Job Details

Sr. IT/OT Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

Hybrid Role

Compensation: $75/hour

Our client is seeking a Senior IT/OT Engineer to lead the integration, support, and advancement of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) systems, with a strong focus on Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), at their Santa Clara, CA location. This hybrid position is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining secure, converged IT/OT architectures, ensuring industrial cybersecurity, and supporting operational continuity within manufacturing environments. The Senior IT/OT Engineer will act as a key liaison between plant operations and corporate IT, guaranteeing that technological solutions are secure, scalable, and compatible with critical industrial environments. The ideal candidate will have a continuous improvement mindset, strong knowledge of industrial platforms and networking, and experience in FDA-regulated and Agile environments is highly desirable.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Design, implement, and maintain converged IT/OT network architectures, ensuring secure connectivity between industrial systems (PLC, HMI, SCADA, MES, Historians) and corporate IT platforms
• Define and manage network zones and conduits according to industrial standards (ISA/IEC-62443)
• Apply and oversee OT cybersecurity best practices, including system hardening, access control, patch management, and vulnerability analysis
• Oversee security solutions such as industrial firewalls, DMZs, IDS/IPS, antivirus, and application whitelisting for plant systems
• Participate in security incident management involving OT infrastructure
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the shop floor for troubleshooting IT/OT/MES operation issues and provide advanced (L3) support for complex incidents in mixed IT/OT environments
• Document incidents, changes, configurations, and technical diagrams; create and maintain standard work procedures and process flow maps for shop floor teams in compliance with standards
• Coordinate activities with engineering, production, maintenance, vendors, and Continuous Improvement teams to implement corrective actions for shop floor issues
• Provide training to end-users and support management in conducting end user assessments as needed
• Monitor shop floor data for completeness and accuracy, report KPIs to management, and support lean initiatives (5S, Rapid Improvement Events, site KPIs, Managing for Daily Improvement, 9-step problem solving, etc.)
• Lead technology modernization projects within manufacturing plants, evaluate new technologies, conduct proof-of-concept tests, and prepare technical recommendations
• Coordinate deliverables, timelines, and resources for OT/IT initiatives
• Create and manage change requests (Santa Clara and Costa Rica sites) to refine processes with new customizations
• Manage system updates, test and release configuration changes, develop new functionalities, and support future expansion
• Stay current with industry trends, regulatory guidelines, and advancements in MES technology to continuously improve implementation and validation processes
• Support new product development and productivity projects by preparing and executing project implementation plans

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer/Software Engineering, Electronics, Automation, or equivalent preferred
• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing IT environment
• 3+ years of experience with IT/OT/MES applications
• Strong knowledge of networking (TCP/IP, firewalls, routing, switching, VLANs)
• Experience with industrial platforms (PLC, SCADA, HMI, DCS, Historian, MES)
• Proficiency in virtualization technologies (VMware, Hyper-V)
• Familiarity with ISA/IEC-62443 industrial cybersecurity standards
• Advanced troubleshooting and L3 support skills in mixed IT/OT environments
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to communicate effectively at all levels
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to multi-task and prioritize tasks
• Continuous improvement mindset with strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Experience with SCRUM or Agile environments desirable
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment managing multiple priorities
• Experience in FDA regulated environments is a plus