OT Network Engineer - Manufacturing Operations

RIM Recruitment Professionals; Humboldt (TN); On-site; USD 104,000 - 163,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Retirement programs and incentives

Tuition reimbursement and training

Volunteer time and team culture

Job summary

RIM Recruitment Professionals is seeking an OT Network Engineer for a major West Tennessee manufacturing facility. This onsite role focuses on designing, securing, and maintaining the plant OT network to support high‑volume production, with collaboration across Automation, IT, and engineering teams.

You will work hands-on with PLC connectivity, industrial protocols, and cybersecurity practices, aiming for 99.5%+ uptime and alignment with Purdue Model segmentation and company standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT/CS/Engineering or related field.
• 3–7 years in network engineering, administration, or infrastructure support.
• At least 2 years in manufacturing, industrial, or OT environments.
• Hands-on with Ethernet, routing, switching, wireless, firewalls, and VPN.
• Knowledge of industrial protocols such as OPC, Modbus, PROFINET, CIP, and DNP3.
• CCNA, or the ability to obtain it within 12 months of hire.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the design, configuration, deployment, and support of plant-floor network infrastructure: switches, routers, firewalls, wireless, and remote access.
• Monitor performance and keep critical manufacturing networks running at 99.5%+ uptime.
• Troubleshoot and resolve OT network issues with minimal disruption to production.
• Partner with Automation Engineers to support connectivity for PLCs, SCADA, HMIs, and industrial control systems.
• Implement and maintain network segmentation based on the Purdue Model and corporate security standards.
• Support OT cybersecurity efforts including vulnerability remediation, patching, secure remote access, and hardening.
• Maintain network diagrams, documentation, configuration backups, and disaster recovery procedures.
• Handle lifecycle management, upgrades, and firmware updates, and support plant expansions and Industry 4.0 initiatives.
• Coordinate with equipment manufacturers, technology vendors, and system integrators.

Skills

Network engineering

Industrial OT experience

Troubleshooting

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/CS/Engineering/Industrial Technology

Tools

Cisco IE

Cisco Firepower

Cisco ISE

Cisco Cyber Vision

OPC

Job description

OT Network Engineer - Manufacturing Operations

Location: Humboldt, TN area | Onsite | Direct Hire

About the Company

Our client is a well-established, nationally recognized manufacturer of consumer products with a strong commitment to quality, innovation, and continuous improvement. They are investing heavily in smart-factory and Industry 4.0 technology and are adding an OT Network Engineer to support one of their high-volume manufacturing facilities in West Tennessee.

The Opportunity

The OT Network Engineer will be the primary technical owner of the Operational Technology (OT) network at the plant, keeping industrial networks secure, reliable, and available for production. You will work closely with Automation Engineering, IT, Information Security, Operations, and Maintenance, as well as outside vendors and integrators. This is a hands‑on role with exposure to modern industrial networking, OT cybersecurity, and digital transformation projects.

What You Will Do

• Own the design, configuration, deployment, and support of plant‑floor network infrastructure: switches, routers, firewalls, wireless, and remote access
• Monitor performance and keep critical manufacturing networks running at 99.5%+ uptime
• Troubleshoot and resolve OT network issues with minimal disruption to production
• Partner with Automation Engineers to support connectivity for PLCs, SCADA, HMIs, and industrial control systems
• Implement and maintain network segmentation based on the Purdue Model and corporate security standards
• Support OT cybersecurity efforts including vulnerability remediation, patching, secure remote access, and hardening
• Maintain network diagrams, documentation, configuration backups, and disaster recovery procedures
• Handle lifecycle management, upgrades, and firmware updates, and support plant expansions and Industry 4.0 initiatives
• Coordinate with equipment manufacturers, technology vendors, and system integrators

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in IT, Computer Science, Engineering, Industrial Technology, or related field (equivalent experience considered)
• 3-7 years of experience in network engineering, network administration, or infrastructure support
• At least 2 years supporting manufacturing, industrial, or OT environments
• Hands‑on experience with Ethernet, routing, switching, wireless, firewalls, and VPN
• Working knowledge of industrial protocols such as OPC, Modbus, PROFINET, CIP, and DNP3
• CCNA, or the ability to obtain it within 12 months of hire
• Strong communication and problem‑solving skills

Nice to Have

• Cisco Industrial Ethernet (IE), Firepower, ISE, or Catalyst Center experience
• Familiarity with OT security monitoring tools such as Cisco Cyber Vision
• Knowledge of ISA/IEC 62443 cybersecurity concepts
• CCNP or equivalent advanced networking certification

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary: $103,700 - $163,020 depending on experience
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Retirement and savings programs and incentive plans
• Tuition reimbursement and ongoing training
• Paid volunteer time and a collaborative, team‑focused culture

Onsite role in a manufacturing environment with occasional travel (up to 10%) to other facilities.

#RIMUS
#Chuck Hennemann