Sr. Solutions Architect - Food & Beverage

Vertech

21d

About The Position

Vertech is seeking a Senior Solutions Architect to provide technical leadership for complex food and beverage automation opportunities and projects. The role leads the technical side of major pursuits, establishes technical direction and reusable standards for the food and beverage team, and partners with sales on account strategy, proposals, estimates, and customer presentations. The architect serves as the final technical authority on food and beverage projects, builds long-term customer relationships, and helps key accounts establish automation and MES standards across their plants. The position also contributes to Vertech’s food and beverage roadmap, prototypes new approaches, and provides hands-on technical support when needed, including PLC and SCADA programming and MES configuration. The architect mentors and helps develop the team, leads internal training in areas of expertise, and represents Vertech through industry publications, case studies, conferences, and partner events. Travel may be required up to 20%.

Requirements

At least 15 years of experience in industrial automation, including at least five years architecting solutions as a solutions architect, principal engineer, or in a similar role.
Recognized food and beverage expertise across processing, packaging, and plant-wide systems, with a track record of leading large multi-line or multi-site programs.
Proven pre-sales success scoping, estimating, and presenting complex solutions to customer leadership and winning the work.
Expert PLC and SCADA development experience across multiple major platforms, such as Rockwell, Siemens, Ignition, AVEVA/Wonderware, and FactoryTalk View SE.
Deep MES and plant data experience, such as OEE, track and trace, ISA-88 batch, historians, and integration with ERP and other business systems.
Expert knowledge of industrial networks and protocols, OT network security, and cloud architecture on Azure or AWS.
Experience leading and mentoring engineering teams.
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.
Excellent communication skills and the presence to represent Vertech with customer executives, partners, and the industry.
Ability to travel up to 20%.

Nice To Haves

A BS in computer science, math, software, chemical, mechanical, or electrical engineering is preferred, or relevant experience.
Experience with Sepasoft MES, Canary, Flow Software, or ISA/IEC 62443.

Responsibilities

Lead the technical side of major food and beverage pursuits, including multi-line upgrades, greenfield plants, and multi-site rollouts.
Set technical direction for the food and beverage team, including reference architectures, standards, and reusable templates for SCADA, MES, and batch.
Partner with sales on account strategy, proposals, and estimates, and present solutions to customer plant, engineering, and corporate leadership.
Serve as the final technical authority on food and beverage projects and review architectures and designs prepared by other solutions architects and senior integrators.
Build long-term customer relationships and help key accounts establish automation and MES standards across their plants.
Work with Vertech leadership on the food and beverage roadmap, including services, technology investments, and partners.
Prototype new approaches and provide hands-on support on critical projects, including PLC and SCADA programming and MES configuration.
Mentor solutions architects and senior integrators, and help hire and develop the food and beverage team.
Lead Vertech University training in areas of expertise.
Represent Vertech in the industry by publishing articles and case studies and speaking at conferences and partner events.