Sr Prin Controls System Engineer
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, MI, US
Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.
This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship, e.g., H-1B, TN, etc. Please do not apply if you will need immigration sponsorship for a work visa now or in the future, including sponsorship for H-1B, TN, etc., now or in the future. We are unable to hire individuals with CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT for this position as the position is not eligible for participation in the H-1B lottery program and is not eligible for current or future immigration sponsorship for a work visa.
Location: This is a hybrid (virtual/onsite) position with required onsite days on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The role may be based at any Consumers Energy Service Center located throughout Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The preferred location is Ludington Pumped Storage in Ludington, MI, or the west side of the state. The selected candidate must reside within a commutable distance or be willing to relocate. A relocation package is available for eligible candidates.
General Summary of Job Responsibilities
The Senior Principal Controls System Engineer serves as the highest-level technical authority for control systems across the utility or generation fleet, including multi-OEM Distributed Control Systems (DCS), related automation platforms, and Operational Technology (OT) architectures. This role supports a diverse generation portfolio, including coal, gas turbines/combined cycle, wind, solar, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
This position sets the strategic direction for automation, leads major modernization initiatives, and provides expert-level guidance on multi-OEM DCS architecture, reliability, cybersecurity, and long-term controls strategy.
The role provides engineering ownership for multi-OEM DCS and turbine control platforms—including Emerson Ovation, GE Mark VIe, ABB Symphony+, and Mitsubishi Netmation—as well as OT networks and secure remote access solutions that enable reliable operations.
The Senior Principal Controls System Engineer is expected to balance controls logic excellence (control strategies, sequences, alarms, tuning, and HMI) with OT architecture expertise (segmentation, communications, resiliency, and cybersecurity alignment), partnering with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, IT/OT Cybersecurity, and Compliance teams to ensure safe, compliant, and high-availability generation.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Perform or oversee asset health evaluations, OTAM inventories, and serve as the senior principal liaison with Power Control, MOC, plant energy management system OEMs, and OT teams.
- Ensure compliance with cybersecurity frameworks such as NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and FERC Standards of Conduct (SOC), working closely with IT security teams. Provide fleet-level technical governance, exception and compensating control strategies, and represent engineering during audits.
- Provide guidance and mentorship to Principal Controls System Engineers, fostering skill development and knowledge sharing, including the development of technical training programs.
- Represent the company in industry forums and conferences, contributing thought leadership to the broader technical community. Lead innovative initiatives and evaluate emerging technologies to enhance system capabilities.
- Participate in commissioning activities for new equipment and system upgrades.
- Configure and maintain multiple OEM Distributed Control System (DCS) platforms, EDS systems/servers, and plant energy management systems, including alarms and historian data points. This requires proficiency in scripting and automation using Python, C, C++, or platform-specific languages.
- Lead major DCS integration initiatives and upgrades across multiple control systems and facilities, while providing subject matter expert (SME) support for new generation development.
- Design and develop control network architectures, including IP addressing schemes, network layouts, and configuration of communication links between vendors and devices.
- Perform routine and complex troubleshooting, maintenance, root cause analysis, alarm management, and configuration updates to ensure real-time operation of DCS systems. Develop operator-facing dashboards and implement improvements to existing dashboards to support Operations.
- Identify, scope, and lead projects requiring cross-functional collaboration, including developing architecture for system upgrades and DCS enhancements.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
- Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and develop others, while leading technical aspects of product teams, including architectural and development strategy.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, including senior leadership.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess challenges and refine engineering approaches to improve technical solutions.
- Expertise in multiple programming languages, including object-oriented and functional programming paradigms.
- Commitment to continuous learning and ongoing development of both technical and leadership skills.
Education/Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Computers, Engineering, or a related technical field, with ten (10) or more years of experience supporting OEM Distributed Control Systems (DCS), EDS systems/servers, and plant energy management systems;
- [OR] Associate degree in a related field with twelve (12) or more years of relevant experience as described above;
- [OR] High School Diploma or GED with fourteen (14) or more years of relevant experience as described above.
Why should you join our team?
At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.
What we offer:
- Competitive compensation packages
- Medical, Dental and Vision
- 401k with company match
- Paid parental leave
- Up to 13 paid Holidays
- Paid time off
- Educational Assistance Program
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:
We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don’t discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY, capABLE, Interfaith and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.
All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.
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Controls Engineer, Systems Engineer, Engineer, Equity, Engineering, Finance