Communications & Control Field Engineer/Specialist

Description

Communication & Control Field Engineer/Specialist Job Family

Job Summary: 

The Communication & Control Field Engineer/Specialist will be responsible for various tasks that include engineering analysis and feedback, design review, commissioning, testing, maintenance, and ensuring compliance and cybersecurity requirements concerning our Wide and Field Area Networks, SCADA, and associated equipment.

Principles Duties and Responsibilities

• This is a FIELD ENGINEER position, Field Engineers spend 90% of their time out in the field (substations, generating stations, road-side equipment cabinets etc.), in various outdoor weather conditions (wind, rain, snow, heat), and carry various tools, test gear, and laptops to perform their work.
• Communication sites are often within our substations, generation stations, and other customer and Private owned properties. You will be working around High voltage from 765kV to Low voltage systems.

• Originate and/or review project design drawings and verifie field wiring to insure strict adherence to proper communication and control practices and standards.
• Provide engineering support on site and direct various operating and construction personnel to ensure that all communication and control equipment is installed, tested and operates properly.
• Perform configuration, acceptance, calibration, functional testing and final operational checks of communication and control equipment.
• Respond anytime, day or night, to investigate and provide solutions to field or control center problems with communication and control design or equipment problems.
• Provide technical assistance and engineering services to various departments within the company and to industrial and commercial customers for revenue generation.
• Conduct communication frequency interference testing for various groups within the company.
• Document all equipment test data and maintain the most current version of substation communication and control prints, configurations, and other critical data.
• Keep microwave station logs, perform scheduled inspections and function tests, to verify that equipment operation complies with FCC/FAA/NERC/CIP rules and regulations.
• Provide training and assistance for various departments inside the corporation.

Communication and Control Equipment Responsibilities

All of our critical traffic is running over private company owned networks, we do not rely on commercial providers or public services. We design, own, and maintain all of our critical path equipment in house.

• SCADA systems and RTU (remote terminal units)
• Private 100Gbps+ MPLS Wide Area Network backhaul (200+ nodes)
• Private Fiber Optics (underground, OPGW, ADSS)
• Private Microwave backhaul links and radios (2-60Ghz, Aviat, Cambium, Nokia, etc)
• Private Field Area Network links and radios (point-point and multipoint 0-900Mhz, GE MDS, Sensus, etc)
• Networking, Routers, Switches
• Servers and VM’s used to manage our Communication and Control Network
• Private LTE Network, Radio, Servers, Endpoints, SIM management
• Private Lattice and Monopole Towers with FAA lighting
• Various Communication Shelters and outdoor Communication Cabinets
• AC & DC Power systems

Qualifications

This position will be filled as an Engineer or Specialist depending on degree and experience.

Entry Level Engineer / Entry Level Specialist

• Graduate from a four year ABET accredited college or university program with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering  OR  Technology
• Knowledge of computer applications such as AutoCAD
• Knowledge of electric engineering
• Ability to deal with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Valid Driver’s License
• Ability to perform duties under close supervision

Engineer I / Specialist I

• Understanding of basic engineering/technical theories and principles.

• Understanding of basic practices of researching technical design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations and preparing and presenting those recommendations
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Ability to read/interpret drawings/standards to analyze/solve problems
• Familiarity with any of the equipment or systems listed above in Communication and Control Equipment Responsibilities  

Desired Qualifications

• Understanding of basic principles of project management
• PMP Certification
• Experience in the electric utility industry
• Experience in industrial automation, PLC’s, Commercial or Military communication/radio systems, Military Radar, or Guidance systems, Fiber Optics, Advanced Networking, Cellular systems, Large Wide Area Networks, SCADA, RTU’s, Broadcast RF, Commercial RF, HAM Radio, Advanced computer and/or networking knowledge, DNP3 over Serial and IP.

Engineer II / Specialist II

• 2+ years of electric utility experience and a graduate from a four year ABET accredited college or university program with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering OR Technology
• All of the qualifications for Engineer I including:
  • Increased understanding of basic engineering/technical theories and principles.
  • Increased understanding of basic practices of researching technical design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations and preparing and presenting recommendations
• Proficient with most of the equipment or systems listed above in Communication and Control Equipment Responsibilities  
• Ability to perform duties with limited direction

Desired Qualifications

• Understanding of basic principles of project management
• PMP Certification
• Experience in the electric utility industry
• Experience in industrial automation, PLC’s, Commercial or Military communication/radio systems, Military Radar, or Guidance systems, Fiber Optics, Advanced Networking, Cellular systems, Large Wide Area Networks, SCADA, RTU’s, Broadcast RF, Commercial RF, HAM Radio, Advanced computer and/or networking knowledge, DNP3 over Serial and IP.

Engineer III / Specialist III

• 4+ years of electric utility experience and a graduate from a four year ABET accredited college or university with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering OR Technology
• All of the qualifications for Engineer II including
  • Proficient in engineering/technical theories and principles
  • Proficient in basic practices of researching technical design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations and preparing and presenting recommendations
  • Proficient in dealing with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds
  • Proficient in written and oral communication skills
• Expert with the majority of the equipment or systems listed above in Communication and Control Equipment Responsibilities  
• Ability to perform duties with minimal direction

Desired Qualifications

• Proficient in principles of project management
• Experience in the electric utility industry
• Experience in industrial automation, PLC’s, Commercial or Military communication/radio systems, Military Radar, or Guidance systems, Fiber Optics, Advanced Networking, Cellular systems, Large Wide Area Networks, SCADA, RTU’s, Broadcast RF, Commercial RF, HAM Radio, Advanced computer and/or networking knowledge, DNP3 over Serial and IP.

Senior Engineer

• 7+ years of electric utility experience and a graduate from a four year ABET accredited college or university program with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering
• All of the qualifications for Engineer III including:
  • Skilled in engineering/technical theories and principles
  • Skilled in basic practices of researching technical design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations and preparing and presenting recommendations
  • Skilled in dealing with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds
  • Skilled in written and oral communication skills
• Ability to perform duties with increased latitude for un-reviewed work

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership and mentor team members
• Skilled in principles of project management
• PMP Certification
• Experience in the electric utility industry
• Ability to perform C&C scoping for complex capital improvement project

Disclaimer

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position.

Disclaimer

This description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position.

Work Authorization

Authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship.

Inclusion & Diversity 
Value inclusion within your day to day responsibilities by respecting others perspectives/convictions, engaging others opinions, creating a safe environment where people, ideas, and opinions are valued within your Team/Customers and external partners.

Respect and take into consideration diversity within your Team/Customers and external work partners by valuing different world views, challenges, and cultures that represent all walks of life and all backgrounds.

Treat others with respect and consideration. Actively participate in creating and contributing to a positive work environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity 
NiSource is committed to providing equal employment opportunities in each of its companies to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, veteran status, disability, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any protected group status as defined by law. Each employee is expected to abide by this principle.

By applying, you may be considered for other job opportunities. 

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