Operational Technology Systems & Network Engineer

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Operational Technology Systems & Network Engineer based in United States.

This is a hands-on engineering role responsible for the networks, servers, cybersecurity, and connectivity that support critical manufacturing operations. You will help maintain reliable and secure OT infrastructure across existing facilities while supporting new plants and remote installations. The role combines industrial networking, systems administration, cybersecurity, troubleshooting, infrastructure standards, and technical project support. You will work closely with Controls Engineering, Operations, corporate IT, vendors, and site teams to keep production-critical systems connected and resilient. The position offers significant ownership of manufacturing infrastructure while partnering with controls specialists who manage PLC programming and SCADA application development. It is well suited to an experienced OT infrastructure professional who enjoys solving complex technical problems in industrial environments.

Accountabilities

• Design, maintain, and troubleshoot industrial network infrastructure and secure connectivity across manufacturing facilities, corporate systems, and remote installations.
• Deploy, administer, and maintain OT servers, industrial computers, networking equipment, and infrastructure supporting Ignition, historians, databases, and related services.
• Establish and manage secure remote access to manufacturing sites for troubleshooting and maintenance while controlling employee and vendor access appropriately.
• Implement and maintain OT cybersecurity practices, including network segmentation, vulnerability management, security monitoring, and incident-response processes.
• Maintain infrastructure reliability through system monitoring, coordinated patching, lifecycle planning, and tested backup and recovery procedures.
• Support industrial communications and manufacturing data connectivity across Allen-Bradley/EtherNet/IP networks, MQTT environments, and cloud services.
• Establish infrastructure standards, technical documentation, and repeatable practices for OT systems and network deployments.
• Coordinate with external vendors and internal teams during site deployments, infrastructure projects, maintenance activities, and technical escalations.
• Serve as a technical escalation point for OT infrastructure issues affecting manufacturing operations.
• Monitor network performance and identify opportunities to improve reliability, availability, security, and operational effectiveness.
• Diagnose and resolve connectivity, latency, intermittent communication, and network performance issues affecting production systems.
• Partner closely with Controls Engineering while maintaining ownership of manufacturing infrastructure and infrastructure-related technical decisions.
• Support new facility and remote-site deployments, including occasional onsite work and critical issue response outside standard business hours.

Requirements:

• Have 5+ years of relevant experience in networking, systems administration, OT infrastructure, or a related field, including experience supporting industrial environments.
• Hold an associate or bachelor’s degree in information technology, networking, computer science, engineering, or a related discipline, or possess equivalent practical experience.
• Demonstrate strong knowledge of routing, switching, firewalls, VPNs, and Windows Server administration.
• Have experience supporting infrastructure for PLCs, SCADA systems, and other production-critical industrial technologies.
• Understand OT network segmentation, industrial cybersecurity, secure remote access, vulnerability management, and backup and recovery practices.
• Demonstrate strong troubleshooting and analytical skills, with the ability to diagnose complex infrastructure and connectivity issues efficiently.
• Possess strong documentation and communication skills and be able to collaborate effectively with Controls Engineering, Operations, IT, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Have experience with Allen-Bradley control systems and EtherNet/IP networks as preferred technical experience.
• Have experience with Ignition, IXON, EWON, Microsoft Azure, MQTT, OPC-UA, and PostgreSQL as preferred qualifications.
• Be comfortable working independently in a remote environment while taking ownership of cri…