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Responsible for supporting, designing, and implementing Operational Technology (OT) solutions in support of Tri-State generation and mining operations. Ensures operational stability, security, and efficiency. Responsible for implementing and maintaining a supportive convergence of Information Technology (IT) and OT policies and technologies.

Note: There is one position available, and the position will be filled at one of two job grade levels: Generation Operational Technology Specialist I, job grade NB20 or Generation Operational Technology Specialist II, job grade NB22. This decision will be based on the qualifications and experience of the candidate selected, and Tri-State business needs at the time of hire.

Tri-State recognizes the value of a highly-engaged and committed workforce and provides an excellent benefits program that includes: Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Work Schedules, Life Insurance, Retirement Option, Long Term Disability (LTD), Short Term Disability (STD), Employee Assistant Program (EAP) and Paid Leave Benefits.

Generation Operational Technology Specialist II

Hiring Salary Range: $90,000-$112,000

Generation Operational Technology Specialist I

Hiring Salary Range: $74,000-$92,000

Actual compensation offer to candidate may vary outside of the posted hiring range based upon work experience, education, and/or skill level.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide first line support to generation facilities that do not currently have dedicated OT support.
• Provide support and guidance to generation facilities with dedicated on-site OT support.
• Work and collaborate with IT, Information Security Operations Center (ISOC), plant management, Generation Engineering, mining operations and generation fleet monitoring to define future standards for an efficient, stable, usable, and secured architecture.
• Support, reinforce and expand centralized data collection efforts. Administer and maintain PI data historian, servers and collectors.
• Lead and execute OT planning and implementations, leveraging vendors, Generation Assets department and IT resources.
• Help inform Generation Engineering project managers of standard practices, standard OT network architecture, and preferred software branding to standardize the OT footprint across all TSGT Generation assets.
• Define, document and enforce server and operational standards for implementation of new projects. Monitor and maintain policies for Distributed Control System (DCS) access, including foreign devices and remote access.
• Secure control system infrastructure by establishing and enforcing policies such as Management of Change (MOC).
• Report systems operational status by gathering data and monitoring activities.
• Troubleshoot control system problems, including DCS networking, OT sensor networking and Control logic, collaborating with administration personnel on changes.
• Coordinate with Generation Engineering or Plant Supervision to fully support outages in any needed capacity. (i.e. logic reviews, FAT, SAT, drawing and turnover packages, etc.)
• Adhere to and demonstrate compliance with appropriate electric utility industry regulatory requirements. Attain knowledge and remain knowledgeable of development in regulations, laws, standards and best practices applicable to the functional area including, but not limited to, Standards of Conduct, Environmental, Employment Law, NERC Reliability Standards and Safety. Must be familiar with, and comply with, all aspects of Corporate Policy C-54, Compliance.
• Demonstrate behavior consistent with Tri-State's culture embodied in the Cooperative principles and spirit and core values of technical competency, respect and dignity, accountability, integrity, trustworthiness, and servant leadership to empower or otherwise enable others to optimally perform their job responsibilities. Demonstrate and promote ethics and behaviors consistent with Tri-State's culture, Board policies, and business practices. Understand and fulfill the role and responsibility for all compliance programs within the company.
• Because Tri-State is an electric utility with continuous service obligations to its customers, regular, reliable, and predictable performance of the essential functions and responsibilities is an essential function of the job.
• Because Tri-State has an obligation to provide continuous, reliable electric service to its customers, the ability to work overtime at any time of the day or week is considered an essential function of the job.

OTHER DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform other related duties as assigned

SUCCESS FACTORS/JOB COMPETENCIES:

• Operational stability: ability to define operational architecture and policies driving up-time and minimal operational costs.
• Cohesive solution: ability to work with disparate business and technical needs, ensuring all solutions can be monitored, supported, and maintained.
• Prioritization: ability to identify where key issues in OT infrastructure exist, and determine best investment of corporate and member capital.
• Time management: the ability to prioritize and schedule projects and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrate behavior consistent with company values
• Conduct problem analysis and problem resolution at both strategic and functional levels.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong team player: accomplishes tasks by working with others and being a good team player. Recognizes how decisions may impact others; seeks input from others.
• Highly motivated self-starter willing to accept responsibility and accountability.

REQUIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Training:

• Bachelors' Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Ability:

• Safety first: obey all Tri-State safety regulations, and best practices bearing in mind that connected OT systems, if misconfigured, or shut down can result in personal injury, loss of generation facility hardware, and possible loss of revenue. It may be required to work near medium and high voltages. It may be required to work around exposed live electrical apparatus. It may be required to wear OSHA approved FR clothing and safety toe shoes.
• Ability to recognize and solve complex problems.
• Ability to interpret electrical engineering issued drawing and trace electric circuitry.
• Ability to interpret various documentation and drawing for electronic, instrumentation and process data. Includes blueprints, schematics, Loop drawings, piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&ID).
• Strong understanding of industrial networking practices.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work or mentor employees and leased workers performing installation work including electrical, telecommunications, and IT staff.
• Ability to mentor and teach skills necessary for maintenance of equipment after installation.
• Strong knowledge of Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking.
• Working knowledge of virtualization technologies including Citrix, VMWare and Microsoft.
• Understanding of domain security requirements and techniques including antivirus and firewall rule definition.

Experience:

• Eight (8) years' progressive experience with operational technology solutions. Note: Those with less experience will be hired at the Generation Operational Technology Specialist I job grade level.
• Strong experience with implementation or replacement of generation control systems.
• Strong experience with client/server hardware and software troubleshooting.
• Strong experience with NAS and SAN technology products.
• Experience with Microsoft Server Administration; MSCE highly desired.
• Experience in client/server domain administration.
• Experience with Windows, Linus computers and system administration.
• Experience with installation and management of fiber optic systems or related devices.
• Experience with network systems (switching, routing, firewalls) in a client facing support role.
• Strong experience in Linux and Windows server/desktop.
• Experience with OT networking and cyber security, including firewall management, remote access and foreign equipment access to DCS network.
• At least two (2) years' experience with Rockwell/Allen Bradley Controllogix, PlantPAX, FactoryTalk, GE Mark VI controls, Emerson Ovation DCS, Bently Nevada System 1 and/or OSISoft PI Historian and interfaces.
• Experience with radio, fiber optic, wired or wireless communications for SCADA systems.
• Experience with GE, Allen Bradley PLCs, and Modbus and OPC-DA/UA protocols.

Other:

• Willingness to travel as required (must possess a valid driver's license) to visit sites and attend training sessions, conferences and meetings off site.
• Must be able to demonstrate that he/she can perform all the essential functions of the position.

DESIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Masters' degree in Computer Science, IT or related discipline
• Education, formal training, and experience in Industrial Control Systems or DCS implementation preferred.
• Working knowledge of mining operations and PLC control
• One or more of the following certifications preferred:
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Global Information Security Certification (GIAC )

CompTIA Security+

• Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: Security
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• Security Essentials -C SEC401 (GSEC certification)
• Advanced Security Essentials -C SEC501 (GCED certification)
• Intrusion Detection In Depth -C SEC503 (GCIA certification)
• CISSP or other Cybersecurity certifications preferred.
• Experience in process control/critical systems/real time database environments and supporting technologies.
• Scripting experience with SQL, vbscript, PowerShell.
• Project management experience.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is primarily required to sit, stand, walk, stoop, bend and frequently utilize a keyboard/computer. Specific vision abilities include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Occasional lifting and moving servers, equipment will be required during installations.
• Mental demands: While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent will be required to problem solve, read, write and analyze data, work under schedules and deadline pressure, present information to others, work independently and use discretion and judgment for confidential or sensitive projects/issues.
• Work Environment: While performing the duties of this position, the employee is exposed to an office environment indoors, plant and mine environments and will occasionally travel outdoors to multiple locations dependent on work.