Operations Technology (OT) Engineer II

Austal USA; United States; On-site; USD 95,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Austal USA Advanced Technologies (AAT) designs and manufactures advanced maritime technologies at the AM COE in Charlottesville, VA with a national network to support the submarine industrial base. The role focuses on OT systems, security, and data integrity in a high-stakes defense environment.

The candidate will work with Austal IT and subcontractors, traveling within Virginia and supporting continuous OT operations, including after-hours responses when needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of 5 years of experience, or equivalent combination (9 years).
• CompTIA Security+ certification is preferred.
• Experience with PLC-based systems, SCADA, industrial equipment, manufacturing/automated environments is preferred.
• Ability to work within and support a CMMC Level 2-compliant environment, and familiarity with NIST 800-82 and NIST 800-171.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, maintain, and troubleshoot enterprise class OT solutions at the AM COE based on industry best practices, compliance, and security requirements.
• Manage the inventory for OT network hardware and software used at the AM COE.
• Collaborate with AM COE Production team and subcontractors to integrate digital systems to ensure seamless data flow and integrity.
• Troubleshoot OT networking hardware and software issues for machines, analytical equipment, network connections, server-hosted applications, and operational data flows.

Skills

Critical thinking

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

SCADA

PLC-based systems

Job description

Austal USA Advanced Technologies (AT) is a division of Austal USA, a global defense contractor that designs and manufactures surface and subsurface vessels.

Austal USA AT works at the forefront of shipbuilding to invent, mature, and implement advanced maritime technologies which enhance operational capacities and improve defense system readiness. Austal USA AT operates a technology hub in Charlottesville, VA, and the U.S. Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM COE) located in Danville, VA. The mission of the AM COE is to operationalize additive manufacturing in the submarine industrial base and provide emergent request support to sustain our Nation’s fleet. We invite you to join us in building the next generation of submarines.

REPORTS TO: Program Manager Digital Technologies - AAT SUPERVISES: N/A

DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design, implement, maintain, and troubleshoot enterprise class OT solutions (hardware and software) at the AM COE based on industry best practices, compliance, and security requirements.
• Manage the inventory for OT network hardware and software used at the AM COE.
• Collaborate with AM COE Production team and other subcontractors to integrate digital systems utilized at the AM COE to ensure seamless data flow and integrity.
• Troubleshoot OT networking hardware and software issues for machines, analytical equipment, network connections, server-hosted applications, and operational data flows, with reach back support to Austal IT.
• Collaborate with Austal IT to support OT device configurations, logical and physical security, logical addressing, and vendor technologies.
• Act as the internal escalation point for all OT network and infrastructure-related incidents at the AM COE.
• Create and maintain clear technical documentation for support procedures, processes, topology, configuration, issue resolutions, and relevant physical and logical OT network diagrams.
• Participate in compliance activities as required for the OT network, including monitoring, reporting, log collection, and back up operations as directed by Austal IT.
• Provide support for AM COE OT systems that may operate continuously, with flexibility to assist with after-hours troubleshooting or issue response when required.

QUALIFICATIONS / KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 5 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience (9 years).
• CompTIA Security+ certification is preferred.
• Solid computer skills and comfort learning new software, systems, and technical tools.
• Experience with PLC-based systems, SCADA experience, industrial equipment, manufacturing/ automated environments is preferred.
• Ability to work within and support a CMMC Level 2-compliant environment, and familiarity with current cybersecurity standards, including but not limited to NIST 800-82 and NIST 800-171.
• Ability to use critical thinking skills to diagnose or define problems and implement practical solutions in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.
• Travel Note that this position requires frequent travel within Virginia.

ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES:

The ability to obtain and maintain a DoD clearance may be required if deemed necessary in the scope of your position responsibilities.

Candidates must meet the following employment eligibility guidelines to be eligible for employment with Austal USA: 18 years or older at time of application.

Able to provide proof of US Person status (permanent resident or citizen).

No felony convictions of theft/deception or violent crimes within seven years from disposition date.

No felony convictions of drug crimes within three years from disposition date.

Willing to submit to a drug screen.

Willing to submit to a background check.

LIAISES WITH:

Austal USA IT department, Austal USA Advanced Technologies team and subcontractors

SAFEY

Must comply with company, federal, state, and local safety and environmental rules and regulations while performing daily job tasks.

Equal Employment Commitment

Any qualified individual with a disability who is having difficulty in completing an application because of incompatible technology or other disability-related application issues may contact us at the following phone number for assistance: 251-445-1932.

Austal’s commitment to equal employment opportunity applies at all levels of employment, in all job titles, including the executive level, and to all employment actions, including but not limited to decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, training, and promotion.

Austal USA is a ship manufacturer headquartered in Mobile, Ala., with service centers in San Diego and Singapore and a technology center in Charlottesville, Va. With the most modern steel panel line in the shipbuilding industry, Austal USA’s facility is capable of supporting the manufacture of both aluminum and steel ships. Austal USA leverages a moving module production line and strict adherence to lean manufacturing principles to consistently deliver on-schedule and on-budget. Austal USA is currently under contract for several programs, including the U.S. Coast Guard’s Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC), the TAGOS-25 ocean surveillance ships, the Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF), the Navajo-class Towing, Salvage and Rescue ships (T-ATS), the Expeditionary Medical Ship (EMS), the Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock Medium (AFDM), and the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), and is supporting Navy unmanned vessel programs leveraging its advanced machinery control system.

Austal USA’s service business provides global support to U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command and other customers. Austal USA’s San Diego Service Center includes a waterfront facility that will have the capability to drydock small combatants and similar sized ships. Earning 23 safety excellence awards, Austal USA continues to be one of the safest shipyards in America.