WHAT WE NEED
An OT Systems Engineer leads SCADA development, supports MES platform operations, and partners with plant teams to drive operational efficiency initiatives across our manufacturing facilities. This role serves as the technical bridge between plant floor systems and enterprise platforms, translating operational needs into scalable solutions while ensuring data integrity and system reliability. The role combines dedicated site support with enterprise team membership, ensuring standards and platform consistency scale across all facilities. This includes establishing SCADA standards, architecture patterns, and development practices that support consistency and scalability as the team grows.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
SCADA Development & Ownership
- Lead SCADA system development and maintenance on the Ignition platform
- Design and implement visualization, alarming, and data collection solutions that support plant operations
- Define, document, and drive adoption of SCADA standards and architecture patterns across sites
- Partner with the Enterprise MES Lead to establish platform alignment between SCADA and MES layers
- Troubleshoot and resolve SCADA system issues, ensuring minimal disruption to production
Operational Visibility & Continuous Improvement
- Partner with plant teams to improve operational visibility through enhanced data capture and reporting
- Identify systemic issues and improvement opportunities through data analysis and process observation
- Translate operational challenges into platform capabilities that drive measurable efficiency gains
- Support plant leadership with insights and tools that enable data-driven decision making
- Collaborate on new line installations and equipment integrations to ensure proper data connectivity
WHAT YOU WILL DO Con't
Vendor & Resource Coordination
- Manage external development resources for PLC programming and automation projects
- Define work packages, review deliverables, and establish quality standards for external contributions
- Coordinate with system integrators and technology vendors on solution design and implementation
- Support procurement processes including solution evaluation and scoping
MES Platform Support
- Support MES platform operations at the site level, serving as a liaison to the Enterprise MES Lead
- Elevate site needs and contribute to enterprise prioritization through monthly coordination processes
- Support local MES adoption, training, and issue resolution
- Contribute to platform enhancements and testing as needed
Controls Engineering Partnership
- Serve as a technical advisor to site Controls Engineers on data architecture, connectivity, and automation design
- Define and document PLC data collection and tagging standards for SCADA integration
- Support controls team development through knowledge sharing and mentorship
- Collaborate on troubleshooting and root cause analysis for automation and data issues
WHAT YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL
Required Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical, Controls, Automation, or related field) or equivalent experience
- 5+ years of experience in industrial automation, SCADA systems, or OT engineering
- Experience in manufacturing environments, preferably food & beverage or Consumer Packaged Goods
- Track record managing external vendors or development resources
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Ignition platform (Vision, Perspective, Tag Historian)
- Experience developing scalable, maintainable applications
- Scripting experience for automation and data processing (Python preferred)
- Background in controls engineering or automation system design
- Experience with Sepasoft MES modules
- Familiarity with 21 CFR Part 11 or regulated manufacturing environments
- Experience supporting new equipment installations or line launches
- Lean Six Sigma or continuous improvement experience