Principal IT Architect – Operational Technology

Xcel Energy

. Provide deep subject matter expertise for ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION, ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION, and Gas Transmission and Distribution environments across production, non‑production, and regulated domains.

Posted 5/15/2026full-timeMinneapolis • Colorado, Minnesota • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $156,100 - $195,000 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Cyber Security

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide deep subject matter expertise for ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION, ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION, and Gas Transmission and Distribution environments across production, non‑production, and regulated domains.
Serve as a consultative, trusted advisor during system upgrades, integration failures, and production incidents affecting OT reliability or compliance.
Maintain institutional knowledge of environment segmentation (CIP vs non‑CIP, prod vs non‑prod) and how those boundaries impact design and operations.
Set defend and operationalize a Clear OT Strategy that enables safe, reliable grid operations while modernizing the technology stack under strict regulatory and cybersecurity constraints.
Develop platform roadmaps, not isolated projects.
Participate in and influence architecture and design discussions.
Author Operational Technology standards that serve as the building blocks for OT project implementation.
Validate that integration designs support real‑time performance, data integrity, and operational resiliency.
Act as a key OT SME in complex identity and access management (IAM) scenarios.
Partner across architecture, operations, cybersecurity, and IAM to define clear ownership for OT security integration issues that fall between teams.
Incorporate observability standards into OT platforms, ensuring alerting and reporting designs are in place and validated prior to go‑live.
Engage regularly in Teams-based coordination with OT peers, architects, and operations leaders to clarify ambiguities.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in Technology, Science, Business or related field, or 4 years of experience equivalent to the position.
Ten years of related functional experience.
Excellent communication skills, effective with varying organizational levels and skill sets.
Excellent Relationship Management and collaboration skills, with a track record of working as one team cross-organizationally to drive innovation and business results.
Strong architecture acumen across multiple domains including network, infrastructure, software, hosting models, applications, data, mobile platforms, and security.
Strong knowledge of core aspects of enterprise architecture (Software, Hardware, Network, Integration, Data, hosting models, platform types, etc.).
In-depth expertise in at least two areas of: Architecture competency such as SOA, TOGAF, BPM, Data Analytics, standards & governance, or enterprise architecture frameworks.
Expertise on future technology trends within area of expertise.
Expertise in architectural review and technology lifecycle management disciplines.
Experience in a leading role in project delivery & solutions architecture.
Experience successfully owning and driving strategic roadmap planning, and simplifying technology eco-systems.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Annual Incentive Program
Medical/Pharmacy Plan
Dental
Vision
Life Insurance
Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
Health Care Reimbursement Account
Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA)
Transportation Reimbursement Account
Short-term disability (STD)
Long-term disability (LTD)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
Tuition reimbursement
Transit programs
Employee recognition program
Pension
401(k) plan
Paid time off (PTO)
Holidays
Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO)
Parental Leave

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Electric DistributionElectric TransmissionGas TransmissionOperational Technology (OT)Identity and Access Management (IAM)Enterprise ArchitectureService-Oriented Architecture (SOA)TOGAFBusiness Process Management (BPM)Data Analytics

Soft Skills

CommunicationRelationship ManagementCollaborationConsultative AdvisoryCross-organizational teamworkInnovation drivingProblem-solvingLeadershipInfluencingClarifying ambiguities

Certifications

Bachelor's degree in TechnologyBachelor's degree in ScienceBachelor's degree in BusinessTOGAF certificationBPM certification