architectures, and network segmentation.
Experience supporting ERCOT resource commissioning, QSE telemetry, or market qualification testing.
Experience planning for future BESS or gas generation integration in plant control architectures.
Experience working on EPC or design-build projects and supporting construction operations.
Familiarity with project management tools such as MS Project, P6, and Procore, and engineering budget tracking.
Excellent organizational skills and ability to multi-task effectively.
Aptitude for problem solving and critical thinking.

Responsibilities

Serve as technical owner of the plant control and SCADA design across requirements, concept of operations, detailed design, testing, commissioning, and closeout.
Direct engineering leads for controls, SCADA/HMI, OT networking and cybersecurity, and power systems studies, integrating their work into a coordinated design.
Develop requirements, use cases, control narratives, and control algorithms for voltage and reactive power regulation, frequency response, POI and equipment limit control, and load coordination.
Apply power system modeling and study results to define control limits, operating envelopes, and equipment sizing.
Develop and manage interface specifications with third-party controllers, OEMs, utilities, and other stakeholders, and resolve technical conflicts.
Ensure the design supports grid operator interconnection requirements and applicable NERC standards.
Lead technical quality reviews of studies, drawings, specifications, points lists, network designs, and test plans.
Partner with the Project Manager on engineering budget, schedule, and staffing; provide estimates to complete, early warning of scope changes, and technical input to change orders.
Define hardware and software requirements and review bills of material for control and network equipment.
Lead technical responses to RFIs and submittals during construction.
Plan and lead factory acceptance and hardware-in-the-loop testing, author commissioning test plans, and serve as technical lead during site commissioning and compliance testing.
Represent Leidos in technical design reviews and coordination meetings with clients, vendors, and owner’s engineers.
Ensure the engineering team follows project cybersecurity and critical infrastructure information handling requirements.
Mentor project engineers and support operator training and knowledge transfer at turnover.