Industry 4.0 Implementation Specialist

VDS Consulting Group•Houston, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a narrow, technical, hands-on engagement focused on putting connected technology onto production lines that were built before the term Industry 4.0 was common. The goal is to achieve measurable operating results, not just create dashboards that are rarely viewed. The role involves deploying IoT sensors, implementing predictive maintenance, integrating automation, capturing accurate OEE data, integrating MES/shop floor systems, managing OT/IT convergence, developing business cases, and training personnel.

Requirements

10+ years in manufacturing automation, controls, industrial engineering, or smart factory implementation
Hands-on capability with PLCs, SCADA, historians, and industrial networking
Practical retrofit experience — connecting equipment that was never designed to be connected
Automation integration project delivery, including safety, validation, and commissioning
Ability to build and defend a business case, then prove the benefit landed
Comfort working on the floor in an active production environment

Nice To Haves

Predictive maintenance analytics
Machine vision
Robotics integration
OT cybersecurity
Experience across multiple sites or a smart factory program

Responsibilities

IoT sensor deployment and machine connectivity on legacy equipment, including retrofit approaches for assets without native connectivity
Predictive and condition-based maintenance implementation, and the data pipeline behind it
Robotic and automation integration onto existing lines — cobots, pick and place, palletizing, vision inspection
OEE data capture that reflects reality rather than the number the plant would like to report
MES and shop floor data system implementation or integration to the ERP layer
OT/IT convergence and the network and security architecture it requires
Business case development and post-implementation benefit validation
Operator and maintenance training on everything you install