Smart Factory IT Specialist, Roma Plant

Bridgestone; South Africa; Hybrid; ZAR 1,028,000 - 1,440,000; Full time

Job summary

A global manufacturing company is seeking a Smart Factory IT Specialist to support the deployment and operation of Smart Factory solutions. The role involves ensuring IT infrastructure readiness, system availability, and cybersecurity compliance. Candidates should have a degree in Computer Science or Engineering and at least 5 years of experience in IT roles. The position is full-time and based in Rome, Italy, offering a hybrid work model.

Benefits

Comprehensive onboarding and technical training

Continuous development and mentorship opportunities

Support for work-life balance and personal well-being

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in IT roles within manufacturing, automation, or Smart Factory programs.
• Experience coordinating technical projects within an industrial environment.
• Proven ability to manage project phases from planning to execution.

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation and lifecycle management of Manufacturing Execution System (MES).
• Ensure operational stability of core IT infrastructure.
• Conduct risk assessments and contribute to cybersecurity hardening.

Skills

Strong experience with IT infrastructure for production environments

Familiarity with MES platforms (preferably Apriso)

Practical knowledge of Oracle RAC

Solid understanding of IT/OT network segmentation

Experience with system monitoring tools (Zabbix)

Networking knowledge, preferably with Cisco technologies

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent

Tools

Oracle RAC

Zabbix

Job description

Smart Factory IT Specialist, Roma Plant

POSITION SNAPSHOT

Type of work: Hybrid

Type of contract: Open-ended/permanent

Full/Part Time: Full time

Location: ROMA, IT

ABOUT US

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM), headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and Bridgestone Europe, Middle East and Africa (BSEMEA), headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, operate collectively as a “Bridgestone West” strategic region. This region services the strategic business needs of teams across the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa. BSAM and BSEMEA are subsidiaries of Bridgestone Corporation, globally headquartered in Japan. Bridgestone and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand products and solutions to address the needs of a broad range of customers and industries.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Job Purpose

We are looking for a technically driven IT Specialist to support the deployment and operation of Smart Factory solutions at the Rome Plant. The role focuses on ensuring IT infrastructure readiness, high system availability, production continuity, adherence to Bridgestone's Manufacturing Reference Architecture, and robust industrial cybersecurity.

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation and lifecycle management of Manufacturing Execution System (MES Apriso), Advanced Planning System (APS Quintiq), and Wonderware solutions
• Ensure operational stability of core IT infrastructure, including server platforms, Oracle RAC databases, network segmentation, and cybersecurity systems
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Plant, and EMEA IT teams to align with Bridgestone’s standard Reference Architecture
• Apply industrial cybersecurity principles, implementing IT/OT segmentation, iDMZ, and network protection strategies
• Conduct risk assessments and contribute to cybersecurity hardening of critical production IT systems
• Perform technical troubleshooting and incident resolution for production IT systems
• Utilize monitoring tools (Zabbix or similar) to proactively manage system health
• Contribute to disaster recovery planning, system testing, and continuous improvement of IT resilience
• Provide project management support, coordinating technical tasks, milestones, and resources within the Smart Factory deployment roadmap
• Ensure alignment of project activities with production schedules, cybersecurity requirements, and organizational objectives

Qualifications & Experience Required

Education, Master, other certification

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent

Experience (years)

• Minimum 5 years in IT roles within manufacturing, automation, or Smart Factory programs
• Experience coordinating technical projects or project workstreams within an industrial environment
• Proven ability to manage project phases from planning to execution, including resource coordination and milestone tracking

Technical Skills

• Strong experience with IT infrastructure for production environments (servers, storage, networks)
• Familiarity with MES platforms (preferably Apriso) and industrial system integration
• Practical knowledge of Oracle RAC, DataGuard, and high-availability database solutions
• Solid understanding of IT/OT network segmentation and cybersecurity best practices (Purdue Model, iDMZ)
• Experience with risk assessment, vulnerability mitigation, and secure infrastructure design for production environments
• Experience with system monitoring tools (Zabbix or comparable)
• Networking knowledge, preferably with Cisco technologies
• Ability to manage project tasks, timelines, and reporting effectively

Languages Skills

• Fluent English (written and spoken)
• Italian is considered an advantage

Soft/Behavioral Skills

• Hands-on approach to technical challenges
• Proactive, reliable, and safety-conscious attitude
• Strong communication skills, ability to liaise with diverse teams
• Analytical mindset with a focus on operational excellence
• Organizational and project management abilities

What We Offer

At Bridgestone, we foster co-creation and empower creativity to make mobility safer, more efficient, and sustainable. We offer:

• Comprehensive onboarding and technical training
• Continuous development and mentorship opportunities
• Corporate social responsibility programs
• A global, inclusive, and dynamic work environment
• Support for work-life balance and personal well-being

EEO Statement

We are committed to create an even more inclusive culture that advances equity, embraces individuality, and helps our increasingly diverse teammates, customers, and communities thrive, by providing equal opportunities in employment. This means that all job applicants and members of staff will receive equal treatment and that we will not discriminate on grounds of gender, marital status, race, ethnicity, color, nationality, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, religion or age.