IT Architect IT-OT Architecture

Overview

Responsibilities

• Offers strategic guidance on diverse technological initiatives that align with company business goals. Leads the creation of roadmaps across IT domains such as solution, application, business, or data/information architecture, with a focus on Electric, Gas, and Steam operational technologies. Ensures seamless integration within and across domains by evaluating solution options and directing the development of application portfolios. Works closely with business and ETS partners to ensure compliance with industry standards (such as NERC CIP and TSA Security Directive), company policies, and best practices for network design, data integration and application architecture.
• Leads the development of IT-OT architecture for utility operations, ensuring alignment with the unique needs of electric, gas, and steam services. Has a strong understanding of, and applies, industry best practices in network segmentation (high value, corporate, etc.), secure field device communication, and robust infrastructure design to ensure safe and reliable utility operations.
• Works closely with business units, ETS internal teams, and BSD partners to understand business processes, technology workflows, and operational needs throughout the utility environment. Develops and refines conceptual and physical models that illustrate the interaction between business and technology systems, supporting reliable service delivery, regulatory compliance, and ongoing modernization across the company.
• Stays current with IT and business industry trends and best practices, developing strategies for effective implementation. Communicates and influences strategic direction and presents recommendations at the senior executive level.
• Identifies, evaluates and develops roadmaps for the integration of business processes, applications, technologies and infrastructure, including vendor & internally developed applications.
• Manage projects, a small team and budgets including but not limited to resources, scope, budget (costs), schedule & overall project plans.
• Collaborates with peers; researches, establishes and updates technical standards; manages application development lifecycle and methodologies, provides oversight on processes and other governance responsibilities.
• Provides guidance and/or conducts architectural, configuration, solution & quality reviews. Takes the lead on issues requiring coordination with all internal IT groups and other organizations, including vendors, to ensure that issues are addressed. Directs team members as required for resolution.
• Develop staff as needed; research/provides recommendation on technical training, evaluates/provides feedback for skill development of junior technical staff.
• Performs other related tasks and assignments as required.

Qualifications

Required Education/Experience

• Bachelor's Degree and minimum of 8 years' relevant full-time work experience in designing, developing, implementing technologies in one or more domains, e.g. applications or data. or
• Master's Degree and minimum of 6 years' relevant full-time work experience in designing, developing, implementing technologies in one or more domains, e.g. applications or data.

Preferred Education/Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Math, Engineering or business-related discipline. and minimum of 8 years' relevant full-time work experience with training and/or certification in one or more domains desired, e.g. application architecture, data architecture, IT Infrastructure, business/process architecture or redesign.
• Master's Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Math, Engineering or business-related discipline and minimum of 6 years' relevant full-time work experience with training and/or certification in one or more domains desired, e.g. application architecture, data architecture, IT Infrastructure, business/process architecture or redesign.

Relevant Work Experience

• Minimum of 6 years' experience designing, developing, implementing technologies in one or more domains, e.g. applications or data, Required.
• Experience in evaluating technology and establishing standard implementations, Required.
• Solid understanding of architectural concepts and practices leading to solutions that are reliable, maintainable, reusable, scalable and extensible, e.g. service-oriented architectures, Required.
• Hands-on experience in designing, implementing, managing, or securing SCADA systems and/or industrial control system applications, focusing on technical aspects like networking, security infrastructure, data, etc. This includes developing and deploying SCADA applications, configuring and managing SCADA infrastructure, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems, or securing SCADA systems, Required.
• Experienced in one or more of the following technologies and practices; Big Data/Analytics, Cloud (SaaS, PaaS), mobile, sensors (Internet of Things), Outage and utility network systems, Field Work Management Systems or Integration Services, Required.
• Comfortable and skilled at selling new processes and techniques. Must be able to communicate designs and give persuasive presentations. Must be able to interact with all levels of management and communicate technical concepts to a non-technical audience, Required.
• Ability to establish medium and long-term plans and priorities and estimate investment requirements, Required.
• Flexible and able to work off-hours as required to support deployments, resolve production problems or respond to corporate emergencies, Required.
• Experience and expertise in communication protocols and security measures for Operational Technology (OT) field devices. This includes configuring and securing communication channels, implementing security policies, and ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of data transmitted between field devices and control systems, Preferred.
• Demonstrates strong expertise and practical experience in network design and implementation, with emphasis on transport network technologies, network segmentation, and capacity engineering. Designs scalable and resilient network architectures, segments networks to improve security and performance, and optimizes network capacity to support organizational requirements, Preferred.
• Experience with implementing or integrating commercially available application suites, Preferred.
• At least two (2) years of leadership or managerial experience, Preferred.
• Experience and/or formal training or certification in Project Management, Preferred

Skills and Abilities

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment
• Effective leadership skills
• Ability to inspire and develop staff
• Develops and delivers effective presentations
• Project Demonstrated project management skills
• Well organized, detail oriented and flexible to handle multiple assignments

Licenses and Certifications

• Driver's License Required

Physical Demands

• Sit or stand to use a keyboard, mouse, and computer for the duration of the workday

Additional Physical Demands

• The selected candidate will be assigned a System Emergency Assignment (i.e., an emergency response role) and will be expected to work non-business hours during emergencies, which may include nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to respond to Company emergencies by performing a System Emergency Assignment to restore service to our customers.