Principal Network Engineer

Dematic; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 136,800 - 205,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career Development

Competitive Compensation and Benefits

Pay Transparency

Global Opportunities

Job summary

Dematic is seeking a skilled professional to lead the design and governance of network architectures for SCADA and PLC systems in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This role demands a deep understanding of cybersecurity principles and strategies, combined with a proven track record in designing complex industrial automation systems.

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor's or advanced degree in Information Technology or Engineering, demonstrating leadership in networking principles and industrial communication protocols.

This position offers competitive compensation and growth opportunities within the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in relevant fields required.
• Deep expertise in industrial plant‑floor network architectures.
• Advanced knowledge of networking principles including routing and switching.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and governance of network architectures for SCADA and PLC systems.
• Define and influence cybersecurity architecture requirements.
• Drive the design of secure OT network architectures ensuring high availability.

Skills

Network architecture design

Cybersecurity expertise

Leadership in automation systems

Expertise in industrial communication protocols

Education

Bachelor's or advanced degree in Information Technology or Engineering

Tools

Certification in Cisco, Hirschmann/Belden

Job description

What We Offer

• Career Development
• Competitive Compensation and Benefits
• Pay Transparency
• Global Opportunities

Dematic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The base pay range for this role is estimated to be $136,800.00 - $205,200.00 at the time of posting. Final compensation will be determined by various factors such as work location, education, experience, knowledge, and skills.

Learn more about what we offer: https://www.dematic.com/en-us/about/careers/what-we-offer/

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, specification, and governance of network architectures supporting SCADA, PLC, and industrial automation systems across enterprise environments.
• Establish and standardize network segmentation strategies aligned to OT cybersecurity frameworks and business risk models.
• Define and influence cybersecurity architecture requirements, incorporating industry best practices (e.g., ISA/IEC 62443, zero‑trust principles).
• Review, approve, and govern network design artifacts, ensuring technical accuracy, scalability, and compliance with enterprise standards.
• Provide strategic technical leadership and oversight for Operational Technology (OT) network architecture, guiding cross‑functional engineering and project teams toward aligned, standardized solutions.
• Architect and oversee network configurations, including physical connectivity, industrial communication protocols, IP schema design, VLAN strategies, and firewall policy frameworks across complex environments.
• Drive the design and evolution of secure, resilient OT network architectures, ensuring high availability, performance, and compliance with cybersecurity and operational requirements.
• Lead root‑cause analysis and resolution of complex network and infrastructure issues, establishing best practices and improving system reliability across development and production environments.
• Guide early‑stage solution development by reviewing system designs, RFQs, and project requirements, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture and long‑term scalability.
• Serve as a thought leader by continuously evaluating emerging technologies, industry standards, and best practices, and translating them into actionable strategies, standards, and roadmaps for the organization.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Information Technology, Network Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline; advanced technical certifications or graduate‑level education preferred.
• Deep expertise in industrial plant‑floor network architectures, with authoritative understanding of IT vs. OT convergence and clear segmentation strategies.
• Proven leadership in designing, standardizing, and scaling industrial automation systems and enterprise‑wide architectures.
• Advanced mastery of networking principles, including complex routing, switching, and large‑scale VLAN design across distributed manufacturing environments.
• Recognized subject matter expert in industrial cybersecurity, including firewall strategy, zero‑trust concepts, and defense‑in‑depth for OT networks.
• Extensive experience architecting and governing Industrial DMZ (IDMZ) frameworks aligned to industry standards (e.g., ISA/IEC 62443).
• Demonstrated ability to lead integration of IoT/IIoT technologies within industrial environments, ensuring secure, scalable connectivity.
• Expert‑level knowledge of industrial communication protocols and architectures (e.g., OPC, MQTT), with experience driving standardization and interoperability.
• Industry‑recognized certifications (e.g., Cisco, Hirschmann/Belden, or equivalent) with preference for advanced or specialized industrial networking and cybersecurity credentials.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrated expertise in diagnosing, leading, and resolving highly complex technical challenges within dynamic, large‑scale industrial environments, often setting direction for others.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to influence and align both technical and executive stakeholders, translating complex concepts into clear business and operational impact.
• Proven capability to lead comprehensive network assessments and audits, establishing standards and providing strategic recommendations on architecture, topology, cabling, and infrastructure design.
• Collaborative technical leader who mentors engineers, drives cross‑functional alignment, and enables successful execution of enterprise‑wide initiatives.
• Strong track record of defining, presenting, and institutionalizing network standards, governance models, and best practices across diverse organizational teams.

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to travel up to 25% and work additional hours as needed to support project and business demands.