Principal Software Engineer - Power and Industrial Automation
hace 4 días
Elkridge
Job Description Job Title Principal Software Engineer / Product Owner – Power Automation (On-Site) Location Howard County, Maryland (On-site role – remote work not available) Company Avista Realtime Systems, LLC Industrial Automation • SCADA • Power Systems • Critical Infrastructure Role Overview Avista is seeking a senior, hands-on software engineer to own and lead the evolution of a core real-time software platform used in power automation, industrial controls, and utility-grade environments. This role blends product ownership, lead software development, and technical team leadership. You will be responsible for both defining the technical direction of the platform and delivering production-quality software that integrates with substations, utility SCADA systems, industrial processes, and power-system infrastructure. This is a builder-owner role, not a coordination-only position. The right candidate enjoys being close to the code, close to the customer, and accountable for real outcomes. Key Responsibilities Product Ownership & Technical Direction • Own the technical roadmap and architecture of a real-time power-automation software platform, • Translate utility, grid-operations, and customer requirements into scalable software features, • Balance performance, reliability, cybersecurity, and delivery timelines, • Act as lead developer, contributing production-grade code, • Design and implement services for real-time data ingestion, processing, and storage, • Develop and maintain APIs supporting industrial and utility integrations, • Lead architectural decisions around extensibility, scalability, and security, • Mentor and guide a small team of software engineers, • Set development standards, sprint goals, and release expectations, • Conduct technical reviews and provide constructive feedback, • Work closely with our power systems and SCADA engineers to align software with electrical requirements, • Support Sales in technical discussions, demos, and proposals, • Collaborate with Marketing on product messaging and feature descriptions, • Ensure the platform meets utility-grade reliability and availability expectations, • Implement testing, monitoring, logging, and CI/CD practices Experience • 8+ years of professional software development experience, • 3+ years in a senior or lead engineering role, • Hands-on experience with power automation systems, including substations, generation, transmission, or distribution, • Deep understanding of SCADA systems and requirements, • Solid understanding of:, • Substation architecture, • IEDs and protective relays, • SCADA telemetry, controls, and alarms, • OPC UA (client and/or server implementation), • DNP3, • IEC 61850, • Modbus (TCP/RTU), • Backend development using Python, C#, and C/C++, • Experience with real-time or event-driven data systems, • SQL and/or time-series databases, • Containerized deployments, • Git-based workflows, • Strong ownership mindset and accountability, • Ability to communicate effectively with engineers, customers, and leadership, • Clear documentation and architectural decision-making, • On-site role in Howard County, MD, • Close collaboration with power engineers, software developers, and leadership, • Competitive compensation, commensurate with experience, • Performance-based incentives, • Benefits package including health coverage, PTO, and professional development support Screening Statement This role requires direct experience with power automation and industrial protocols. Candidates without hands on experience will not be considered. Hiring Process This role involves a deliberate and in-depth evaluation process and is not limited to a single interview. Qualified candidates should expect multiple technical and product-focused discussions, an on-site visits to our office, and detailed conversations with engineering and leadership. Due to the proprietary nature of our systems, candidates will be required to execute a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) prior to reviewing internal materials or product demonstrations. We are intentionally selective and invest significant time in mutual evaluation before making a decision. For this opportunity, we do not work with third-party recruiters, staffing agencies, or placement firms; direct applicants only. Company DescriptionAvista Realtime Systems, LLC is a growing SCADA, controls, and automation company based in the DC Metro area. For more than 18 years, we’ve delivered mission-critical solutions to the power, water, transit, renewable energy, and government sectors. We design and integrate advanced real-time systems that help utilities and infrastructure operators improve reliability, efficiency, and security. From control system engineering and panel fabrication to software development and cloud-enabled monitoring, Avista provides end-to-end solutions tailored to complex projects. Our team is built on collaboration, innovation, and impact. At Avista, you’ll work alongside engineers, project managers, and industry experts to support clients who power communities and drive the future of energy and infrastructure.Avista Realtime Systems, LLC is a growing SCADA, controls, and automation company based in the DC Metro area. For more than 18 years, we’ve delivered mission-critical solutions to the power, water, transit, renewable energy, and government sectors.\r\n\r\nWe design and integrate advanced real-time systems that help utilities and infrastructure operators improve reliability, efficiency, and security. From control system engineering and panel fabrication to software development and cloud-enabled monitoring, Avista provides end-to-end solutions tailored to complex projects.\r\n\r\nOur team is built on collaboration, innovation, and impact. At Avista, you’ll work alongside engineers, project managers, and industry experts to support clients who power communities and drive the future of energy and infrastructure.