OTCR Technical Specialist IV

About the role

The OTCR Technical Specialist IV at West Yost is responsible for leading the full lifecycle of industrial control systems projects, from initial client consultation through detailed design, programming, and final commissioning. This role owns the technical delivery of complex SCADA and PLC systems for water and wastewater infrastructure, ensuring solutions meet client operational needs and regulatory requirements. The position drives the application of Cyber-Informed Engineering principles to protect critical water systems and enhance infrastructure resilience against evolving threats. You will provide hands-on technical leadership in designing control strategies, developing control logic, and solving intricate automation challenges for diverse utility environments. This role mentors junior engineers and technicians, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement within the controls discipline. You will act as a trusted client advisor, translating complex technical requirements into reliable and efficient control system solutions. The position actively contributes to the firm's knowledge base by developing standards, best practices, and technical documentation that elevate the quality of service delivery. Ultimately, you will play a key role in advancing water resources management by ensuring the safe, secure, and efficient operation of the systems that deliver essential water services.

Key facts

What you'll do

Develop, test, maintain, and update SCADA and PLC programs that provide monitoring and control of plant and process systems for water and wastewater facilities.

Design and configure PLC logic and Human Machine Interface (HMI) applications to optimize water and wastewater treatment processes and ensure operational efficiency.

Develop and maintain SCADA standards to promote consistency, scalability, cybersecurity, and reliability across utility infrastructure.

Query databases and historians to extract historical data, facilitating the development of reports that support operational decision-making and regulatory compliance.

Apply advanced knowledge of instrumentation and automatic control of dynamic processes to promote safe, reliable, and efficient operability in complex water systems.

Design advanced control strategies including PID control, sequencing, interlocks, redundancy schemes, and fail-safe systems to meet specific treatment objectives.

Design and develop comprehensive control systems, including instrumentation, panels, field devices, and associated equipment to ensure seamless integration.

Develop Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), control narratives, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and technical specifications to guide implementation and operations.

Provide controls and instrumentation expertise during multidisciplinary Engineering, Intelligence, & Controls (EI&C) design and review activities to ensure alignment with project goals.

Coordinate with electrical engineers to promote alignment between instrumentation and automation system design, ensuring cohesive project execution.

Contribute to the development and implementation of SCADA Master Plans that guide long-term system architecture and technology roadmaps.

Exercise independent technical judgment on complex control system assignments and provide technical direction to project teams to ensure successful outcomes.

Promote continuous improvement and technical excellence within engineering teams by sharing knowledge and implementing best practices for controls engineering.

Perform engineering services during construction, including submittal review, Requests for Information (RFI) response, and field observations to ensure design intent is realized.

Support control system installation, startup, commissioning, and troubleshooting activities to bring systems online efficiently and resolve operational issues.

Coordinate with contractors, integrators, and field personnel to support successful system implementation and foster collaborative project delivery.

Apply Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) principles and OT cybersecurity practices to control system design, programming, and modernization efforts.

Evaluate control system vulnerabilities, critical assets, system dependencies, and operational risks to improve infrastructure resilience and continuity of operations.

Support secure OT architectures and practices, including network segmentation, secure remote access, user access management, system hardening, and patch management coordination.

Develop and support implementation of mitigation strategies to enhance the security, reliability, and resilience of critical control systems against emerging threats.

Support America's Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) Risk and Resilience Assessments (RRA), Emergency Response Plan (ERP) updates, and related documentation and reporting.

Lead the technical delivery of projects involving PLC programming, SCADA configuration, control system integration, and infrastructure modernization initiatives.

Develop scopes of work, schedules, budgets, and project execution plans to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.

Lead pre and post construction activities, ensuring that project deliverables meet technical specifications and client expectations.

Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers and technicians, helping them grow their skills in controls and automation.

Requirements

Demonstrate a thorough understanding of PLC programming and configuration for water and wastewater applications.

Show proven ability to develop, test, and maintain SCADA systems using industry-standard software platforms.

Possess strong knowledge of control theory, instrumentation, and automation principles applied to water and wastewater processes.

Exhibit expertise in developing control strategies such as PID control, sequencing, interlocks, and redundancy for critical infrastructure.

Have experience with Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), control narratives, and technical specifications for water projects.

Demonstrate capability to coordinate with electrical engineers and field personnel to ensure successful system integration.

Show commitment to applying Cyber-Informed Engineering principles and OT cybersecurity best practices in engineering solutions.

Have the ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously while managing priorities, schedules, and resources effectively.

Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills to interface effectively with clients, consultants, and technical teams.

Nice to have

Experience with water or wastewater control systems and related regulatory environment.

Familiarity with AWIA Risk and Resilience Assessment processes and Emergency Response Plan development.

Knowledge of industry standards related to SCADA cybersecurity and resilience.

Experience with project management tools and methodologies for engineering projects.

Practical notes

This is a Hybrid role with 3 days in the office and 2 days remote.