Compensation range: $90,000 - $128,000. Based on our Lake Oswego, OR office location. (West Yost uses geographic salary differentials that would apply for candidates in other regions).
Status: Full-time, ExemptLOCATION: Lake Oswego, OR (https://www.westyost.com/locations/ ).**This is a Hybrid role with 3 days in the office and 2 days remote.**OTCR TECHNICAL SPECIALIST IV (Controls & Automation)Position SummaryThe OTCR Technical Specialist IV leads the planning, design, programming, and delivery of industrial control systems. This position provides advanced expertise in PLC and SCADA systems, control strategy development, SCADA standards and master planning, and the application of Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) principles. The role provides technical and project leadership, mentors technical staff, and serves as a trusted advisor to clients and internal teams while supporting business development and critical infrastructure resilience initiatives.
Controls & Automation Technical Leadership- Develops, tests, maintains, and updates SCADA and PLC programs that provide monitoring and control of plant and process systems.
- Designs and configures PLC logic and HMI applications for water and wastewater processes. Develops and maintains SCADA standards to promote consistency, scalability, cybersecurity, and reliability. \Queries databases and historians for historical data to facilitate report development by utilities.
- Applies advanced knowledge of instrumentation and automatic control of dynamic processes to promote safe, reliable, and efficient operability.
- Designs advanced control strategies including PID control, sequencing, interlocks, redundancy schemes, and fail-safe systems.
- Designs and develops control systems including instrumentation, panels, field devices, and associated equipment.
- Develops Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), control narratives, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and technical specifications.
- Provides controls and instrumentation expertise in multidisciplinary EI&C design and review activities.
- Coordinates with electrical engineers to promote alignment between instrumentation and automation system design.
- Contributes to the development and implementation of SCADA Master Plans.
- Exercises independent technical judgment on complex control system assignments and provides technical direction to project teams.
- Promotes continuous improvement and technical excellence within engineering.
Construction & Field Support- Performs engineering services during construction, including submittal review, Requests for Information (RFI) response, and field observations.
- Supports control system installation, startup, commissioning, and troubleshooting activities.
- Coordinates with contractors, integrators, and field personnel to support successful system implementation.
OT Cybersecurity & Resilience- Applies Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) principles and OT cybersecurity practices to control system design, programming, and modernization.
- Evaluates control system vulnerabilities, critical assets, system dependencies, and operational risks to improve infrastructure resilience and continuity.
- Supports secure OT architectures and practices, including network segmentation, secure remote access, user access management, system hardening, and patch management coordination.
- Develops and supports implementation of mitigation strategies to enhance the security, reliability, and resilience of critical control systems.
- Supports America's Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) Risk and Resilience Assessments (RRA), Emergency Response Plan (ERP) updates, and related documentation and reporting.
Project & Technical Team Leadership- Leads the technical delivery of projects involving PLC programming, SCADA configuration, control system integration, and infrastructure modernization.
- Develops scopes of work, schedules, budgets, and project execution plans.
- Leads project meetings and coordinates multidisciplinary teams.
- Leads and coordinates technical staff with emphasis on workload planning, task delegation, and delivery accountability.
- Provides mentorship and training to junior and mid-level technical staff.
- Performs QA/QC reviews of technical work products in accordance with company quality standards prior to client delivery.
- Prepares and reviews invoices and monitors project financial performance.
- Provides leadership to support successful project delivery aligned with schedule, scope, and budget objectives.
Client Engagement & Business Development- Interfaces directly with clients and external organizations to define system requirements and provide technical leadership.
- Develops scopes of work and fee estimates and contributes technical content to proposals.
- Participates in client interviews and project pursuits.
- Supports sector and cross-sector standards development initiatives.
- Networks at conferences and professional organization meetings to support industry engagement and business development.
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline.
- 7+ years of experience in PLC and SCADA system design and programming.
- Advanced experience with one or more major PLC platforms (e.g., Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, Siemens).
- Experience with one or more SCADA/HMI platforms (e.g., Ignition, Wonderware/AVEVA, Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk).
- Working knowledge of SQL databases and industrial historians.
- Experience in control strategy development and system commissioning.
- Working knowledge of industrial networking and basic cybersecurity principles for control systems.
- Working knowledge of common industrial communication protocols.
- Demonstrated project management and client coordination experience.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications- Professional Engineer (PE) license.
- PMP certification or equivalent project management training.
- Experience in water/wastewater, utilities, or critical infrastructure sectors.
- Experience supporting infrastructure resilience, risk assessment, or AWIA-related projects.
- Experience developing SCADA Master Plans and standards.
- Knowledge of ISA/IEC 62443 and industrial cybersecurity best practices.
- Experience presenting technical topics to clients, industry groups, or professional organizations
Key Competencies- Independent technical judgment and systems thinking
- Technical leadership and mentorship
- Client-focused communication and collaboration
- Project and financial accountability
- Quality and QA/QC rigor
- Infrastructure resilience and risk awareness
Travel RequirementsThis position may require travel to other offices and/or client locations. Applicant must carry a valid driver's license. Applicant must also be able to meet West Yost's rules and be eligible to drive for business. West Yost's insurance carrier reserves the right to exclude applicants based on their driving record.*
