Utilities Automation/SCADA Specialist

City of Stoughton•Stoughton, WI

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The purpose of this position is to coordinate systems automation technologies for the electric distribution system, water distribution system, wastewater collection system, wastewater treatment facility, and administrative technical systems under the management of Stoughton Utilities. Current automation technologies include Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems for electric, water, and wastewater; an Outage Management System (OMS); and various other technologies, scripts, and programming. This position will configure, maintain, and support current automation systems, including applications and hardware, and participate in the strategic planning and design of new automation platforms and technologies, with a focus on cybersecurity. This position is also responsible for the coordination of a variety of technical planning tasks from project preparation through completion, including software platform upgrades, security upgrades, control upgrades at existing electric, water, and wastewater facilities, and more. If you have basic knowledge and understanding of automation systems, we encourage you to apply! This is a full-time, non-exempt position that does not require travel outside of the Stoughton service area. This position will remain open until filled.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or computer science, or vocational/technical training in electrical distribution and system automation that provides equivalent knowledge and experience is preferred.
Three to five years of electric, water, or wastewater utility experience as a SCADA technician, utility system operator, industrial automation technician, or equivalent role, or any combination of education and/or experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities is desirable.
Vocational or industry training in one or more of the following is preferred: electric distribution system design, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Outage Management Systems (OMS), advanced networking and information technology, or industrial automation.
Demonstrated proficiency in SCADA software platforms; experience with AVEVA InTouch (formerly Wonderware) and/or AspenTech OSI monarch preferred.
Knowledge of industrial automation protocols, including Modbus, OPC, DNP3, and MultiSpeak.
Familiarity with PLC and RTU programming and configuration.
Knowledge of scripting and programming languages, API programming, databases, and network communication protocols.
Experience working with Rockwell Automation PLCs and RTUs, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) RTUs and RTACs, and SEL and Eaton substation control panels preferred.
Experience with Eaton ProView and SEL acSELerator software is a plus.
Must pass a background check, driver’s license check, pre-employment physical, and drug screen.
Valid motor vehicle operator’s license.
Ability to perform high-level data analysis, including the ability to audit, deduce, assess, conclude, and appraise.
Ability to classify, compute, and tabulate data and information, following a prescribed plan requiring the exercise of significant individual judgment.
Ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure, and sort information, as well as assemble, copy, record, and transcribe data and information.
Ability to comprehend, interpret, approve, and utilize a variety of advisory and design data and information, such as software manuals, configuration guides, networking protocol standards, manufacturer security advisories and technical bulletins, job authorization forms, purchase orders, and safety rules and manuals.
Ability to utilize and interpret environmental, electrical engineering, water and wastewater engineering, computer software systems, and geographical information systems terminology.
Ability to explain, demonstrate, and clarify to others within well-established policies, procedures, and standards, as well as the ability to follow specific instructions and respond to complex requests.
Ability to communicate in writing and orally effectively with customers, department personnel, contractors, vendors, developers, engineering consultants, and the general public.
Ability to prepare notices, memos, narrative and statistical reports, construction documents, and other correspondence using prescribed formats according to the rules of punctuation, grammar, and style.
Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; calculate percentages, fractions, and decimals; interpret and develop detailed descriptive statistical reports; and the ability to perform mathematical operations with algebra.
Ability to carry out directions without direct supervision.
Ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.
Ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as leading, teaching, directing, planning, coordinating, and controlling.
Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness, and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against measurable or judgmental criteria, and involving the direction, control, and planning of an entire program or multiple programs.
Ability to learn new skills, technologies, interfaces, protocols, etc., and quickly adapt to the continuous evolution of technology, cyber security threats, software updates, and advancements.
Ability to operate equipment and machinery requiring monitoring multiple conditions and making multiple, complex, and rapid adjustments, such as motor vehicles, etc.
Ability to operate office equipment and machinery requiring simple but continuous adjustments, such as a computer terminal, photocopier, paper cutter, hand punch, and telephone.
Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet, and limbs in performing skilled movements involved in typing, repair, and operation.
Ability to exert physical effort in light to moderate work, typically involving some combination of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, lifting, and carrying, pushing or pulling up to 10-50 pounds.
Ability to recognize and identify degrees of similarities or differences between characteristics of colors, sound, taste, texture, and odor associated with job-related objects, materials, and tasks.
Ability to work effectively in an office environment, as well as in the field under uncomfortable and potentially unsafe conditions that require exposure to environmental factors such as temperature variations, winds, rain and snow, odors, toxic agents, noise, vibrations, wetness, and dust.
Field conditions include working within electrical substations, industrial treatment facilities, and water pumping and storage facilities, and will include working around energized electrical equipment.
This exposure may cause discomfort and present a risk of injury or death.

