Operational Technical Engineer
Overview
Empower AI is AI for government. Empower AI gives federal agency leaders the tools to elevate the potential of their workforce with a direct path for meaningful transformation. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Empower AI leverages three decades of experience solving complex challenges in Health, Defense, and Civilian missions. Our proven Empower AI Platform® provides a practical, sustainable path for clients to achieve transformation that is true to who they are, what they do, how they work, with the resources they have. The result is a government workforce that is exponentially more creative and productive. For more information, visit www.Empower.ai.
Empower AI is proud to be recognized as a 2024 Military Friendly Employer by Viqtory, the publisher of G.I. Jobs. This designation reflects the company’s commitment to hiring and supporting active-duty and veteran employees.
Responsibilities
As an Operational Technology (OT) Engineer, you will provide engineering, integration, modernization, sustainment, and cybersecurity support for Army Facility Related Control Systems (FRCS), Industrial Control Systems (ICS), Utility Monitoring and Control Systems (UMCS), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, Building Automation Systems (BAS), Direct Digital Control (DDC) systems, and utility metering infrastructures. You will support the planning, design, installation, testing, and deployment of operational technology solutions that improve facility operations, energy management, infrastructure resilience, and mission assurance. In this role, you will conduct site surveys, develop engineering solutions, perform system integration activities, and support modernization efforts for installations across both Continental United States (CONUS) and Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) locations. You will work closely with Government stakeholders, facility managers, cybersecurity personnel, vendors, and installation teams to ensure system interoperability, security, reliability, and compliance with Army and Department of Defense requirements. In assuming this position, you will be a critical contributor to meeting Empower AI's mission: To deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions and services that enable our customers to rapidly adapt to dynamic environments. This position requires travel to customer locations throughout CONUS and OCONUS and may require work in operational facilities, utility plants, industrial environments, and data collection locations. An active Secret clearance is required or must be obtained.
Highlights of Responsibilities:
- Conduct site surveys, requirements analysis, stakeholder interviews, infrastructure assessments, and data collection activities utilizing standardized survey methodologies and engineering checklists.
- Develop Site Survey Reports, Courses of Action (COAs), technical recommendations, cost estimates, Bills of Material (BOMs), and modernization roadmaps.
- Design, engineer, install, integrate, configure, and test operational technology solutions supporting Army facilities and utility infrastructures.
- Perform installation, replacement, repair, modification, and upgrade activities for field devices including meters, sensors, actuators, controllers, PLCs, RTUs, gateways, and associated communications equipment.
- Support deployment and sustainment of SCADA, FRCS, BAS, DDC, UMCS, utility metering, and centralized management systems.
- Develop engineering artifacts including System Design Plans (SDPs), Engineering Installation Plans (EIPs), network diagrams, wiring packages, migration plans, test plans, and as-built documentation.
- Design and integrate OT communications networks utilizing BACnet, Modbus, LonWorks, IP-based protocols, serial communications, and vendor-specific control system protocols.
- Validate interoperability between control systems, enterprise management platforms, cybersecurity solutions, and operational technology devices.
- Perform factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), system validation, troubleshooting, and turnover activities.
- Support operational technology modernization projects, technology refresh initiatives, and lifecycle replacement efforts.
- Troubleshoot hardware, software, networking, controller, communications, and integration issues impacting system operations.
- Coordinate installation and deployment activities with facility personnel, Government Project Leads (GPLs), Technical Monitors (TMs), vendors, and subcontractors.
- Maintain compliance with Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC), Unified Facilities Guide Specifications (UFGS), Army regulations, FRCS standards, and operational technology implementation guidance.
- Support cybersecurity implementation activities including Risk Management Framework (RMF), Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) compliance, vulnerability remediation, and secure system integration.
- Provide operator familiarization, technical training, system turnover support, and sustainment guidance following project completion.
- Develop and maintain project documentation, engineering packages, test reports, training materials, lessons learned, and operational procedures.
Qualifications
Requirements:
Current/active Secret clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one.
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operational Technology, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, or a related technical discipline. Equivalent experience may be substituted for education.
CompTIA Security+ certification required.
Minimum five (5) years of experience supporting Operational Technology (OT), Industrial Control Systems (ICS), SCADA, Building Automation Systems (BAS), Facility Related Control Systems (FRCS), Utility Monitoring and Control Systems (UMCS), utility metering, or industrial automation environments.
Demonstrated experience installing, integrating, configuring, and supporting PLCs, RTUs, metering systems, SCADA platforms, BAS solutions, and operational technology networks.
Experience conducting site surveys, infrastructure assessments, requirements analysis, and engineering documentation development.
Experience developing engineering drawings, network diagrams, panel layouts, wiring diagrams, and installation packages.
Experience supporting field deployments and working directly with customers, facility personnel, vendors, and project stakeholders.
Knowledge of operational technology networking, communications protocols, and system integration methodologies.
Ability to travel frequently throughout CONUS and OCONUS locations.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience supporting Army Metering Programs, FRCS modernization efforts, Installation Energy Programs, Utility Monitoring Programs, or similar Army OT initiatives.
- Experience with Niagara Framework, WebCTRL, Johnson Controls, Schneider Electric EcoStruxure, Siemens Desigo, Tridium, Honeywell, or similar OT platforms.
- Experience supporting enterprise operational technology architectures and centralized management platforms.
- Knowledge of NIST SP 800-82, RMF, STIG requirements, Zero Trust principles, and operational technology cybersecurity best practices.
- Experience conducting cybersecurity assessments, implementing security controls, and supporting Authority to Operate (ATO) activities.
- Experience developing migration plans and executing large-scale OT modernization and technology refresh initiatives.
- Experience supporting cloud-hosted OT architectures, enterprise data repositories, analytics platforms, and centralized monitoring solutions.
- Experience supporting utility metering systems and integration of electrical, gas, water, steam, and thermal energy monitoring solutions.
- Knowledge of energy management systems, smart building technologies, and facility automation concepts.
Certifications (Desired):
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- CompTIA SecurityX (formerly CASP+) or CISSP
- Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP)
- Certified SCADA Security Architect (CSSA)
- ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Certifications
- Niagara Certification Program (NCP)
- Vendor-specific BAS, SCADA, PLC, or OT platform certifications
- Microsoft, Cisco, or industrial networking certifications supporting OT environments
Physical Requirements:
- Sitting for extended periods.
- Standing and walking throughout industrial, utility, and facility environments.
- Ability to lift and carry equipment up to 40 pounds.
- Ability to climb ladders, access rooftops, utility spaces, mechanical rooms, and control facilities.
- Ability to work in data centers, utility plants, industrial facilities, and operational environments.
- Ability to travel by land and air transportation up to 50%.
About Empower AI
All hiring and promotion decisions at Empower AI are based on merit to bring the best talent available to contribute to our firm’s overall success. It is the policy of Empower AI not to discriminate against any applicant for employment, or employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status. Empower AI is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.