Laboratory Technician

Job Title: Lab Technician / Advanced Lab Technician - CAET Asset Operations

FirstEnergy

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.

All employees who apply for a posted position must notify their supervisors that they have applied. Employees who have not been in their current positions for at least one year or who are in a position with specific requirements beyond one year, must obtain approval from their supervisor before applying.

The selected candidate may be offered a position within the same job family, at a level that is lower than what was posted. This will be determined based upon the results of the interview process which considers the candidate's skills, work history, experience level, and other relevant qualifications.

This is a position in the Asset Operations group and is located at the Center for Advanced Energy Technology (CAET) in Akron, Ohio. The primary function of this position will be to support the cyber security testing of new assets to be placed in service at FirstEnergy (FE) Transmission Substations as the assets are first routed to the CAET facility prior to being shipped to the substation site. The primary mission of this facility is to ensure compliance with NERC CIP Standards for FE’s Operational Technology (OT) cyber assets within its transmission substations. This position will be responsible for applying cyber security baselines to Transmission cyber assets and verifying that those security baselines are effective prior to those assets being deployed across FirstEnergy’s Bulk Electric Transmission System. This position will also be responsible for applying software and firmware patch releases and testing the patches for effectiveness on the above-mentioned cyber assets. The CAET facility also houses a training complex for Relay Technicians, Communication Technicians, Commissioning and Substation Engineers and others and is supported by this position and staff as well as personnel from the Work Force Development department. This position will also support other functions within the Asset Operations organization including the FE Transmission Relay Spare Plant and supporting the transmission capital portfolio development as needed.

Responsibilities include:

• Work with Transmission & Substation Services Department to refine existing relay test routines and protocols to verify cyber security capabilities.

• Assist in modification of existing maintenance practices to address changing technology, new equipment types, improved test and diagnostic methods, regulatory changes, etc.

• Assist in developing and maintaining the cyber security baselines of FE’s transmission operational technology cyber assets to be used across the FE Transmission System.

• Verify and document that new cyber assets to be placed in service at FE Transmission Substations have the proper cyber security controls in place per the applicable security baseline.

• Verify the authenticity and integrity of software and firmware installed on OT devices bound for Transmission substations and assure that a certified copy is protected within FE Transmission’s Secure Software Repository.

• Ensure sensitive information has been removed from decommissioned cyber assets returned from FE Transmission Substations. Log, decommission or destroy these removed cyber assets per the NIST-800-88 standard.

• Provide support in CAET Development and Training labs as needed.

• Monitor industry trends and international design standards pertaining to cyber security of protective relaying and other transmission substation operational technology and recommend design standard changes where applicable.

• Provide support through spare equipment tracking and replacement requests. Track changes to inventory.

• Assist in performing Forensic, Apparent Cause and Root Cause analyses as requested.

• Assist in the education of others on technical subject matters and in the improvement of technical programs and process effectiveness.

• Assist in conducting technical research and analyzing highly complex data as requested.

• Review technical reports, papers, data, procedures etc. and provide technical feedback.

• Develop process improvements and efficiencies to improve work products.

• Maintain a safe workplace for employee, coworkers, and the community based upon knowledge of potential hazards and industry regulations/requirements.

• Provide a high level of customer service, continuous support, and proactive involvement to leadership and peers surrounding technical subject matter, analyzing, and interpreting test data, maintenance records, Cascade data.

• Work with Cascade and Maintenance Compliance personnel, Warehousing, and IT organizations as needed.

• Provide support to FEU personnel on information and /or reports related to Substation Assets.

• Actively seek ways to build challenge and add value within scope of assignments.

• Consistently anticipate and deliver results.

• Provide advice, education, and encouragement to others.

• Aid during emergencies and storm related activities.

• Maintain qualifications required to perform electrical/electronic repairs.

