Location: This is a hybrid (virtual/onsite) position with required onsite days on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday assigned to the Parnall East located in Jackson, MI. The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance or willing to relocate (relocation package is available for those that qualify).
General Summary of Job Responsibilities
The SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) Engineer is responsible for designing, configuring, and maintaining SCADA systems that enable real-time monitoring and control of field operations. This work is critical to ensuring the safe, reliable, and secure operation of the electric grid, supporting Consumers Energy's strategic goals of safety, system reliability, and regulatory compliance. The engineer integrates field devices, develops Human-Machine Interface (HMI) displays, and ensures robust communication between systems and control centers. Collaboration with Information Technology (IT), Operational Technology (OT), and field operations teams ensures system functionality, cybersecurity compliance, and data integrity.
The Grid Applications team provides engineering and lifecycle support for the real-time systems at the center of Consumers Energy's electric grid operations. Our SCADA environment is built on the Emerson DGM platform, formerly Open Systems International (OSI) Monarch, and supports high-voltage distribution, low-voltage distribution, and generation operations. Team members work across Energy Management System (EMS) and Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) applications, including real-time data acquisition and control, field-device integration, automation, alarming, visualization, and operational technology infrastructure. This role offers the opportunity to collaborate directly with Control Room Operations, field technicians, engineering, IT, vendors, and other grid-focused teams to solve complex technical problems and improve the reliability and situational awareness of a mission-critical, 24x7 operating environment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Develop operator-facing dashboards and automation scripts that are essential for maintaining situational awareness, enabling safe and reliable control of grid operations, and supporting real-time decision-making.
- Configure and maintain SCADA and HMI systems including alarms, trends, and historian data points.
- Integrate SCADA applications with RTUs, IEDs, sensors, and databases using standard industrial communication protocols (DNP3, Modbus, OPC).
- Perform troubleshooting and system maintenance to ensure reliable real-time operation.
- Conduct testing, validation, and commissioning of SCADA components in coordination with operations teams.
- Collaborate with IT and cybersecurity teams to ensure secure integration of SCADA systems within enterprise architecture.
- Document configurations, code changes, and compliance activities to support NERC CIP, TOP, and FERC SOC audit readiness.
- Provide 24x7x365 rotating on-call support.
- Other duties as assigned or may be necessary.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
- Foundational scripting/programming skills (C, Python, SQL, or VBScript).
- Familiarity with relational databases (SQL Server, Oracle) and data historians (OSIsoft PI).
- Ability to document technical solutions clearly and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
- Understanding of cybersecurity principles and compliance frameworks (NERC CIP, TOP, FERC SOC).
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with attention to operational safety and reliability.
- Proficiency in one or more SCADA/HMI platforms (AspenTech, GE, Wonderware, Siemens WinCC).
- Understanding of industrial communication protocols such as Modbus, DNP3, and OPC.
- Ability to troubleshoot hardware/software communication issues between SCADA and field devices.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills in real-time operations environments.
Education/Experience
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Computer Science with two (2) or more years of experience in SCADA, automation, or industrial control systems.
- [OR] Associate Degree in Engineering or Computer Science with four (4) or more years of experience in SCADA, automation, or industrial control systems.
- [OR] High School Diploma or GED with six (6) or more years of experience in SCADA, automation, or industrial control systems.
Consumers Energy
1 Energy Plz
Jackson
Michigan United States
www.consumersenergy.com
