Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity Lead

MXD•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

MxD (Manufacturing x Digital) advances economic prosperity and national security by strengthening U.S. manufacturing competitiveness through technology innovation, workforce development, and to solve critical manufacturing challenges by accelerating digital adoption, empowering a skilled workforce, and modernizing supply chains. MxD is also the National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing, designated by the Department of War (DoW). The OT Cybersecurity Lead works with industry, government, and academic stakeholders on projects that expand and improve cybersecurity across the industrial base. The role requires credibility on both sides of the conversation — security and manufacturing. The ideal candidate uses their knowledge of OT to demonstrate security technology in industrial environments, vet proposals, sit on technical review panels, evaluate deliverables, and communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. This person will use their credibility in manufacturing and their expertise in security to advocate for the adoption of security technology and practices.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in industrial, mechanical, electrical, or computer engineering, or computer science; or 6+ years of direct, hands-on OT or industrial automation experience in lieu of a degree
Demonstrated hands-on experience with PLCs, HMI/SCADA platforms, or industrial network protocols (Modbus, DNP3, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET) — practical, field-level experience is valued as much as formal credentials, since this role regularly works with audiences who can quickly spot someone who only knows the material from a book
Experience reviewing technical proposals, writing technical assessments, or serving on a grant/contract review panel — e.g., evaluating whether a performer's proposed approach to meeting requirements is sound and will deliver the intended results
Ability to work independently and make defensible risk calls in the absence of a perfect solution — for example, recommending a compensating control over a more widely implemented solution when that's the right tradeoff for the environment
Strong verbal and written communication skills; comfortable with public speaking
Must be available for some travel and to work onsite as required for demonstrations, site visits, and mandatory company functions
Must be willing and able to work on a factory floor, including around industrial equipment
U.S. citizenship is required for this position due to contractual obligations

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in relevant discipline, preferred
Familiarity with ISA/IEC 62443 GICSP, Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist (or higher), ISSEP, or ISC-Cert, preferred
Candidates based in the Chicagoland area are preferred; however, candidates outside the area will also be considered

Responsibilities

Serve as the OT cybersecurity lead for R&D and technical assistance projects, from early design conversations through implementation
Evaluate incoming research proposals for technical soundness and feasibility, including assessing whether a performer's (grant/contract applicant's) proposed technical approach is realistic and likely to produce the intended results
Represent the institute at arsenals, depots, shipyards, and defense manufacturing plants
Assess OT network architectures (Purdue model segmentation, PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, historians) and identify realistic risks
Advise manufacturing, mechanical, and industrial engineering staff on how to build security into automation and digitization projects
Support institute leadership in scoping new OT security work and writing the technical sections of proposals
Advise IT administrators on corporate IT/OT resource management
Demonstrate and maintain live demonstrations of OT security technologies on the factory floor
Other duties as required, including supporting and evolving factory-floor OT demonstrations as new use cases arise