Systems Engineer, Operational Technology

MP Materials Corp. • Mountain Pass, CA

3d • $150,000 - $170,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The ideal candidate will have experience in industrial automation, SCADA systems, data acquisition platforms, and secure industrial networking. As a OT Systems Engineer, you will help design, deploy, and maintain the facility’s digital backbone for collecting and distributing real-time and historical data from all automated systems. You will also collaborate closely with IT, controls, and operations teams to enable seamless, secure integration across platforms.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience with Operational Technology systems in a manufacturing or process environment.
• Proficiency with SCADA/HMI platforms such as Ignition, FactoryTalk View, or similar.
• Experience with PLC programming and integration (Rockwell platform).
• Familiarity with AVEVA PI (OSIsoft PI) or similar data historian platforms.
• Hands-on experience with industrial networking, including VLANs, managed switches, and firewall configurations.
• Working knowledge of industrial protocols: OPC UA/DA, MQTT, Ethernet/IP, Modbus.
• Familiarity with ISA-95, ISA/IEC 62443, or other OT/ICS security standards.

Nice To Haves

• Experience integrating OT platforms with cloud services, edge devices, or IoT infrastructure.
• Familiarity with virtualization environments such as VMware, Hyper-V, or Nutanix.
• Exposure to MES or ERP systems and experience with data flows between systems.
• Ability to analyze structured datasets and develop dashboards or visualizations for operations and performance tracking.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to communicate solutions clearly to cross-functional teams (from operators to senior management).
• Solid documentation and organizational skills for maintaining system records and change logs.
• Advanced user of Microsoft Office suite, particularly Excel and Visio.

Responsibilities

• Design, configure, and maintain SCADA/HMI systems, including GE iFix, Ignition, FactoryTalk View, or similar platforms.
• Support the configuration and ongoing deployment of AVEVA PI (OSIsoft PI) for data collection, asset historian, alarming, and reporting.
• Implement and maintain local git repository or similar systems for version control, device management, and audit tracking.
• Integrate field devices, PLCs, HMIs, and sensors into the OT network, ensuring standardized communication and robust data flow.
• Develop and maintain secure, segmented industrial network architectures, including VLANs, Layer 2/3 switches, firewalls, and routing strategies.
• Support real-time and historical data aggregation from multiple sources—PLCs, SCADA, sensors, databases—into centralized historian platforms.
• Configure and support industrial communication protocols such as Ethernet/IP, Modbus TCP, OPC UA/DA, and MQTT.
• Collaborate with IT and cybersecurity teams to establish OT/IT boundary controls, security protocols, and compliance standards.
• Participate in system commissioning, including Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs), Site Acceptance Tests (SATs), installation, and startup activities.
• Provide troubleshooting support for SCADA systems, data historians, and network infrastructure during operational events.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation: network diagrams, data flow schematics, control narratives, and system configuration files.
• Work with capital projects team to review and validate system infrastructure designs.
• Work with contractors to install, modify, and test physical network infrastructure throughout the site.

Benefits

• Consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
• Underrepresented groups/Women/Disabled/Veterans are encouraged to apply.
• Candidates whose disabilities make them unable to meet the position’s requirements will still be considered qualified if they can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation.
• Compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment verification document form upon hire.
• Assistance with application for individuals unable to submit an application through this site because of a disability.
• Employees are responsible for following all company, industry and regulatory procedures and laws to ensure a safe work environment for themselves and the company.
• Willingness to promote safety among the workforce, participate in Process Hazard Analysis procedures and Pre-Startup Safety Reviews.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required when performing work in a mine, manufacturing, outdoor, or plant environment.

What This Job Offers

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