_{29th September, 2026}

Senior EMS Engineer (Engineer V) – Lead the Control Systems Behind the Grid

The Opportunity
When the grid needs to respond in real time, the systems you run are the ones making it happen. This is the senior-most engineering seat on an electric utility's Energy Management Systems team. The team is responsible for the EMS, SCADA, AGC, ICCP, historian, and control system infrastructure that supports the Bulk Electric System every hour of every day.

You won't be maintaining someone else's roadmap. At this level you lead the maintenance, configuration, and upgrades of the EMS and data historian platforms. You design and maintain Automatic Generation Control and represent the utility to neighboring utilities through ICCP. You also help shape the engineering standards and long-term modernization of the operational technology environment.

It's a rare mix of deep technical ownership, real leadership, and the stability that comes with critical infrastructure work. The salary range reflects the level.

Why This Opportunity Is Different
Most senior EMS roles narrow you into one lane. This one does the opposite. At Engineer V you cross-train across every focus area on the team, including GMS, EAS, and Cyber-Infrastructure, while staying hands-on with custom application development in languages like VB.Net, Java, and C++.
You lead procurement and vendor relationships, mentor the engineers coming up behind you, and work directly with regional utilities and external partners. Your work shapes what operators see, how generation is controlled, and how securely the whole environment runs. Because it's critical infrastructure, the work, the team, and the mission are built to last.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading maintenance, configuration, and upgrades of the EMS and data historian systems, improving functionality, accuracy, and operator user interfaces
• Rebuilding substation configurations from engineering documentation and modeling EMS changes against established standards
• Validating control operations, analog data, and alarms with the controls vendor through point-to-point verification
• Designing, configuring, and maintaining Automatic Generation Control
• Representing the utility on ICCP, administering changes with other utilities and modeling the effects of configuration requests
• Troubleshooting and supporting custom applications and customized vendor software in VB.Net, Java, JavaScript and CSS, HTML, and C++
• Leading diagnosis of communications, telemetry, and data issues, including network traffic analysis with Wireshark and similar tools
• Driving NERC CIP compliance work, including:
• failover documentation
• change control
• patch management
• firmware upgrades
• security testing of configuration changes
• SQL-based compliance evidence

Leading procurement and contract management for hardware, software, and contract labor, and onboarding vendors into your processes
Mentoring and training less experienced engineers and building troubleshooting guides, SOPs, and best practices

What We're Looking For

• A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Technology, or MIS, or two additional years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree
• 10 or more years of experience maintaining applications that provide 24x7 support of critical operations
• Ability to meet and maintain NERC CIP access eligibility, including a Personnel Risk Assessment, and to pass a background check
• Knowledge of NERC standards and regulations and of electrical engineering industry standards and best practices
• Software engineering depth: reviewing program specifications, designing programs, and writing or modifying code using client-server, service application, and object-oriented design patterns
• Strong critical thinking and the ability to independently apply standards and guidelines to unprecedented technical problems
• Clear written and verbal communication, strong workflow and time management, and proficiency with MS Office and specialized technical tools
• Preferred: Washington State Engineer in Training, Professional Engineer license, electric utility operations experience supporting real-time EMS or SCADA systems, and supervisory or team lead experience

Compensation & Work Model
The full salary range for this level is $130,666 to $228,062 per year, based on qualifications, experience, and skills. A benefits package is available.
The majority of work is performed in a standard office setting, and the position may be eligible for a partial hybrid arrangement. Typical shifts are 8, 9, or 10 hours.

Location & Travel
Washington State. Some field work is required that may involve operating a vehicle for business purposes.

How to Apply
To apply or learn more, contact: Aimee.Santos@tappwfs.com

About TAPP Workforce Solutions
TAPP Workforce Solutions is a specialized recruitment and workforce solutions firm supporting organizations across skilled trades, engineering, manufacturing, and professional services. We act as an extension of our clients' teams, delivering thoughtful, relationship-driven hiring solutions focused on long-term fit, performance, and retention.

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