Senior Operational Technical Engineer

Location: Raleigh, NC

Department: Engineering

Job Purpose

Position Summary

The Senior Operational Technology (OT) Engineer is responsible for the design, administration, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the company’s industrial control systems, manufacturing data infrastructure, virtualization environment, and OT network architecture. This role serves as the technical lead for FactoryTalk applications, production data collection systems, historian architecture, industrial databases, visualization platforms, and OT cybersecurity initiatives. The ideal candidate possesses deep experience with Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk products, industrial networking, virtualization technologies, and manufacturing execution systems. This individual will support multiple facilities while ensuring secure, reliable, and highly available operational technology systems.

 

Essential Responsibilities

Industrial Control & Data Systems

• · Administer and support the Rockwell FactoryTalk software suite including:
• FactoryTalk View SE
• FactoryTalk Historian
• FactoryTalk AssetCentre
• Design, implement, and maintain plant-wide data collection systems. 
• Manage historian infrastructure used to collect, store, and analyze manufacturing process data.
• Develop and maintain interfaces between FactoryTalk Historian, Microsoft SQL Server, other OT applications and PARCview
• Support dataPARC ParcView configuration, administration, and troubleshooting.
• Improve data integrity, system performance, and reporting capabilities across all facilities.
• Support manual and automated production data collection processes.

Database Administration 

• Support and maintain Microsoft SQL Server.
• Develop SQL queries, stored procedures, views, and reporting datasets.
• Monitor database performance and implement optimization strategies.
• Ensure data backup, recovery, and retention requirements are met.

Virtualization & Server Infrastructure 

• Administer VMware environments including:
• ESXi Hosts
• vCenter
• Virtual Machine deployment and maintenance
• Storage management
• Backup and disaster recovery solutions
• Build, maintain, and upgrade OT virtual infrastructure.
• Support Windows Server operating systems and lifecycle management.
• Manage OT server patching, upgrades, and security remediation activities. 

OT Networking & Cybersecurity

• Design, maintain, and troubleshoot industrial network infrastructure.
• Configure and support:
• Cisco switches
• Cisco routing technologies
• VLANs
• Fiber optic networks
• Industrial Ethernet architectures
• Administer Fortinet firewalls and security appliances.
• Administer and maintain SolarWinds monitoring infrastructure for operational technology networks and systems.
• Configure, manage, and optimize SNMP monitoring across network infrastructure, servers, virtual environments, and OT applications.
• Develop and maintain custom alerts, thresholds, and notification workflows to ensure rapid identification and resolution of system issues.
• Implement OT cybersecurity best practices and network segmentation strategies. · Maintain secure communications between IT and OT systems.
• Participate in cybersecurity assessments, vulnerability remediation, and compliance initiatives.

Asset Management & Change Control

• Maintain FactoryTalk AssetCentre backups and change management processes.
• Ensure proper version control of PLC, HMI, and SCADA applications.
• Support Management of Change (MOC) procedures.

Operational Support

• Provide advanced troubleshooting support for production impacting issues.
• Work closely with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and IT teams.
• Lead OT system upgrades, migrations, and capital projects.
• Develop standards and best practices for OT infrastructure across all facilities. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
• Equivalent industry experience may be considered in lieu of a degree. 
•  5+ years of experience supporting Operational Technology systems in a manufacturing environment.
• Advanced experience with:
• FactoryTalk View SE
• FactoryTalk Historian
• FactoryTalk AssetCentre
• Microsoft SQL Server
• VMware vSphere/vCenter 
• Cisco networking technologies
• Fortinet firewall administration
• Experience with SCADA, HMI, historian, and industrial data systems.
• Strong understanding of industrial Ethernet and network design principles.
• Experience administering and supporting SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) and related SolarWinds modules.
• Experience supporting highly available production environments.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Rockwell Automation certifications.
• Cisco CCNA certification.
• Fortinet NSE certifications. 
• VMware VCP certification.
• Experience with OT cybersecurity frameworks including:
• ISA/IEC 62443
• NIST Cybersecurity Framework
• CIS Benchmarks
• Experience working in biomass, process manufacturing, pulp and paper, chemical, or continuous process industries.
• Knowledge of industrial control systems including PLCs, HMIs, historians, and MES platforms.

Technical Skills

OT Applications 

• FactoryTalk View SE
• FactoryTalk Historian/AVEVA PI
• FactoryTalk AssetCentre
• dataPARC ParcView

Databases

• Microsoft SQL Server
• SSIS

Virtualization 

• VMware ESXi
• VMware vCenter
• Windows Server Administration

Networking

• Cisco Switching
• Routing
• VLAN Configuration
• Industrial Ethernet

Security

• Fortinet Firewalls
• Network Segmentation
• Vulnerability Management
• Microsoft Defender SIEM