Nice To Haves

Experience with AVEVA InTouch (formerly Wonderware) and/or AspenTech OSI monarch preferred.
Experience working with Rockwell Automation PLCs and RTUs, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) RTUs and RTACs, and SEL and Eaton substation control panels preferred.
Experience with Eaton ProView and SEL acSELerator software is a plus.

Responsibilities

Maintains the electric and water/wastewater Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems.
Configure, program and deploy SCADA hardware and software components, including Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), remote terminal units (RTU), real-time automation controllers (RTAC), and all associated communication protocols.
Maintains web platforms, alerting and notification system interfaces, operating and archive databases, and server operating systems.
Maintains the Stoughton Utilities Outage Management System (OMS).
Creates outage call and job workflow assignments and automation, customer-facing maps and outage entry interfaces, text-messaging interfaces and response automation, and outage statistical reports.
Updates modeled distribution system status to reflect temporary as-built conditions.
Maintains web platforms, mobile system interfaces, operating and archive databases, and server operating systems.
Monitors, triages, and troubleshoots SCADA and OMS alarms and events, and works with field employees to confirm and resolve system and device issues.
Maintains SCADA points, tags, setpoints, limits, and alarm configurations.
Coordinates automation system maintenance projects, including system upgrades and improvements, security upgrades and patches, remote facility networking projects, mobile communication systems, and new system integrations.
Collaborates with other utility divisions to coordinate automation equipment maintenance efforts at wells, electric substations, water towers, sanitary lift stations, and the wastewater treatment facility, including motor controls, and electric regulator and recloser control panels.
Develops automation system documentation, including system configurations, network diagrams, and operational procedures.
Maintains change logs and reports system changes to the SCADA & OMS teams.
Provides automation system end-user training to utility operators.
Works with end-users and utility management to solicit feedback on system performance, functions and features, and develops short and long-range system improvement plans to incorporate received feedback.
Provides training to field employees on use of mobile systems.
Assists the Education & Outreach Coordinator in preparing public education materials related to OMS and participates in outreach efforts.
Maintains utility cybersecurity protection efforts and secures data network systems by maintaining system access, monitoring, control, and evaluation procedures; testing disaster recovery policies and procedures; monitoring network input and output; and reviewing application and performance logs.
Assists in the maintenance of all Stoughton Utilities information and operational technology systems, including internal and customer-facing software solutions, data networking and communications systems, server and desktop computing hardware and peripheral devices, databases, backup systems, mobile device management, and user account management.
Collaborates within the Technical Operations Division to maintain and improve the utility Geographic Information System (GIS) by identifying system model errors and deficiencies through OMS logs and hands-on use.
Participates on and reports system changes to the GIS team.
Maintains the ability to work a flexible schedule to accommodate planned and unplanned activities outside of the typical work schedule, including but not limited to planned system maintenance work, restoration of automation systems or network outages, system cutovers, and severe weather events, as well as planned seasonal schedule changes and tasks.
Complies with all Stoughton Utilities Safety programs, and guidelines and regulations set by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW), Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the National Electric Safety Code (NESC).
Assists technical operations, electric, wastewater and water divisions as required.
Performs other Stoughton Utilities tasks as directed.