Department Summary The Operational Technology (OT) Department is responsible for engineering, purchasing, implementing and maintaining various applications, desktops, servers, and network infrastructure for the business network and 24-hour real-time network supporting near-real time business operations of Consumers Energy. The team of critical infrastructure analysts has responsibility for requirements gathering, design/architecture, implementation, and maintenance of systems. The team of analysts is also responsible for the identification, testing, and installation of updates/patches, configuration changes, change management, enhancements, maintenance, preparation of system documentation, monitoring of the systems, and support of the systems. The team of analysts uses historical data and trend analysis to make capacity planning recommendations to enhance existing systems, technology, and business processes. The team of analysts ensures the performance and reliability of the system including troubleshooting hardware, software, and network problems as well as root-cause analysis of issues. The Critical Infrastructure and Applications team manages infrastructure and applications critical to the near-real time and market function operations of Consumers Energy. The team provides real-time critical systems support for all levels. This position is incorporated into a larger team that provides 24/7 on-call support. Description The candidate for the Critical Infrastructure and Applications Team is intended to be System and Application Administration focused. The candidate will have access to all network equipment, systems, and applications resources within OT and, the candidate will be expected to become a Subject Matter Expert on their assigned systems and/or applications. This team has a diverse responsibility set which could allow significant opportunities for professional growth. Responsibilities
Possess the ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Possess the ability to carry the vision of the organization to achieve breakthrough effects
Provide technical ad-hoc customer support
Excellent customer service and communication skills
Knowledge of maintaining data historian systems (application, servers, user tools)
Possess the ability to respond to varying types of customer requests with ease, providing solution-based responses and recommendations
Knowledge of IT principles, methods, and best practices including Agile methodologies
Technical understanding of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
Demonstrates innovation in problem-solving abilities and, developing efficiencies in the process of work execution
Demonstrate ownership of the process and ways to streamline and make recommendation for continuous improvement
Experience delivering technical documentation and procedures
Experience with scripting tools
Participate in on-call rotation and ticket handling for the 24x7x365 systems
Required Qualifications:
Requires a bachelor’s degree preferably in an Information Technology field. Less than a bachelor’s degree may be acceptable if accompanied by other technical training / relevant certifications and experience in positions that demonstrate required abilities and performance
3+ years of professional experience or equivalent experience with administrating or working with applications
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with maintaining critical applications
Understanding of Microsoft platforms (Enterprise and Standard Server 2008R2 through 2019 and SQL Server 2008R2 through 2019)
Energy industry background that includes a working knowledge of effectively mapping technology to business challenges
Experience in performance monitoring methods using appropriate tools and, apply performance tuning
Experience with working with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) servers and Satellite Server
Experience with converged and hyper-converged infrastructure
Experience with backup systems (Backup Exec, CommVault)
Experience with Microsoft infrastructure systems such as System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012R2 and 2016, System Center Orchestrator, System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), and System Center Operations Manager (SCOM)
Experience performing server and application capacity planning and performance tuning
Experience with Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Experience with NERC CIP, FERC 693, and FERC SOC
Experience with relational and non-relational databases (SQL Server, Oracle and MemSQL)
Familiarity with distributed applications
Familiarity with Core applications such as Active Directory, IIS, and MSOffice Suite
Experience with monitoring tools such as SolarWinds Orion, Q1 and QRadar
Advanced certification such as Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)
Essential Functions
Works closely with department managers and users to define and analyze business and operational problems, process improvement opportunities and requirements; analyzes operational and business mandates and legal requirements; identifies and analyzes complex, ambiguous and/or conflicting business process issues; advises department managers on applications development, enhancement and maintenance issues; explains technology and process options and assists managers in analysis and decision making; analyzes management information needs and recommends data and reporting processes; coordinates the development of department priorities and works within IT to align initiatives to these priorities; facilitates user meetings and joint development sessions.
Develops and refines business models and relationship diagrams; evaluates methods of improving efficiency and cost effectiveness of business, technical and operational processes; works with users to reengineer work processes; analyzes functional business requirements and translates user expectations into detailed business requirements, specifications and success criteria; works with Information Systems to develop conceptual proposals for business process automation initiatives; recommends work process and/or operational changes to complement system functionalities; serves as an advocate for department needs with IT; stays abreast of developments in departmental processes to anticipate emerging technology needs.
Participates in the development of statements of work for RFPs/RFIs; participates in evaluating vendor applications and solutions; coordinates department review of vendor deliverables for accuracy and completeness, ensuring department needs and requirements have been met.
Develops significant application/hardware solutions to problems and addresses change request issues that require assignment of resources.
Analyzes and troubleshoots complex and sometimes urgent applications problems and errors; takes action or communicates solutions to problems; answers technical questions and provides guidance to users on system functionalities and methods for correcting problems.
Develops training materials and handouts; conducts user applications training classes and one-on-one training sessions; develops and maintains user and system documentation.
Designs and generates custom reports to meet user needs; uses reporting tools to extract user-required data.
Plans and coordinates the deployment of new technologies for client solutions; coordinates user acceptance testing and the resolution of problems identified.
Regular attendance is expected.
Hours and Travel
Meet travel requirements of the position.
Work a flexible schedule, which may include evenings, weekends, holidays and overtime.
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, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear.
The employee must lift and move up to twenty pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
