Plant Controller Project Lead

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.

• 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.

• 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

• 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

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering;
  Controls, Computer, or Power Systems…