IPEX is one of the North American leading providers of advanced plastic piping systems. Our mission is to shape a better tomorrow by connecting people with water and energy.

We currently have an exciting opportunity as a Sr Project Engineer/Specialist OT Architect. This role is based in our Clarkson office and reports to the Sr Engineering Manager – Automation.

Do not miss the opportunity to join a diverse group of people-centric professionals, thought leaders and rapid thinkers, entrepreneurs in spirit and status quo-fighters!

Job Summary

The Operational Technology Architect will play a key role in designing, implementing, and optimizing operational technology solutions to support the organization's manufacturing processes. This role will be collaborating with various stakeholders to understand business requirements, assess technology needs, and develop robust architectures that ensure the reliability, security, and efficiency of operational technology environments.

Principal Responsibilities

• Creating the tactical planning of the implementation of the operational technologies’ solutions defined by the organization and reach for alignment with Stakeholders on the prioritization and deployment of the different automation technologies, through the digital or manufacturing committee.

• As Project Engineer, to develop project scopes and objectives, involve all relevant stakeholders and ensure technical feasibility. Deliver OT and equipment solutions for the plants, warehouses, and operations at IPEX. Follow all Project Engineering and PMO practices for Project Management.

• Designing and architecting operational technology solutions, including Manufacturing Operation Management (MoM) systems, SCADA Layer, ICS, and other industrial automation technologies and software, to meet business objectives and operational requirements.

• Evaluating and selecting appropriate hardware, software, and networking components for operational technology systems, considering factors such as reliability, scalability, security, integration, standardization, and cost-effectiveness.

• Ensuring the security and compliance of operational technology environments by implementing best practices, standards, and security controls to protect against cyber threats and vulnerabilities.

• Collaborating with IT teams and other stakeholders to integrate operational technology systems with enterprise IT infrastructure, ensuring interoperability and seamless data exchange between operational and business systems. Promote IT-OT Convergence.

• Optimizing the performance and efficiency of operational technology systems through performance tuning, capacity planning, and infrastructure optimization initiatives.

• Identifying and mitigating risks associated with operational technology deployments, including operational risks, cybersecurity risks, vendor/solution lock and compliance risks.

• Developing and maintaining architectural documentation, standards, and guidelines for operational technology environments to ensure consistency, scalability, and maintainability.

• Engaging with stakeholders, including operations teams, engineering teams, vendors, and regulatory bodies, to gather requirements, communicate architectural decisions, and drive alignment with business objectives.

• Monitoring industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices related to operational technology architecture and proposing continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the organization's operational capabilities.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Engineering, or related field. Preferred major in Controls

• Over 10 years of experience in designing and architecting operational technology solutions in industrial or manufacturing environments.

• In-depth knowledge of industrial automation technologies, such as Middle layer, ICS, PLC, HMI, Robotics, MES, ERP, PLM, Data Lake and UNS.

• Strong understanding of cybersecurity principles and best practices for operational technology environments.

• Experience with network design, protocols, and communication technologies used in industrial networks (e.g., OPC-UA, MQTT, Ethernet/IP, BACnet, Profinet, Modbus, etc.).

• Familiarity with industry standards and frameworks relevant to operational technology architecture, such as ISA-95, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and IEC 62443.

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.

• Up to 30% travel between Canada and the US is required for this position. The successful candidate will need to maintain their right to travel between both countries throughout their employment at IPEX.

IPEX is committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities throughout the recruitment process and, upon request, will work with qualified job applicants to provide suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs due to disability. Accommodation requests are available to candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process for IPEX jobs. To request an accommodation, please contact HR at askhr@ipexna.com

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