Operational Technology (OT) Systems Engineer

Auria; Albemarle (NC); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full medical, dental and vision plan

Tuition Reimbursement

50% match on 401(k) contributions

Fertility benefits

Parental Leave and Adoption benefits

Salary Continuation & LTD

Job summary

A leading global supplier of automotive solutions is seeking an Operational Technology (OT) Systems Engineer to enhance data acquisition and management processes in manufacturing environments. This role involves technical leadership, system integration, and instilling IT best practices to improve operational effectiveness. Candidates should have extensive experience in industrial automation, a bachelor’s degree in a related field, and the ability to travel up to 50%. Acceptable benefits include medical plans, tuition reimbursement, and a 401(k) match.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of experience in technical leadership within manufacturing or IT/OT integration.
• Minimum of ten years in a role focused on IT, OT, and/or control systems.
• Proven experience integrating manufacturing OT systems with ERP/MES systems.
• Minimum of ten (10) years in a role focused in IT, OT, and/or control systems.
• Proven experience integrating manufacturing OT systems with ERP/MES systems, preferably Plex and Plex MES Automation and Orchestration (Plex A&O, formerly Mach2).

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute projects integrating shop floor equipment with business systems.
• Establish data collection frameworks for OT environments for real-time monitoring.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity teams for risk assessment and compliance.
• Establish and implement data collection frameworks for OT environments.
• Support predictive maintenance, process optimization, and quality improvement through data analytics.
• Define data inputs and outputs to support AI-driven insights with automation teams.
• Coordinate the implementation of AI tools to enhance operational efficiency.
• Develop and maintain documentation for system architecture, configurations, and procedures.
• Instill enterprise IT best practices in manufacturing OT environments.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to assess risks and ensure compliance.
• Support operations in responding to security incidents and vulnerabilities.
• Serve as liaison with vendors and stakeholders; deliver training for adoption.

Skills

Technical leadership

Industrial automation

Data analytics

Stakeholder management

Communication

HMI

Power BI

Ignition

Cybersecurity

Zero Trust

IT/OT convergence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Information Systems, or Industrial Technology

Tools

PTC Kepware

Power BI

PTC Kepware

Job description

Operational Technology (OT) Systems Engineer

Auria is a leading global supplier of highly-engineered systems for automotive flooring, acoustical, thermal, aerodynamic and other fiber-based solutions for gas and electric vehicles. With U.S.-based operational headquarters in Southfield, Michigan, Auria operates 16 manufacturing, 9 technical and 5 JV locations across 10 countries and employs approximately 3,900 people worldwide. We are currently searching for an Operational Technology (OT) Systems Engineer to join our global IT team. The OT Systems Engineer position can be located at any of our North America plants and will be determined based on the successful candidate’s location.

Operational technology is hardware and software that detects or causes a change, through the direct monitoring and/or control of physical devices, processes and events. For Auria, this includes industrial control devices (ICS), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and human-machine interfaces (HMIs) in our manufacturing facilities. This role will focus on enhancing OT device data acquisition, management, and operational processes while bringing enterprise IT and cybersecurity best practices to the shop floor. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical leadership experience in industrial environments with a deep understanding of IT/OT convergence in a manufacturing environment.

What you will do

• Technical Leadership
  • Plan and execute projects focused on supporting plant staff in integrating shop floor equipment with business systems to improve overall operational effectiveness.
  • Coordinate with cross‑functional technical resources (IT, cybersecurity, maintenance, engineering, operations, and others) to ensure project milestones and goals are achieved.
  • Stay current with emerging technologies and trends in industrial automation, Industrial IoT (IIoT) data analytics, and OT cybersecurity.
• System Integration
  • Establish and implement data collection frameworks for OT environments, enabling real‑time monitoring and historical analysis.
  • Support predictive maintenance, process optimization, and quality improvement initiatives through data analytics.
  • Define data inputs and outputs that support AI‑driven insights, in collaboration with data management and automation teams.
  • Coordinate the implementation of AI tools that enhance operational efficiency.
  • Develop and maintain documentation for system architecture, configurations, and operational procedures.
• Information Technology
  • Instill enterprise IT best practices in the manufacturing OT environments.
  • Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to assess risks, implement security controls, and ensure compliance with relevant standards.
  • Support operations teams in responding to security incidents, vulnerabilities, and anomalies.
• Communication & Training
  • Serve as the primary liaison between vendors, internal stakeholders, and technical teams.
  • Develop and deliver training sessions for stakeholders, ensuring technology adoption and operational effectiveness of the integrated systems.
• Other duties as assigned.

What you will gain as a part of the Auria Team

• An opportunity to enroll in full medical, dental and vision plan, as well as voluntary benefits.
• Fertility benefits available for those enrolled in our medical plan for financial support of treatment options.
• Parental Leave and Adoption and Surrogacy benefits for salaried employees.
• Tuition Reimbursement available for eligible employees to continue education.
• Auria matches 50% of your contributions up to 8%, for a maximum Auria match of 4%.
• Salary Continuation & Long Term Disability (LTD).

What you will bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Industrial Technology, or a related field, preferred.
• Five (5) or more years of experience in technical leadership within manufacturing, industrial automation, or IT/OT integration.
• Minimum of ten (10) years in a role focused in IT, OT, and/or control systems.
• Proven experience integrating manufacturing OT systems with ERP/MES systems, preferably Plex and Plex MES Automation and Orchestration (Plex A&O, formerly Mach2).

Travel Requirements

• This position will require up to 50% travel to North America plants, including Mexico.

Knowledge, Skills, and Ability

• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and organizational skills.
• Expertise in global Industrial IoT (IIoT) platforms, with PTC Kepware proficiency being highly preferred.
• Strong understanding of OT systems, industrial network protocols, and shop floor technologies (e.g., SCADA, PLCs, sensors).
• Experience with Industry 4.0, IIoT, and smart manufacturing initiatives.
• Familiarity with CMMS/EAM platforms, predictive maintenance strategies, and equipment performance monitoring.
• Understanding of how to apply IT best practices to OT environments, including asset management, change management, disaster recovery planning, and others.
• Experience with Zero Trust frameworks and cybersecurity tools (e.g., firewalls, NAC, SIEM).
• Hands‑on experience with visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Ignition, or similar).

When applying to Auria positions, you will be taken to our career site (careers.auriasolutions.com) to apply directly with us even through external job boards. Auria utilizes an in‑depth interview process and will extend offers to successful candidates only at the completion of our process.

Auria reminds all candidates that we will never ask for sensitive financial information throughout our process. We remind all candidates to take caution with any position that they are applying or when engaging with recruiters.