Real Time Operations Solutions Engineer Principal- Lead

Job Summary

The role involves establishing an advanced understanding of the technologies and processes necessary for the development and support of Operational Technology (OT) Real Time tools and systems. Responsibilities include providing application support for Energy Management Systems (EMS) and Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, as well as other applications utilized in Transmission Control Centers. Key tasks involve leading efforts to plan, research, and evaluate patching, failover, and maintenance activities required for OT Real Time systems, while developing a comprehensive understanding of EMS and SCADA functionalities.

Responsibilities

• Architect and own OT platform solutions for EMS (primary), SCADA, and ADMS, with a strong focus on the OSI Monarch EMS platform, driving system enhancements, architectural integrity, and real-time operational reliability.
• Manage EMS platform vendor relationships and third-party integrations, serving as the primary technical interface with AspenTech/OSI; coordinate vendor support, influence roadmap direction, and lead enablement of new EMS features and advanced applications.
• Define and enforce platform best practices for availability, backup, disaster recovery, and performance optimization, including configuration and support of EMS data archives (PI, OSI Chronus).
• Lead cross-functional technical efforts to deliver EMS platform capabilities and services, while supporting controlled SCADA/EMS software upgrades, patching, and modernization initiatives across the real-time OT environment.
• Partner with real-time operations teams and Business Units to understand operational end needs, and translate those needs into EMS platform capabilities, standards, configurations, and reusable services, while retaining platform ownership within OT rather than BU-specific solution delivery.
• Evaluate emerging EMS, SCADA, ADMS, and OT technologies through platform-level analysis to assess operational impact, risk, and long-term alignment with EMS platform strategy.
• Investigate, troubleshoot, and resolve complex EMS/SCADA platform issues, serving as a senior escalation point for application failures and performance issues, while providing guidance to less experienced employees on log analysis and root-cause troubleshooting.
• Configure platform monitoring and develop repeatable automation using PowerShell, Batch, and Python to deploy configuration changes, patches, and updates consistently across EMS and SCADA servers.
• Analyze logs and application/system monitors proactively to identify potential issues and develop mitigation strategies that improve platform stability and reduce operational impact.
• Carry out routine backups and periodic restoration testing to validate recovery readiness and maintain documented emergency restoration and disaster recovery procedures for EMS and SCADA platforms.
• Coordinate with teams and business process owners to schedule and administer patches, updates, and server configuration changes to minimize downtime, while providing after-hours support as part of an on-call rotation for critical EMS platform incidents.

Qualifications

• Real Time Operations Solution Engineer Principal SG9: Bachelor’s degree in a related field with 6 years of relevant experience, or Associate’s degree in a related field with 8 years of relevant experience, or High school diploma/GED with 10 years of relevant experience.
• Real Time Operations Solution Engineer Lead SG10: Bachelor’s degree in a related field with 8 years of relevant experience, or Associate’s degree in a related field with 10 years of relevant experience, or High school diploma/GED with 12 years of relevant experience.
• Education and Experience fields specify related fields such as IT/OT System Administration, IT/OT Application Support, Cyber Security, ADMS/DMA/EMS/OMS/SCADA.

Additional Requirements

• Overtime, on-call assignments, and occasional travel may be required.

Where You'll Work

This role sits on site in New Albany, Ohio.

What You'll Get

• Competitive compensation.
• A comprehensive benefits package.

Physical Demands

S – Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Equal Employment Opportunity

American Electric Power (AEP) is committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship including recruiting, hiring, upgrading and promotion, conditions and privileges of employment, company sponsored training programs, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, layoffs and termination of employment to all employees and applicants without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.