IT/OT Specialist

ALTEN Canada; Whitby; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance

Vacation 4 weeks

Discount programs

Job summary

ALTEN Canada seeks an OT/IT specialist to support manufacturing tech across pharma and other GMP environments. You will maintain machine-to-system connectivity, coordinate IT/OT interfaces, and review vendor designs to ensure data integrity and long-term maintainability.

Responsibilities include system troubleshooting, documenting changes, planning upgrades, and safeguarding against cyber threats while collaborating with IT, automation, and quality teams.

Qualifications

• 5+ years working with control systems or factory-floor technology (preferably pharma, but open to any GMP environment).
• IT/OT manufacturing systems experience, including equipment connectivity, industrial data integration, and vendor interface coordination.
• OPC-UA, Kepware, FactoryTalk Linx, Rockwell / FactoryTalk platforms, ThingWorx or comparable IIoT / manufacturing analytics platform experience.
• ISA-95 design understanding across equipment, control systems, MES, lab systems, and enterprise layers.
• OT network segmentation experience, including VLANs, firewall rules, traffic-flow analysis, and controlled shop-floor / lab / enterprise connectivity.
• Working awareness of Windows Server, VMware, SQL Server, Veeam backup/recovery, monitoring, and operational support handoff.
• Ability to review technical requirements and vendor design documents for IT/OT, GxP, data integrity, supportability, and long-term maintainability.

Responsibilities

• Set up and maintain connections between the machines on-site and company computer systems so they can share information safely.
• Troubleshoot problems when machines or systems stop communicating properly - for example, figuring out if it’s a cable, a switch, or a software issue.
• Work with other teams like IT, automation engineers, and quality control to make sure changes are properly reviewed, tested, and documented.
• Keep diagrams and records updated so everyone knows how systems are connected and what’s been changed.
• Plan for upgrades and make sure old systems are replaced before they fail or become unsafe.
• Help protect the systems on-site from hackers or accidental data leaks by following cybersecurity best practices.

Job description

In just three decades, ALTEN has become a global leader in Research & Development, Engineering, IT Services, Life Sciences, and Network Services. With a presence in more than 30 countries and a team of over 60,000 employees, we are trusted by industry leaders worldwide to deliver pioneering solutions and drive technical excellence.

ALTEN CANADA, a proud subsidiary of ALTEN headquartered in France, is dedicated to serving the Canadian market. With offices in Montreal and Toronto, we combine global expertise with local insight to accelerate innovation across Canada.

At ALTEN CANADA, our consultants thrive on solving complex, highly technical challenges across diverse industries. From Life Sciences to Energy, Automation to Manufacturing, Aviation, Defense. Automotive, Rail and Transportation to Information Systems and Telecommunications, our unwavering commitment to excellence shaping the future of technology and industry.

Context of the project: This role is to support the routine site operations - not attached to a specific project. This consultant will help keep the computer systems that run the factory’s machines working safely, smoothly, and securely. In a regulated manufacturing setting (like a pharmaceutical plant), many machines and computers are connected so they can share data and track production. The Operational Technology (OT) Specialist makes sure those connections are reliable, protected from cyber threats, and follows strict quality and safety rules.

Day-to-day activities:

• Set up and maintain connections between the machines on-site and company computer systems so they can share information safely.
• Troubleshoot problems when machines or systems stop communicating properly - for example, figuring out if it’s a cable, a switch, or a software issue.
• Work with other teams like IT, automation engineers, and quality control to make sure changes are properly reviewed, tested, and documented.
• Keep diagrams and records updated so everyone knows how systems are connected and what’s been changed.
• Plan for upgrades and make sure old systems are replaced before they fail or become unsafe.
• Help protect the systems on-site from hackers or accidental data leaks by following cybersecurity best practices.

Candidate requirements

I) Must-haves:

• 5+ years working with control systems or factory-floor technology (preferably pharma, but open to any GMP environment).

II) Technical / architecture skills:

• IT/OT manufacturing systems experience, including equipment connectivity, industrial data integration, and vendor interface coordination.
• OPC-UA, Kepware, FactoryTalk Linx, Rockwell / FactoryTalk platforms, ThingWorx or comparable IIoT / manufacturing analytics platform experience.
• ISA-95 design understanding across equipment, control systems, MES, lab systems, and enterprise layers.
• OT network segmentation experience, including VLANs, firewall rules, traffic-flow analysis, and controlled shop-floor / lab / enterprise connectivity.
• Working awareness of Windows Server, VMware, SQL Server, Veeam backup/recovery, monitoring, and operational support handoff.
• Ability to review technical requirements and vendor design documents for IT/OT, GxP, data integrity, supportability, and long-term maintainability.

III) Delivery & soft skills:

• Technical requirement gathering with site SMEs, vendors, and platform teams.
• Workstream planning, milestone tracking, RAID management, and concise status reporting.
• Strong documentation discipline for validation, turnover, support readiness, and maintainability.
• Tools / software / methodology / certification:

IV) Nice-to-haves / Assets:

• Exposure to MES/EBR/LIMS and laboratory systems and analytical platforms such as LAC/E, FTIR, CDS, Raman, etc.
• Basic understanding of PLC/HMI/SCADA operations (no advanced programming required).
• Problem-solver who is trying to find a solution before asking for help
• Great communication as they will be helping people onsite resolving connectivity issues and coordinate with global IT teams and onsite automation teams.
• The consultants should be able to troubleshoot effectively, and demonstrate priority management - there will be multiple requests at a time so they will have to be able to prioritize the most critical tasks

Why Join Us?

ALTEN Canada fosters a dynamic, collaborative work environment where every team member is empowered to reach their full potential. We are deeply committed to investing in our people by offering meaningful experiences and supporting continuous learning, growth, and career development

As part of our dedication to employee well-being, we provide a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Collective insurance and group retirement savings plans
• 4 weeks of vacation starting from year one
• Corporate discounts and team-building activities

At ALTEN Canada, your skills are celebrated, your ambitions supported, and your growth continuously nurtured. Join us and discover the difference of working with a company that values innovation, collaboration, and excellence, where endless possibilities await.

ALTEN CANADA is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strive to provide a work environment where every individual feels welcomed, valued, and respected, allowing them to thrive to their full potential. This includes our dedication to offer accessibility measures to those who require them. Should you require any accommodation during our recruitment process, please reach out to us.

Alten uses artificial intelligence tools to support certain administrative aspects of the recruitment process, such as interview note-taking and résumé formatting. These tools do not make hiring decisions. Candidate consent is always obtained prior to use.

This job posting is used to build a talent pipeline for recurring opportunities that Alten may have with its clients and may not correspond to an immediate vacancy.