Junior SCADA/Controls Engineer

District Partners LLC

$69K — $125K *
Energy & Utilities
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Active TS/SCI clearance or a Top Secret clearance with SSBI eligibility for TS/SCI with Polygraph.
  • Bachelor's degree in STEM (Electrical, Mechanical, or Systems Engineering) with relevant experience.
  • 2+ years working with ICS, SCADA, or BMS systems.
  • Strong knowledge of industrial automation and mechanical/electrical engineering principles.
  • Experience troubleshooting complex industrial processes.

Responsibilities

  • Analyze ICS, SCADA, and BMS to assess facility operations.
  • Leverage intelligence sources and analytical tools for critical infrastructure modeling.
  • Provide technical guidance and engineering judgment during analysis.
  • Create detailed reports and briefings for customer requirements.
  • Collaborate with teams to tackle engineering challenges.
  • Research new technologies for innovative analytical methods.
  • Present findings to senior officials and stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Work in a government SCIF contributing to national security.
  • Engage in high-impact work in a mission-focused environment.
Full Job Description

Leidos is seeking a highly motivated Controls Systems / SCADA Engineer to join our team in Reston, Virginia. This role supports the analysis and characterization of commercial, critical infrastructure, and heavy industrial facilities, with a focus on systems managed through Industrial Control Systems (ICS), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), and Building Management Systems (BMS).

The ideal candidate brings a strong engineering foundation, hands-on experience with industrial automation and facility systems, and a creative yet disciplined approach to solving complex technical challenges. Successful candidates will work as part of a multidisciplinary team of government and contractor personnel conducting strategic facility analysis in support of national security missions.

This position is located within a government SCIF and offers the opportunity to contribute to high-impact work in a fast-paced, mission-focused environment.


What You'll Do
  • Analyze industrial control systems, SCADA environments, and building management systems to characterize facility capabilities and operations.

  • Utilize intelligence sources, engineering expertise, and specialized analytical tools to assess and model critical infrastructure systems.

  • Provide technical guidance and engineering judgment throughout the analysis process to develop accurate assessments and intelligence estimates.

  • Develop detailed technical reports, briefings, and formal products in response to customer requirements.

  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to solve complex engineering and infrastructure challenges.

  • Research emerging technologies and contribute to innovative analytical methodologies and tools.

  • Present findings and technical assessments to senior government officials and stakeholders.


Required Qualifications
  • U.S. Citizenship required.

  • Active TS/SCI clearance, or an active Top Secret clearance with a current SSBI and eligibility to obtain a TS/SCI with Polygraph.

  • Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline (Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field) and relevant professional experience.

  • Bachelor's degree with 2+ years of relevant experience, or Master's degree with less than 2 years of relevant experience.

  • 2+ years of experience working with Industrial Control Systems (ICS), SCADA systems, or complex Building Management Systems (BMS).

  • Strong understanding of:

    • Industrial automation and process control systems

    • Electrical and/or mechanical engineering principles

    • Mechanical, electrical, and life safety systems

  • Experience evaluating and troubleshooting complex industrial processes and facility infrastructure.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical documentation and brief senior-level audiences.


Preferred Qualifications
  • Professional Engineer (PE) license or other relevant engineering certifications.

  • Military, intelligence community, or defense-related experience.

  • Hands-on experience with industrial automation technologies, including:

    • PLC programming (Rockwell/Allen-Bradley or equivalent)

    • HMI and SCADA development

    • FactoryTalk View

    • GE Fanuc

    • Modicon

    • Schneider Electric

    • Siemens S7

    • Emerson DeltaV

    • Emerson Ovation

    • Wonderware

  • Experience with:

    • Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)

    • Building Management Systems (BMS)

    • Access Control and Video Surveillance Systems (ACS/VSS)

    • Industrial HVAC and Central Utility Plant operations

  • Background supporting:

    • Industrial manufacturing facilities

    • Water and wastewater treatment systems

    • Nuclear facilities

    • Data centers

    • Cogeneration and Combined Cooling, Heating, and Power (CCHP) plants

  • Experience with complex cooling infrastructure, including chillers, cooling towers, UPS systems, and power monitoring solutions.

  • Cybersecurity, industrial cybersecurity, or penetration testing experience.

  • Industry certifications such as CISSP, SSCP, CEH, Security+, or equivalent.

  • Familiarity with network analysis and industrial cybersecurity tools, including:

    • Wireshark

    • NetworkMiner

    • GrassMarlin

    • SCEPTRE

    • HELICS

    • Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)


Original Posting:
May 31, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:
Pay Range $69,550.00 - $125,725.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

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