Senior MES Lite Solution Architect (Life Sciences)

Cognizant Life Sciences Manufacturing; Germany (OH); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology services company is seeking a Senior Solution Architect for its Life Sciences Manufacturing practice. The role involves driving MES Lite and Digital Operations solutions, ensuring compliance with industry standards. Ideal candidates will have over 10 years of experience in Life Sciences manufacturing and strong expertise in technologies like Tulip. This position demands strong leadership and the ability to engage with senior stakeholders, making it ideal for confident, strategic thinkers.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in Life Sciences manufacturing.
• 7–10 years’ experience working with MES or MES Lite applications.
• Deep understanding of IT/OT landscape and Pharma 4.0 environment.
• Hands-on experience in app development and integrations.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical solutioning for MES opportunities.
• Architect, design, build, and maintain MES Lite solutions.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
• Collaborate with stakeholders for business development.

Skills

Strong working knowledge of Tulip

Experience with low-code platforms like Mendix or Apprentice

Proven ability to influence senior leaders

Excellent presentation and facilitation skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering

Tulip certification(s)

Postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline

Tools

GMP

GAMP 5

CSV

Körber PAS-X

Siemens Opcenter

Rockwell FactoryTalk PharmaSuite

Job description

Cognizant is a market‑leading technology services company, partnering with global enterprises across industry segments to engineer modern businesses and improve everyday life. Our Life Sciences Manufacturing Industry Solutions Group (LSM ISG) is a world leader in digital transformation for Life Sciences, delivering stable, compliant, and innovative manufacturing systems through deep expertise in Automation, MES, Digital Operations, IT/OT/IoT, and Pharma 4.0 architectures.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Senior Solution Architect, MES Lite to join our Solution Engineering function and drive our MES Lite, Digital Operations, and Connected Worker offerings. This strategic role requires deep understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing and the technologies underpinning modern Life Sciences operations.

The ideal candidate is passionate about delivering Manufacturing Operations Management solutions and contributing to scalable, compliant, and innovative architectures that support accessible and effective treatments globally.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead technical solutioning for MES opportunities as part of the Solution Engineering team.
• Architect, design, build, deploy, and maintain MES Lite solutions using leading vendor technologies.
• Own end‑to‑end Tulip solution architecture: app design, data models, table structures, connectors, and integrations.
• Design ISA‑95 aligned architectures integrating Tulip with MES, ERP, DCS, PLCs, historians, LIMS, and cloud platforms.
• Define scalable application frameworks, reusable components, and governance standards.

Compliance & Quality

• Ensure solutions meet 21 CFR Part 11, Annex 11, and Data Integrity requirements.
• Partner with Quality and Validation teams to streamline compliant delivery.

Business & Practice Development

• Collaborate with Sales and Business Development to create proposals, sales collateral, and client presentations.
• Support hiring, capability building, and delivery methodology development for MES Lite services.
• Contribute to MES business strategy, including annual budget planning.
• Develop partnerships with MES Lite vendors, manage sandbox environments and licenses.

Client Engagement

• Participate as Solution Architect in key client MES Lite programs/projects when required.

Industry & Functional Expertise

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in Life Sciences manufacturing with broad exposure to OT and laboratory systems.
• 7–10 years’ experience working with MES or MES Lite applications.
• Deep understanding of IT/OT landscape, Pharma 4.0 environment, and modern manufacturing platforms.

Technical Expertise

• Strong working knowledge of Tulip (mandatory), with hands‑on experience in app development and integrations.
• Experience with low‑code platforms such as Mendix or Apprentice is an advantage.
• Knowledge of GMP, GAMP 5, CSV, and regulatory expectations for OT systems.
• Experience with Pharma MES products such as Körber PAS‑X, Siemens Opcenter, or Rockwell FactoryTalk PharmaSuite is a strong plus.
• Strong knowledge of ISA S88

Leadership & Consulting Skills

• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and motivate cross‑functional, geographically distributed teams.
• Excellent presentation, facilitation, and stakeholder‑management skills.

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering (required).
• Tulip certification(s) preferred.
• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline is an advantage.

Other Requirements

• Willingness to travel globally across the US, Europe, and Asia as needed.