• Education and experience are as follows:

• High School education with a minimum of 2 years of electrical/electronics experience and 7 years of total experience, or

• Associate degree in Applied Science in Electrical or Electronics Engineering Technology from an ABET accredited school with a minimum of 5 years of experience, or

• Bachelor of science degree in Electrical or Electronics Engineering Technology with 2 years of experience

• Understanding of substations, substation equipment, devices, and maintenance practices is preferred. Strong consideration will be given to those with previous experience in the design, maintenance or testing of substation equipment.

• Technical knowledge of digital assets.

• Technical knowledge of electronic devices and ability to analyze electronic circuits.

• Familiarity with the understanding, application, and communication of microprocessor-based protection and control equipment is preferred.

• Commitment to FirstEnergy’s Safety Policies and the Accident Prevention Handbook

• Ability to read and understand substation electrical design prints and bills of material preferred.

• Familiarity with the following is preferred – Doble/Enoserve RTS, Doble ProSuite, Doble/Manta Relay Test Sets. SEL Compass, SEL AcSELerator applications.

• Proficient with Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. Demonstrated computer skills.

• Demonstrate a questioning attitude to continue to learn, produce results, and strengthen existing relationships.

• Must have demonstrated ability for analyzing and solving technical problems.

• Desire to continue to learn and grow, work across FirstEnergy, and deliver results.

• Ability to develop effective working relationships with employees at all levels of FirstEnergy Corp.

• Deliver quality, accurate work within established deadlines.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

• Ability to work overtime and off-shifts and be willing to work in various company locations.

• Education and experience are as follows:

• High School education with a minimum of 2 years of electrical/electronics experience and 9 years of total experience, or

• Associate degree in Applied Science in Electrical or Electronics Engineering Technology from an ABET accredited school with a minimum of 7 years of experience, or

• Bachelor of science degree in Electrical or Electronics Engineering Technology with 4 years of experience

• Understanding of substations, substation equipment, devices, and maintenance practices is strongly preferred. Consideration will be given to those with previous experience in the design, maintenance or testing of substation equipment.

• Enhanced technical knowledge of digital assets.

• In-depth technical knowledge of electronic devices and ability to analyze electronic circuits.

• Familiarity with understanding, application, and communication of microprocessor-based protection and control equipment is preferred.

• Commitment to FirstEnergy’s Safety Policies and the Accident Prevention Handbook

• Ability to read and understand substation electrical design prints and bills of material preferred.

• Familiarity with the following is preferred – Doble/Enoserve RTS, Doble ProSuite, Doble/Manta Relay Test Sets. SEL Compass, SEL AcSELerator applications.

• Highly proficient with Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Word. Demonstrated computer skills.

• Demonstrate a questioning attitude to continue to learn, produce results, and strengthen existing relationships.

• Demonstrates commitment and ownership of their own safety as well as a willingness to address the safety of others and organization safety objectives.

• Must have demonstrated ability for analyzing and solving technical problems.

• Desire to continue to learn and grow, work across FirstEnergy, and deliver results.

• Ability to develop effective working relationships with employees at all levels of FirstEnergy Corp.

• Deliver quality, accurate work within established deadlines.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Desirable to have an understanding of relevant technology solutions, such as Identity and Access Management (IAM), Security Information & Event Monitoring, Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems, and Data Diodes.

• Desirable to have knowledge in Operational Technology environments and Internet of Things (IoT). Specifically, with a good understanding of Industrial Controls Systems (ICS), such as SCADA, DMS, EMS, DCS, PI historian, RTUs, PLCs, RAS, and relays.

• Understanding of relevant cybersecurity standards and regulations pertinent to utility environments, such as NERC CIP, ISA 99, NIST CSF and C2M2.

• CISSP, CISM, and/or CISA certification preferred.

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

• Ability to work overtime and off-shifts and be willing to work in various company locations.

An employee hired at the Advanced Lab Technician level will be expected to perform all the above responsibilities with more proficiency, and in a more independent manner. Further, the Advanced Lab Technician level employee will be assigned additional responsibilities related to those above.

Qualifications at the Lab Technician level include:

Qualifications at the Advanced Lab Technician level include:

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FirstEnergy Human Resources Team