Operational Technology Systems Engineer

Perdue Farms; Salisbury (MD); On-site; USD 78,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & Rx

401(k) with employer match

Dental, Vision, Life Insurance

Short-term & Long-term Disability

Flexible Spending Accounts

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Perdue AgriBusiness, part of Perdue Farms, seeks an Operational Technology Systems Engineer to design, support, and optimize plant floor infrastructure, including SCADA/HMI, historians, and virtualization. You will partner with plant leadership, engineering, IT, and cybersecurity to implement technology solutions and maintain system stability in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in Engineering or Information Technology and 4+ years in OT/industrial IT, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, IT, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 4+ years in OT systems or industrial IT or controls-adjacent roles.
• Experience with Windows Server, virtualization, and industrial networks.
• Familiarity with PLCs, SCADA, and industrial protocols.

Responsibilities

• Support and troubleshoot OT servers, VMs, and applications.
• Support SCADA, HMI, historian, and MES infrastructure.
• Assist with upgrades, patching, backups, and recovery testing.
• Assist with industrial switches, firewalls, and VLANs.
• Troubleshoot plant floor connectivity and device comms.
• Follow OT cybersecurity policies and maintain documentation.

Skills

Communication skills

Project management

Independent prioritization

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering/Information Technology or related field

Tools

Windows Server

Virtualization

Industrial networks

SCADA/HMI systems

PLC/SCADA protocols

Job description

Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company that handles agricultural commodities and a diverse portfolio of products and businesses. It is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritizing work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive.

Summary

Drive the reliability, security, and performance of the technology systems that power our manufacturing operations. As an Operational Technology Systems Engineer, you will design, support, and optimize plant floor infrastructure, including networks, servers, virtualization, SCADA/HMI systems, and historian platforms to ensure safe, secure, and efficient operations. You will partner closely with plant leadership, engineering, IT, and cybersecurity teams to implement technology solutions, support continuous improvement initiatives, and maintain the stability of critical manufacturing systems. This role is ideal for a hands-on, solutions-driven technology professional who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, collaborating across teams, and leveraging technology to enhance manufacturing performance in a fast-paced production environment.

The salary range for this position is $78,000 - $116,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance).

In addition to the base salary, Perdue offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/Rx, 401(k) with employer match after 1 year, critical illness, accident insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts and paid time off.

Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Support and troubleshoot OT servers, virtual machines, and applications.
• Support SCADA, HMI, historian, and Manufacturing Execution System-related infrastructure.
• Assist with system upgrades, patching, backups, and recovery testing.
• Assist with support of industrial switches, firewalls, and virtual local area networks.
• Troubleshoot plant floor connectivity issues and device communications.
• Support network segmentation and OT security best practices.
• Support capital projects, control system upgrades, and site expansions.
• Collaborate with Controls, Maintenance, Engineering, and Operations teams.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Environmental, and Information Technology teams to align OT solutions with production goals, safety, and compliance requirements.
• Manage OT vendors and integrators during project execution.
• Follow OT cybersecurity policies and contribute to compliance efforts.
• Maintain asset inventories and system documentation.
• Support audits and vulnerability remediation activities.

Minimum Education And Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 4+ years of OT systems, industrial Information Technology, or controls-adjacent experience.
• Experience with Windows Server, virtualization, and industrial networks.
• Familiarity with programmable logic controllers, SCADA, and industrial protocols.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for plant floor stakeholders and produce clear documentation and status updates.
• Self-motivated with the ability to independently manage projects and priorities.

Preferred Education And Experience

• Experience with Rockwell platforms (PlantPAx, Studio 5000, FactoryTalk View/SE, Linx) and EtherNet/IP.
• Experience with data historians (AVEVA PI, FactoryTalk Historian, Canary), including tag setup and troubleshooting.
• Experience in manufacturing or processing environments.
• Exposure to ISA-95, Purdue Model, or IEC 62443.
• Experience supporting multi-site operations.

Physical Requirements And Environmental Factors

• Position is mostly sedentary but may require occasional moving to other offices or buildings.
• May need to move light equipment or supplies from one place to another.
• May need to access files, supplies and equipment.
• Work activity is in an office, open-partitioned, cubicle environment.

Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.