Leidos Engineering has an opportunity for an experienced Project Lead to direct the engineering design of a high-profile plant controller and plant-wide SCADA program for a large behind-the-meter hybrid energy facility in the ERCOT market. The facility combines utility-scale wind and solar generation with a mission-critical AI data center load, connected to the grid through dual 345 kV points of interconnection.
The Project Lead will work alongside the Project Manager and program leadership within Leidos Energy. You will be the technical owner of the design: directing a multidisciplinary team of controls, SCADA/HMI, OT cybersecurity, and power systems studies engineers and specialty subcontractors, integrating their work into a coordinated design, and serving as the lead technical voice to the EPC client, equipment vendors, and the owner's engineers from detailed design through commissioning.
About the Project:
The site-level plant controller is the real-time orchestration layer for the facility, issuing validated setpoints, constraints, and priorities to downstream asset controllers while respecting vendor-certified control logic. Its objectives are to:
Define and enforce a reliable, predictable operating envelope for the mission-critical data center load
Dispatch wind and solar generation to regulate voltage, frequency, and apparent power at the dual points of interconnection in line with ERCOT and interconnection requirements
Coordinate with wind and solar power plant controllers, capacitor banks, and transformer tap changers to regulate the POI and protect equipment ratings
Maximize use of on-site renewable generation and minimize unnecessary curtailment
Report key performance indicators for the POI, generation, and load assets through SCADA, HMI, and historian systems
Provide a secure, NERC CIP-ready architecture that can integrate future battery storage and natural gas generation without redesign
This is a permanent, salaried position with Leidos. While this role will focus on one particular project, there is no projected end date for this position, and the selected individual can expect to take part in ongoing Leidos projects in the future. The salary pay range for this postion is between 175 - 225k USD, depending on the selected candidate's experience and qualifications.
As a Leidos employee, you can look forward to a fast-paced, diverse work environment and flexible work hours/work arrangements, as well as managers who will encourage career development and growth opportunities, including:
Professional Engineer (PE) licensure and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification support
Formal Mentorship programs
Learning & Development Resources
Continuing Education Programs
Technical leadership tracks and project management opportunities
In this role, you can expect to:
Serve as technical owner of the plant control and SCADA design across the project lifecycle, from requirements and concept of operations through detailed design, testing, commissioning, and closeout
Direct engineering leads for controls, SCADA/HMI, OT networking and cybersecurity, and power systems studies, integrating their work into one coordinated design
Develop requirements, use cases, control narratives, and control algorithms for plant-level functions such as voltage and reactive power regulation, frequency response, POI and equipment limit control, and load coordination
Apply power system modeling and study results to define control limits, operating envelopes, and equipment sizing
Develop and manage interface specifications with third-party controllers, OEMs, utilities, and other stakeholders, and resolve technical conflicts between parties
Ensure the design supports grid operator interconnection requirements and applicable NERC standards
Lead technical quality reviews of engineering deliverables, including studies, drawings, specifications, points lists, network designs, and test plans
Partner with the Project Manager on engineering budget, schedule, and staffing, providing estimates to complete, early warning of scope changes, and technical input to change orders
Define hardware and software requirements and review bills of material for control and network equipment
Lead technical responses to RFIs and submittals during construction
Plan and lead factory acceptance and hardware-in-the-loop testing, author commissioning test plans, and serve as technical lead during site commissioning and compliance testing
Represent Leidos in technical design reviews and coordination meetings with clients, vendors, and owner's engineers
Ensure the engineering team follows project cybersecurity and critical infrastructure information handling requirements
Mentor project engineers and support operator training and knowledge transfer at turnover
What You'll Bring to the Table (Required Qualifications):
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering; Controls, Computer, or Power Systems Engineering may be considered
A minimum of eight (8) years of engineering experience in the electric power industry, including at least four (4) years leading multidisciplinary design teams
Demonstrated technical leadership of utility-scale power plant controller, SCADA, or substation automation projects from design through commissioning
Hands-on experience with plant-level control functions such as voltage/VAR regulation, primary frequency response, curtailment, and POI limit control for inverter-based resources
Working knowledge of ERCOT interconnection requirements and applicable NERC standards (e.g., PRC-024/029, MOD-025/026/027, CIP)
Experience developing or reviewing interface specifications with third-party PPC, OEM, and utility equipment, including communication protocols (DNP3, Modbus, IEEE C37.118, IEC 61850)
Ability to interpret power system study results and apply them to control design and operating limits
Experience with design review processes and quality control of engineering deliverables
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presenting technical positions to clients and vendors
Experience with MS Office Software (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
Ability to meet client background screening and site access requirements
Periodic travel to Texas is required, so candidates should be available for travel as needed
You Might Also Have (Preferred Qualifications):
Professional Engineer (PE) license, or the ability to obtain one, with Texas licensure a plus
Experience with hybrid plants, co-located large loads, or data center interconnections, including behind-the-meter configurations
Hands-on experience with SEL RTAC/SEL-3555 programming and Ignition SCADA, HMI, and historian development
Experience integrating Vestas, TMEIC, or similar wind and solar power plant controllers
Experience with power systems modeling (PSS/E, PSCAD, ETAP) and real-time simulation for CHIL testing (OPAL-RT, RTDS)
Knowledge of OT cybersecurity design (NERC CIP, IEC 62443, next-generation firewalls, jump host architectures, network segmentation)
Experience planning for future BESS or gas generation integration in plant control architectures
Experience working on EPC or design-build projects and supporting construction operations
Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, P6, Procore) and engineering budget tracking
Excellent organizational skills and the ability to multi-task effectively
Aptitude for problem solving and critical thinking
The salary pay range for this postion is between 175 - 225k USD, depending on the selected candidate's experience and qualifications.
PDSSUBSTATION
If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.
Original Posting: October 26, 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 $107,900.00 - $195,050.00
The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and 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.
About Leidos
Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.
Pay and Benefits
Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.
Securing Your Data
Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos' name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system - never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.
If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
Commitment to Non-Discrimination
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.
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About the role
This is a Mid Level role in the Finance and Insurance field (Accounting, audit and tax) at Leidos. Mid-level roles usually expect some years of relevant experience and the ability to work with limited supervision.
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size: Large Size; industries: Information Technology; locations on The Muse: Reston, VA.
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