Regional Expert - OT Network (North America)

Covestro • Baytown, TX

11d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Regional OT (Operations Technology) Expert – Americas is responsible for hands-on delivery of OT support across approximately ten Covestro sites in the Americas. The role contributes to global concept and standard development, with a primary focus on direct site-level implementation and operational support within the region.

The expert provides OT security implementation and consultation, operates regional shared OT infrastructure, contributes regional feedback to global architecture standards, and serves as a liaison between engineering, IT, and OT security teams. The position requires travel within the Americas and may require additional hours when assignments dictate, such as attending global meetings outside normal working hours.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Cybersecurity, or Computer Science and at least 6 years of professional experience in OT/IT network engineering, process automation, or industrial cybersecurity; or a master’s degree in one of these fields and at least 4 years of relevant professional experience.
• Eligibility to apply for and obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) within a reasonable timeframe.
• Solid knowledge of OT network architecture, industrial communication protocols (including Modbus, Profibus DP, PROFINET, and OPC variants), and IIoT technologies such as Wireless HART and LoRaWAN.
• Practical experience with OT security infrastructure, including patch management via WSUS, antivirus management, domain policies, and firewall management.
• Familiarity with IT/OT interface design and DCS IT components, including virtualization, encryption, and domain integration.
• Excellent knowledge of process control strategies and systems, computer hardware and software, and relevant national and international process automation standards such as NEC and IEC.
• Systematic approach to problem definition and solution development.
• Experience working with different cultures and ability to work in cross-functional international teams and manage multiple concurrent site activities.
• Strong interpersonal, mediating, communication, and consulting skills, including the ability to translate technical topics for diverse audiences.
• Excellent written and oral communication in an international context.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in a distributed team model.
• Willingness to travel within the Americas region.
• Willingness and ability to work additional hours when job assignments dictate.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with AWS cloud infrastructure in an OT or industrial context.
• Knowledge of IEC 62443 or equivalent OT security standards.
• Relevant certifications such as GICSP, CCNA, or equivalent.
• Professional registration and/or certification as appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Deliver on-site and remote OT security support to Americas sites, including firewall rule standardization and reviews, domain policy management, and CAR OT data population.
• Operate and maintain centralized PA-OT infrastructure services for the Americas, including shared infrastructure supporting Tier 2/3 sites such as WSUS and antivirus services.
• Collaborate with the PA-OT Functional Lead and regional caretakers to develop and refine PA-OT reference architecture, standards, and templates, providing regional implementation feedback.
• Advise PA and Systems engineers on industrial communication protocols, shared protocols, IIoT network technologies, and IT topics within DCS.
• Serve as the Americas liaison among PCT/Systems engineers, local and global IT organizations, and OT security officers.
• Travel within the Americas region and work additional hours when job assignments require them.

What This Job Offers

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