Senior OT Network Engineer (25% Travel) at Optomi Senior OT Network Engineer (25% Travel) at Optomi in Colfax, North Carolina Posted in 17 days ago.

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full-time Optomi, in partnership with an industry leading client, are seeking an experienced Senior OT Network Engineer with 10+ years of network engineering experience to join our System Solutions team. This is a hands-on, onsite role supporting OT and enterprise network environments within manufacturing facilities . The Senior OT Network Engineer will serve as a key technical resource and liaison between IT, plant engineering, operations, and other technical teams. This individual will design, deploy, maintain, and troubleshoot secure and highly available network infrastructure supporting plant-floor, automation, and industrial systems. The ideal candidate combines strong enterprise networking expertise with practical experience in OT/industrial environments, network segmentation, cybersecurity, high availability, and manufacturing operations . The ability to work effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders is essential, as is a strong focus on minimizing operational disruption and maintaining network availability. Key Responsibilities Serve as the onsite network engineering subject matter expert for OT and manufacturing initiatives. Lead the deployment, implementation, and ongoing support of OT network infrastructure across plant environments. Design and implement secure, resilient network architectures supporting industrial, manufacturing, automation, and edge-connected systems. Develop and implement network segmentation strategies, including VLANs, IDMZ architectures, firewall zones, access controls, and secure connectivity between IT and OT environments. Configure, troubleshoot, and maintain enterprise and industrial networking infrastructure, including routing, switching, wireless, firewalls, and network redundancy. Provide advanced escalation support for complex network incidents and coordinate resolution with internal teams, vendors, and plant personnel. Support network deployments, plant cutovers, maintenance windows, upgrades, and operational readiness activities while minimizing production impact. Develop and maintain OT network standards, architecture documentation, implementation procedures, and troubleshooting guides. Partner with plant engineering, maintenance, operations, cybersecurity, and IT teams to translate production requirements into reliable and secure network solutions. Provide technical guidance, training, and mentorship to local IT support teams and operational personnel on OT networking and troubleshooting. Monitor network performance and proactively identify reliability, availability, and security improvements. Participate in network modernization initiatives and support the integration of new automation, controls, and industrial systems. Technology Environment Candidates should have hands-on experience with a broad range of enterprise and OT networking technologies, including: Enterprise LAN/WAN infrastructure OT/industrial and manufacturing networks Network segmentation and secure network architecture IDMZ design and implementation Firewalls and secure remote connectivity VLANs, routing, switching, and network redundancy High-availability network architectures Industrial wireless networking Network monitoring, diagnostics, and troubleshooting Plant-floor and automation network connectivity Edge-connected and industrial systems Industrial networking protocols and technologies IT/OT connectivity and integration Required Qualifications 10+ years of progressive network engineering experience. Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered. Hands-on experience supporting OT, industrial, or manufacturing network environments . Strong knowledge of enterprise networking, network architecture, and secure network design. Demonstrated experience with routing, switching, VLANs, firewalls, wireless, network redundancy, and troubleshooting. Experience implementing or supporting network segmentation and secure IT/OT connectivity. Experience troubleshooting complex network issues in high-availability or production environments. Experience supporting network deployments, maintenance windows, plant cutovers, and operational support activities. Ability to collaborate effectively with IT, engineering, operations, maintenance, cybersecurity, and external vendors. Strong communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. Demonstrated ownership, problem-solving ability, and ability to drive technical initiatives through completion. Willingness to work onsite and provide occasional after-hours/weekend support when required. Preferred Qualifications Experience in manufacturing, industrial, or plant-floor environments . Strong understanding of OT cybersecurity principles, IDMZ architecture, network segmentation, and secure access practices. Experience supporting automation, controls, PLC, SCADA, or other industrial systems and their network connectivity. Experience with large-scale OT network deployments, plant modernization, or infrastructure transformation initiatives. Experience partnering directly with production engineering, maintenance, and operations teams. Experience developing OT network standards, architecture documentation, deployment procedures, or engineering guidelines. Networking or cybersecurity certifications such as

CCNA, CCNP, CISSP

, or equivalent. Familiarity with industrial networking protocols and technologies. Work Environment Onsite contract position (12 months with likely extension/conversion) Standard business hours Occasional after-hours or weekend work for maintenance windows, cutovers, or critical incidents Limited travel expected Primarily based within a manufacturing/plant environment