Lead Network Engineer (m/w/d)

Job Description

The Lead Network Engineer is responsible for serving as the senior technical authority for enterprise and OT network infrastructure, establishing architecture standards, and leading the design and integration of secure, reliable network solutions across utility-scale renewable energy systems. This role drives system reliability, telemetry accuracy, and long-term network modernization while ensuring compliance with NERC CIP, ISO/RTO, and cybersecurity requirements, and providing technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Other duties may be assigned as needed)

• Design and architect secure, scalable enterprise and operational technology (OT) network infrastructures for new renewable energy sites, including wind, solar, and battery energy storage systems.
• Develop standardized Layer III network architectures, including dynamic routing protocols, inter-VLAN routing, redundancy strategies, and high-availability designs for complex, multi-site environments.
• Evaluate existing network architectures across the fleet, identify design deficiencies, and develop strategic improvement and modernization plans to enhance resiliency, scalability, and security.
• Serve as the technical authority for Cisco and Hirschmann routing and switching platforms, ensuring configurations align with enterprise architecture standards and operational requirements.
• Lead the design and implementation of fleetwide network and security technologies, including identity and access management (SSO), Cisco firewall platforms, and network monitoring/visibility tools to enhance security, standardization, and operational insight across all sites.
• Design, implement, and optimize firewall rule sets and network access control policies across the fleet, ensuring proper segmentation, least-privilege access, and alignment with cybersecurity best practices.
• Ensure all network designs and modifications comply with applicable NERC CIP standards, cybersecurity controls, and industry best practices.
• Conduct architecture reviews for new site integrations, major upgrades, and infrastructure expansions to ensure consistency and long-term sustainability.
• Collaborate with SCADA engineering, cybersecurity, IT, operations, and external vendors to align network infrastructure with telemetry, control system, and enterprise data requirements.
• Develop and maintain enterprise network standards, IP addressing schemes, configuration templates, and documentation frameworks.
• Lead root cause analysis of complex network issues and implement long-term corrective design solutions rather than temporary fixes.
• Develop and enforce enterprise standards, templates, and deployment strategies to support consistent, scalable rollout of network infrastructure and security technologies across the fleet.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to network engineers while maintaining architectural governance across all projects.
• Participate in strategic planning initiatives to support long-term network modernization and fleet-wide standardization efforts.
• Adhere to all Terra-Gen safety policies, procedures, and standards while actively contributing to the continuous improvement of the Terra-Gen safety culture.
• Promote a strong safety-first mindset by identifying hazards, following established safe work practices, and supporting operational excellence across all activities.
• Take immediate and appropriate corrective action in response to emergency situations to minimize safety risks, equipment damage, and operational downtime.
• Participate in the department's on-call support rotation.
• Ability to travel up to 25% or more if required.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, or a related technical field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
• 7+ years of experience in network engineering, including experience designing and supporting complex enterprise and OT network environments in utility-scale, renewable energy, industrial, or similarly regulated critical infrastructure sectors.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing Layer III network architectures, including dynamic routing protocols (OSPF, BGP), inter-VLAN routing, redundancy strategies, and high-availability configurations.
• Advanced hands-on experience with Cisco routing, switching, firewalls, and VPN technologies.
• Strong experience with Hirschmann industrial networking equipment and ruggedized OT network deployments.
• Deep understanding of LAN/WAN architectures, segmentation strategies, and secure remote access frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of NERC CIP cybersecurity requirements and experience designing compliant network architectures and security controls.
• Proven ability to lead and execute fleetwide deployment of network and security technologies, including Single Sign-On (SSO), Cisco firewall platforms, and enterprise network monitoring/visibility tools across multi-site environments.
• Experience evaluating existing network infrastructures and developing modernization or improvement roadmaps.
• Working knowledge of industrial communication environments supporting SCADA, EMS, and control systems.
• Cisco CCNA required; Cisco CCNP strongly preferred.
• Relevant cybersecurity certifications (CISSP, GIAC, or similar) are a plus.
• Authorized to work in the United States.

Language Skills

• Ability to read and interpret work from simple and/or complex instructions.
• Ability to effectively communicate with others.
• Ability to write routine correspondence.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Communication Skills

• Ability to read and interpret work from simple and/or complex instructions.
• Ability to effectively communicate with others.
• Ability to write routine correspondence.

Reasoning Ability & Decision-Making Skills

• Ability to exercise good judgment and maintain confidentiality in maintaining critical and sensitive information, records, and reports.
• Possess great attention to detail and have excellent time management skills.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to provide, understand and complete written and verbal instructions and communication.
• Ability to problem solve and work independently and/or in a group setting.
• Must be organized, with an ability to stay focused on assigned tasks and possess an attention to detail.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Possess a valid driver's license for the state in which you are applying

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to type, handle, or feel.
• The employee frequently is required to talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to ten pounds and up to 20 pounds with assistance.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

Terra-Gen is an equal opportunity employer, drug-free workplace, and complies with Americans with Disabilities Act and related laws and regulations as applicable. All applicants are considered for all positions without regard to age, race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, physical/mental disability, medical condition, military/veteran status, genetic information, marital status, ethnicity, alienage, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment background check and drug screening. All qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with federal, state or local requirements such as the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Employees must be authorized to work in the US and employment is contingent upon presentation of acceptable documents as evidence of identity and employment authorization, as detailed on Form I-9.

Terra-Gen provides a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off, paid holidays, and 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match.

The posted compensation is the range that we in good faith anticipate relying on when setting wages for this position. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California. This salary range may also be modified in the future, depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location.