IT/OT Solutions Architect

CCAM • Disputanta, VA

5d

About The Position

The Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) is seeking a hands-on, forward-thinking IT/OT Solutions Architect to join our team. In this role, you will play a key part in redefining and transforming IT/OT infrastructure and solutions for our customers and will help develop best practices for rational smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 systems on a global scale. You will be responsible for ensuring the seamless integration of OT systems with IT systems and aligning them with customers’ business strategy and objectives while also raising the profile of CCAM as a provider of fit-for-purpose manufacturing systems architecture solutions. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in industrial control systems, IT/OT integration, cloud solutions, and security management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field
• 8+ years of experience working with Operations Technology (OT) solutions including Industrial Control Systems (ICS), in software architecture and design as a Solution Architect or equivalent and demonstrated experience in the manufacturing domain.
• Strong working knowledge of manufacturing automation software, industrial networks and protocols, cloud architectures, solution design, delivery, and support for OT environments.
• Familiarity with Industrial Data Centers and Converged Plantwide Ethernet Architecture (CPwE).
• Familiarity with IoT and IIoT solutions.
• Proficiency in programming logic and integrating data between systems using APIs and Microservices.
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as PowerShell, Go, Python, JavaScript.
• Experience in defining and implementing security strategies and policies for OT environments.
• Understanding ICS best practices and architecture standards.
• Strong background in risk management and analysis.
• Expertise in OT infrastructure (plant networks, servers, databases, Operations Integration (OI) communication, etc.).
• In-depth knowledge of OT cybersecurity requirements, solutions, and best practices.
• Ability to discuss and recommend backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning.
• Strong ability to communicate and present to customers, senior leaders, and technical staff.
• Export Control Compliance: This position requires access to technology or intellectual property that is subject to export control requirements. Candidates must be qualified for such access without an export control license.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree in Engineering or related field
• Broad knowledge of IT/OT and digital systems, cloud technologies, web services, and AI.
• Hands-on experience in Manufacturing-related IT/OT cloud services (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
• Programming of PLCs and HMI applications.
• Certified network design professional (e.g. CCIE, AWS Certified Advanced Networking)
• Certified security systems professional (e.g. CISSP)
• Training in ISA 62443 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.
• Familiarity with ITIL practices for service incidents, problem resolution, and change management.
• Experience in developing and implementing innovative automation solutions, such as robotics, augmented and virtual reality, and cloud-native and edge computing applications.
• Strong advocacy for change management.
• Knowledge of DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) principles.
• Experience with operational data historians and time-series data collection, storage, and retrieval.

Responsibilities

• Provide Manufacturing Systems expertise to develop and implement elements of the digital infrastructure that enable the “Industry 5.0” vision, including but not limited to:
• Work closely with cross-functional teams including CCAM researchers and universities as well as customer IT, engineering, and operations organizations to develop and implement new strategies for manufacturing automation systems designs which meet business needs and address modern manufacturing systems challenges.
• Recommend and work to implement standardized data integration, storage, and communications systems for manufacturing automation systems with a focus on integrating with cloud platforms while ensuring performance, scalability, and security.
• Provide Operations Technology (OT) design, Industrial Control Systems (ICS) engineering, and IT/OT development, deployment, and support for client projects.
• Help develop solutions for the integration of commercial and open-source MES, ERP, and SCADA systems with bespoke in-situ sensing systems and other machine data to form integrated and interoperable data systems.
• Consult with customers to develop overall project requirements, basis of designs, functional design specifications, and/or other design elements as may be appropriate.
• Create and maintain comprehensive architectural documentation, including system diagrams, data flow models, and integration points, while establishing best practices and standards when specified by client contract, provide product configuration, integration, and support services for IT/OT systems and networks.
• Develop, research, and/or implement communication protocols for industrial data sources, including machines, automation, sensor systems, and building infrastructure.
• Collaborate with the CCAM Strategy and Growth team on overall strategy development for the IT/OT systems engineering line of business and other strategic initiatives.
• Ensure that designs adhere to security best practices and compliance requirements and implement robust security measures to protect critical infrastructure and data.
• Stay updated on the OT and cloud technology technologies, including evaluation of third-party vendors and tools to inform architectures, detail designs, and propose innovative solutions to improve efficiency, reliability, and security.
• Provide advanced troubleshooting and problem-solving expertise for complex OT and cloud-related issues, developing and implementing remediation plans as needed.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, Vision insurance plan options; eligible on first of month following date of hire
• HRA – Health Reimbursement Account (employer funded, covers a portion of the medical deductible)
• FSA – Flexible spending Account (employee funded, pre-tax)
• 401k Retirement Plan – Employer contributes 3% - 10.5% of base salary annually.
• Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability (employer funded)
• PTO & Sick Leave
• 2 weeks paid maternity/paternity/adoption leave
• $5,250.00 in Educational Reimbursement per year

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior