Senior SCADA & Communications Engineer

About this role

Why Work at SMA America

Power the future. Build your career at SMA America.

As the U.S. subsidiary of SMA Solar Technology AG, we have been at the forefront of solar inverter technology since 1981, developing solutions that make photovoltaic power plants simpler, more reliable, safer, and more cost effective. Headquartered in Rocklin, California, SMA America has spent more than two decades helping homes, businesses, and utilities across the country generate clean, reliable power. We are the only inverter manufacturer in the world offering solutions for every system size, from residential rooftops to large scale utility plants, backed by more than 1,500 patents and a presence in over 190 countries.

Innovation is only part of the story. We invest in our people, create room to grow, challenge conventional thinking, and protect a culture where teammates genuinely care about each other and the work. We hire capable people and give them the space to do the job, with clear expectations, open door leadership, and real autonomy.

If you are passionate about driving positive change and want a career where you can take ownership of your work, we would love to meet you. Together, we are not just part of the energy transition, we are helping drive it forward.

Senior SCADA & Communications Engineer
Rocklin, CA (HQ) or Texas / Remote considered, US (location pending your confirmation)
WORK AUTHORIZATION

• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis

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SMA America does not offer employment visa sponsorship of any kind, including H-1B, OPT, CPT, or TN visas

• Candidates who currently require or will in the future require visa sponsorship are not eligible

• Candidates operating under a temporary work permit or any visa-tied employment authorization are also not eligible

AI-GENERATED APPLICATION MATERIALS

• We review all resumes and application materials for AI-generated content

• Submissions that show evidence of AI manipulation will be disqualified from consideration without further review

• We want to hear your authentic voice and see your genuine experience

RECRUITMENT FRAUD NOTICE
All SMA America openings are posted on our official careers page and all recruiter communication comes from an @sma-america.com address. We never request payment, banking information, or a Social Security number during the recruitment process. If you are contacted about an SMA America role from a personal email account, or asked for any of the above, please forward the message to .
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
The Senior SCADA & Communications Engineer supports the design, integration, and operation of communication and control systems across utility-scale renewable energy assets, including solar PV, battery storage, and hybrid plants. This role owns site-level communications architecture, machine-to-machine (M2M) SCADA integration, and secure connectivity between sites, utilities, and cloud platforms.
PRIMARY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead integration of site controllers, inverters, and auxiliary equipment into a unified SCADA architecture

• Design and configure machine-to-machine (M2M) communications between site controllers, inverters, and plant-level gateways and data concentrators

• Define and deploy end-to-end communication networks, including industrial Ethernet (fiber/copper), layered OT network segmentation, and integration of secure connectivity platforms, data collectors, and industrial gateways

• Design and support OT networks, including firewalls, routers, switches, VLANs and segmentation, and fiber optic networks

• Manage secure communication interfaces between sites and utilities, transmission operators, ISOs/RTOs, asset owners, and cloud-based platforms

• Configure and validate protocols for wide-area communications, including real-time telemetry, dispatch and control signals, and event and disturbance reporting

• Design and implement multi-layer cybersecurity architectures, including segmented network zones, secure data replication layers, and unidirectional gateways (data diodes) for critical assets

• Support compliance with NERC CIP standards, utility interconnection requirements, and internal cybersecurity frameworks

• Enable inverter monitoring, diagnostics, and fault detection through integration with cloud-based dashboards

• Collaborate with O&M and engineering teams to troubleshoot issues and optimize system performance

• Maintain auditable data and communication structures to meet regulatory compliance requirements

• Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant work experience

• At least 5 years of SCADA or energy management systems experience

• Strong understanding of firewalls and network security fundamentals

• Ability to debug network connections using tools such as Wireshark

• Extensive hands-on experience with utility-scale SCADA systems, including SCADA servers, RTUs, PLCs, industrial gateways, and edge/data collection devices

• Strong experience with industrial and utility protocols such as Modbus TCP/IP, DNP3, IEC 61850 (preferred), and OPC UA

• Strong understanding of OT cybersecurity principles, including defense-in-depth architectures, secure remote access/VPNs, and network segmentation and monitoring

• Experience implementing secure communication paths between OT and IT systems

• Comfort working with field data, diagnostics, and system telemetry

OTHER SPECIALIZED SKILLS

• Background in commissioning or field deployment

• Experience implementing unidirectional security solutions (data diodes)

• Knowledge of ISO/RTO integration requirements

• Strong cross-functional collaboration across engineering, O&M, and IT/security teams

• Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving capabilities

• Ability to clearly communicate technical architectures to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

•…