MFG Solution Architect

Kaizen Technologies; Louisville (KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaizen Technologies is seeking a MFG Solution Architect to join a hybrid team across multiple US locations. You will define and govern architecture for smart factory initiatives, connecting MES, SCADA, PLCs, HMI, DCS with ERP/QMS and cloud platforms.

Lead enterprise integrations and strategic AI/ML projects to drive manufacturing modernization. The role requires deep OT/IT integration expertise, strong leadership, and ability to translate business needs into scalable technical solutions.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Solution Architecture or Enterprise Architecture.
• 5+ years delivering enterprise manufacturing solutions.
• Experience supporting large-scale manufacturing organizations.
• Proven ability to design enterprise integrations across systems.

Responsibilities

• Define solution architecture aligned with manufacturing strategy and business objectives.
• Design secure, scalable, and resilient integrations between MES, SCADA, PLCs, HMI, DCS and ERP/QMS.
• Lead Smart Factory and Industry 4.0 initiatives including IIoT, digital twins, and AI/ML.
• Evaluate technologies and vendors to support modernization and governance.
• Provide technical leadership across the project lifecycle from discovery to production support.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on process mapping, design, and integration planning.
• Develop architecture artifacts and enterprise integration patterns.

Skills

Solution Architecture

Enterprise Architecture

Systems Integration

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering/Industrial Tech

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Maximo

SAP

Oracle

Microsoft Dynamics

PLM

QMS

Job description

This role is CTH please review the JD Thoroughly.

Title: MFG Solution Architect

Location: San Antonio, TX or Louisville/Lexington, KY or Cincinnati, OH (Hybrid), Hillsborough, NC

Duration: CTH

Meet Our Team

Join our Manufacturing Digital Solutions team, where we partner with Operations, Engineering, Reliability, and Enterprise IT to modernize manufacturing through smart factory and Industry 4.0 initiatives. Our team is responsible for designing scalable enterprise solutions that seamlessly connect shop floor technologies with enterprise business systems. We drive digital transformation by enabling connected manufacturing, predictive maintenance, industrial automation, and cloud-enabled operations while ensuring secure, resilient, and future-ready architectures.

What You'll Be Doing

• Collaborate with business stakeholders, plant engineers, operations teams, and IT leaders to define solution architecture aligned with manufacturing strategy and business objectives.
• Design secure, scalable, and resilient solutions integrating Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), SCADA, PLCs, HMI, DCS, and machine reliability platforms with enterprise applications including ERP, PLM, QMS, and Maximo.
• Lead solution architecture for Smart Factory and Industry 4.0 initiatives, including IIoT, edge computing, predictive maintenance, digital twins, AI/ML, and advanced manufacturing analytics.
• Evaluate and recommend technologies, platforms, cloud services, and vendors that best support manufacturing modernization initiatives.
• Ensure architecture complies with enterprise standards, cybersecurity requirements, OT/IT best practices, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide technical leadership throughout the entire project lifecycle from solution discovery and architecture through implementation and production support.
• Participate as an embedded member of Agile Solution Pillars, contributing to sprint planning, daily stand-ups, backlog refinement, and architecture reviews.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to perform process mapping, solution design, system configuration, and integration planning.
• Develop and maintain architecture artifacts including solution blueprints, integration designs, system diagrams, and data flow documentation.
• Design enterprise integration strategies using APIs, middleware, OPC-UA, MQTT, and other industrial communication protocols.
• Identify technical risks, recommend mitigation strategies, and drive architecture governance across manufacturing initiatives.
• Lead architecture reviews to improve platform stability, performance, scalability, and simplify complex enterprise landscapes.
• Stay current with emerging manufacturing technologies, Industry 4.0 trends, AI, cloud platforms, and enterprise architecture best practices.
• Contribute hands-on to application development initiatives when required.

What You'll Bring to the Team

Experience

• 10+ years of experience in Solution Architecture, Enterprise Architecture, Systems Integration, or related IT leadership roles.
• 5+ years of experience delivering enterprise solutions within manufacturing, industrial automation, or smart factory environments.
• Previous experience as a Solution Architect or Enterprise Architect supporting large-scale manufacturing organizations.
• Proven experience designing enterprise integrations across manufacturing and business systems.

Technical Expertise

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations and industrial technologies including:
• MES
• SCADA
• PLCs
• HMI
• DCS
• Experience with Machine Reliability and Enterprise Asset Management platforms such as Maximo or equivalent Reliability-Centered Maintenance solutions.
• Strong understanding of enterprise platforms including SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, PLM, and QMS.
• Experience designing cloud-native and hybrid architectures using AWS and/or Microsoft Azure.
• Deep understanding of OT/IT integration, APIs, middleware, OPC-UA, MQTT, and enterprise integration patterns.
• Experience implementing Industry 4.0 technologies including:
• IIoT
• Predictive Maintenance
• Digital Twins
• AI/ML-enabled manufacturing solutions
• Knowledge of cybersecurity principles across Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) environments.
• Experience designing and deploying enterprise Predictive Maintenance (PdM) solutions integrating:
• Equipment sensor data (vibration, heat, cycle times)
• Machine Learning and AI models
• Mobile applications
• Notifications and enterprise integrations
• Hands-on application development experience is highly desirable.

Leadership & Business Skills

• Strong analytical thinking with exceptional problem-solving and solution design capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence both technical and business leaders.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams across Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Product Management, and Enterprise IT.
• Experience evaluating evolving business requirements while balancing technical feasibility, scalability, and long-term architecture strategy.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical options and business trade-offs to Product Owners, Chief Product Owners, Technical Leads, and Senior Leadership.
• Passion for continuous innovation and evaluating emerging technologies that improve operational efficiency and business value.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Industrial Technology, or a related discipline.
• Master's degree preferred.

Preferred Certifications

• TOGAF, ArchiMate, or equivalent Enterprise Architecture certifications.
• Manufacturing platform certifications such as SAP PP/ME, Rockwell, or Siemens.
• AWS Solution Architect and/or Microsoft Azure Solution Architect certifications.
• PMP, Agile, Scrum, or related project management certifications.