Senior Industrial Automation Engineer OT Threat Research Lab

Overview

On Site
Full Time
Part Time
Accepts corp to corp applications
Contract - Independent
Contract - W2

Skills

HMIS
Energy
Manufacturing
Control Flow
Security Analysis
Testing
Use Cases
Documentation
Workflow
Siemens
Allen-Bradley
HMI
SCADA
Communication
Modbus
OPC
Collaboration
Cyber Security
ICS
Network
Research
Product Development
Research and Development
Scripting
Python
Windows PowerShell
Electrical Engineering
Mechatronics
Systems Engineering
Computer Engineering
SANS
Military
Training

Job Details

Senior Industrial Automation Engineer - OT Threat Research Lab

Mon-Fri Onsite - Santa Clara, CA

< style="text-align:start">We are seeking a skilled Automation Engineer to join the OT Threat Research Lab, where we replicate real-world industrial environments to support threat research and enhance OT cybersecurity products. You will be responsible for building and maintaining OT systems that generate realistic protocol traffic and device behavior, enabling our research and product teams to improve OT visibility, threat detection, and device classification.</>

You will collaborate with security researchers and product engineers who analyze PCAP data your role is to design and operate the industrial setups that produce this traffic under realistic operational conditions.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Set up and configure PLCs, HMIs, SCADA software, and other industrial components to replicate control system environments across verticals like energy, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure.
  • Implement logic and control flows to produce representative OT protocol traffic (e.g., Modbus, DNP3, PROFINET) that supports security research and device visibility efforts.
  • Work closely with security researchers and product engineers by providing realistic environments, traffic, and configurations for their PCAP analysis, detection validation, and feature testing.
  • Ensure OT devices and virtualized setups are fully functional, documented, and aligned with current and future use cases across research and engineering teams.
  • Maintain configuration records, logic diagrams, and setup documentation to support repeatability and integration with research workflows.

< style="text-align:start">Required:</>

  • 9+ years of experience in industrial automation or control systems engineering

  • Hands-on experience with PLCs (e.g., Siemens, Allen-Bradley), HMI configuration, and SCADA systems

  • Solid understanding of industrial communication protocols (Modbus, DNP3, OPC, PROFINET, etc.)

  • Experience simulating or operating real-world industrial processes in a lab or production setting

  • Ability to collaborate effectively with security researchers, engineers, and cross-functional teams


< style="text-align:start">Preferred:</>

  • Familiarity with OT cybersecurity concepts or ICS network architectures

  • Experience in a research lab, product development, or R&D environment

  • Basic scripting knowledge (e.g., Python or PowerShell) for configuration or automation tasks


Bachelor s degree in one of the following fields:

  • Electrical Engineering, Industrial Automation, Mechatronics, Control Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering Or a related technical discipline

  • Equivalent industry certifications or military training in automation and control systems, combined with substantial hands-on experience, may be considered in lieu of a degree.


Employers have access to artificial intelligence language tools (“AI”) that help generate and enhance job descriptions and AI may have been used to create this description. The position description has been reviewed for accuracy and Dice believes it to correctly reflect the job opportunity.