Manufacturing Systems & OT Engineer

TFC Poultry; Ashby (MN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development

Job summary

TFC Poultry in Minnesota seeks an Manufacturing Systems & OT Engineer to develop, support, and improve plant-level technology across production operations. You will partner with operations, IT, controls, and vendors to strengthen system reliability and data visibility.

Responsibilities include maintaining Ignition dashboards, enabling ERP/MRP/MES integrations, and securing production networks while ensuring minimal disruption to operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field preferred; equivalent manufacturing systems experience may be considered
• 3+ years supporting manufacturing systems, OT software, or SCADA/HMI platforms
• StrongIgnition development/administration experience including tags, gateways, device connections, visualization, alarms, historian functions, and access control
• Experience with ERP/MRP/MES integrations and data flow between shop-floor and business systems
• Knowledge of OT networks, industrial Ethernet, VLANs, switches, firewalls, remote access, and cybersecurity fundamentals
• Ability to manage software updates, patches, version control, and lifecycle planning in a production environment

Responsibilities

• Own and continuously improve manufacturing systems including Ignition, ERP integrations, and data reporting
• Develop and maintain Ignition applications, dashboards, tags, and interfaces for production visibility
• Support integration between shop-floor controls, ERP/MRP, MES, and reporting platforms
• Maintain OT software health including patching, backups, and lifecycle tracking
• Collaborate with IT, maintenance, operations, and vendors to secure production networks and systems
• Create system diagrams, data maps, and documentation to standards
• Troubleshoot issues affecting production data, traceability, and OEE reporting
• Coordinate with vendors and internal teams to test and implement technology solutions

Skills

Ignition development

OT networks

ERP/MRP/MES integrations

Cybersecurity

Data visibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Ignition

SCADA/HMI

Business Central

Job description

Title: Manufacturing Systems & OT Engineer

Reports to: Technology Team Leader

Job Purpose: Develops, supports, and continuously improves manufacturing systems, OT software platforms, and plant-level technology infrastructure across production operations. Partners with the Technology Team Leader, operations, maintenance, engineering, IT, controls, and vendors to strengthen system reliability, cybersecurity, data visibility, production support, and integration between shop-floor equipment and business systems.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Own, support, and continuously improve manufacturing systems that connect production equipment, OT infrastructure, Ignition, MES/MRP workflows, ERP integrations, reporting tools, and business data needs
• Develop and maintain Ignition applications, dashboards, tags, device connections, scripts, alarms, historian functions, and interfaces that improve production visibility and decision-making
• Support integration between shop-floor controls, manufacturing systems, Business Central, MRP/MES functions, data historians, databases, and reporting platforms
• Maintain OT software health through patch planning, version management, backups, change control, lifecycle tracking, license management, and documented recovery procedures
• Partner with the Controls Engineer, maintenance, operations, and IT to support industrial networks, production equipment connectivity, edge devices, servers, virtual machines, workstations, and related OT infrastructure
• Coordinate secure updates, patching, firmware review, endpoint hardening, remote-access controls, and cybersecurity practices for production-facing systems without disrupting operations
• Troubleshoot manufacturing system issues affecting production, data collection, labeling, traceability, OEE/downtime reporting, recipe management, equipment connectivity, and operator-facing applications
• Create and maintain system architecture diagrams, network documentation, data maps, backup registers, SOPs, support procedures, access lists, change logs, and technical standards
• Work with vendors, OEMs, IT, automation resources, and internal stakeholders to specify, test, validate, commission, and support technology solutions that meet company standards
• Promote a professional company image through ownership, clear communication, safe work practices, strong documentation, proactive risk escalation, and effective collaboration with plant and corporate teams

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Industrial Technology, or related technical field preferred; equivalent manufacturing systems, OT, or industrial technology experience may be considered
• 3+ years of experience supporting manufacturing systems, OT software, industrial networks, plant-floor data systems, SCADA/HMI platforms, databases, ERP/MRP/MES integrations, or production technology environments
• Strong experience with Ignition development or administration preferred, including tags, gateways, device connections, visualization, scripting, alarms, historian functions, and role-based access
• Experience supporting integrations with ERP, MRP, MES, labeling, traceability, reporting, or business intelligence platforms; Business Central experience preferred
• Working knowledge of OT network concepts, industrial Ethernet, VLANs, managed switches, firewalls, remote access, server/workstation management, backups, disaster recovery, and cybersecurity fundamentals
• Ability to manage software updates, patching, version control, firmware review, change control, validation, and lifecycle planning in a production environment
• Ability to read and maintain system architecture diagrams, network drawings, data-flow documentation, control narratives, equipment documentation, and support procedures
• Strong troubleshooting, root cause analysis, communication, documentation, vendor management, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Ability to support occasional off-hours troubleshooting, production outages, maintenance windows, implementations, plant shutdown work, and vendor/OEM commissioning activities as business needs require
• Manufacturing, food processing, packaging, utilities, refrigeration, regulated-industry, or multi-site operations experience preferred

Salary Band: $80,000 to $100,000