Solutions Architect - Food & Beverage

Vertech

21d

About The Position

Vertech is seeking a Solutions Architect focused on food and beverage automation to develop industrial automation solutions for customers. The role architects control-system solutions from initial customer conversations through prototyping and final sign-off, balancing customer requirements, schedules, and budgets. It collaborates with sales on proposals and estimates and selects appropriate technologies for each application.

The position designs control-system architectures, including PLC and SCADA platforms, networks, I/O, and the flow of data from plant-floor systems to MES and business systems. It shapes MES and SCADA solutions for dairies, breweries, distilleries, beverage plants, and co-packers, including OEE and downtime tracking, track and trace, and ISA-88 batch control. The architect serves as Vertech’s food and beverage subject-matter expert, leads early technical project planning, and may contribute hands-on to PLC programming, SCADA development, and HMI design as staffing requires.

The role also includes creating internal training, mentoring integrators, producing marketing materials such as blog posts and case studies, and delivering a new product, service, or process each year while helping grow Vertech’s food and beverage team. Vertech describes its culture as emphasizing employee development, transparent communication, competitive pay and benefits, and flexibility, including work-from-home options for numerous roles.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in computer science, math, software, chemical, mechanical, or electrical engineering preferred, or relevant experience.
• 12 or more years in industrial automation, much of it at the senior level, including 10 or more years of PLC and SCADA development.
• Proven, recognized expertise in food and beverage automation, from raw ingredient receiving through processing and packaging.
• Track record of architecting control systems and helping sales scope, estimate, and win projects.
• Subject-matter expertise in at least one of ladder logic, structured text, or function block, with working knowledge of at least one more.
• Hands-on PLC and SCADA expertise across multiple major platforms, such as Rockwell, Siemens, Ignition, AVEVA/Wonderware, and FactoryTalk View SE.
• Proficiency with industrial networks and protocols, including EtherNet/IP, Profinet, Modbus, OPC UA, and MQTT.
• Ability to design complex plant networks and set up virtual machines and cloud services on Azure or AWS.
• Knowledge of industry-standard software design practices, including Agile and Scrum.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to travel up to 20%.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with ISA-88 batch control, Sepasoft MES, or Canary historians.
• Certification in at least two of Ignition Gold, Wonderware Certified Developer, or WinCC OA Certified Engineer, or willingness to earn them within the first year.

Responsibilities

• Architect customer solutions from initial conversations through prototyping and final sign-off, considering requirements, schedule, and budget.
• Work with sales on proposals and estimates and justify the appropriate technology for each application.
• Design control-system architecture, including PLC and SCADA platforms, networks, I/O, and data flows from the plant floor to MES and business systems.
• Shape MES and SCADA solutions for food and beverage facilities, including OEE and downtime tracking, track and trace, and ISA-88 batch control.
• Serve as the food and beverage automation expert for Vertech staff and customers.
• Lead early technical project planning by breaking scope into tasks and deliverables, communicating scope changes to project managers and customers, and handing off once the project is mapped out and underway.
• Contribute hands-on when needed, including high-level PLC programming, SCADA development, and HMI design.
• Create internal training through Vertech University and mentor integrators at every level.
• Write blog posts, white papers, and case studies for Vertech’s website and marketing.
• Deliver a new product, service, or process each year that supports Vertech’s mission and bottom line, and help grow the food and beverage team.

Benefits

• Flexible work schedule, with work-from-home options for numerous roles.
• Competitive compensation, including a bonus plan.
• Benefits, including 401(k), with a waiting period of no more than four weeks.
• Paid time off (PTO).
• Personal development and a path for growth.

What This Job Offers

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