Sr. IT/OT Infrastructure Engineer - Manufacturing Digitalization at Cincinnati, OH (Remote)

Position: Senior IT/OT Infrastructure Engineer - Manufacturing Digitalization

Location: Cincinnati, OH (Remote)

Duration: 3+ Months

Job Description:

We are seeking an experienced Senior IT/OT Infrastructure Engineer – Manufacturing Digitalization to support manufacturing equipment digitalization, network connectivity, Data Integrity (DI) upgrades, MERA network onboarding, and VxRail infrastructure within a regulated manufacturing environment.

The role will provide hands-on IT/OT infrastructure support for critical manufacturing initiatives, including connecting and digitalizing manufacturing equipment, implementing secure and standardized network connectivity, supporting infrastructure upgrades, and coordinating activities across Networking, Cybersecurity, IAM, Windows/Server, VMware/Virtualization, Storage/Backup, End User Computing, and external vendors.

The ideal candidate will have strong experience troubleshooting complex IT/OT infrastructure issues in manufacturing and laboratory environments, along with a solid understanding of [strong GxP/GMP requirements, network infrastructure, firewalls, VMware/VxRail, Windows, Active Directory, backup and recovery, and manufacturing/laboratory systems.

Key Responsibilities

1. Manufacturing Equipment Digitalization & Connectivity

• Support the connection and digitalization of manufacturing equipment across the site.
• Define technical connectivity requirements including ports, protocols, network access, security requirements, and performance expectations.
• Support MERA network onboarding and standardized manufacturing network connectivity.
• Coordinate connectivity activities across Networking, Cybersecurity, IAM, Server/Windows, VMware, Storage/Backup, EUC, and vendor teams.
• Ensure manufacturing equipment connectivity is secure, supportable, scalable, and aligned with enterprise standards.
• Work with equipment vendors and internal SMEs to troubleshoot and resolve connectivity issues.

2. IT/OT Infrastructure Support

• Provide IT infrastructure support for critical manufacturing and laboratory projects.
• Support Cincinnati VxRail infrastructure and associated manufacturing workloads.
• Troubleshoot issues across infrastructure layers including:
• Servers and Windows
• VMware/virtualization
• Network connectivity
• Storage
• Backup and recovery
• Active Directory and access
• Firewalls and security
• Manufacturing and laboratory applications
• Diagnose issues spanning host, VM, network, storage, application, authentication, and authorization layers.
• Coordinate infrastructure changes and remediation activities with enterprise/shared-service teams.

3. IT/OT Troubleshooting & Root Cause Analysis

• Own end-to-end troubleshooting of complex IT/OT incidents affecting manufacturing and laboratory operations.
• Apply structured troubleshooting methodologies to isolate root causes and identify permanent corrective actions.
• Collect technical evidence locally when operating within limited-access or shared-services environments.
• Escalate issues to the appropriate resolver groups with sufficient technical evidence and business context.
• Track escalated issues through resolution and ensure proper closure.
• Prepare clear Root Cause Analysis (RCA) documentation for significant or recurring incidents.
• Identify recurring issues and recommend permanent fixes and infrastructure improvements.

4. Network, Firewall & Security Coordination

• Troubleshoot manufacturing and laboratory network connectivity issues.
• Apply practical knowledge of:
• Switching and routing concepts
• VLANs
• DNS/DHCP
• TCP/IP connectivity
• Firewall rules
• Ports and protocols
• Network access requirements
• Define and communicate appropriate network/firewall change requirements to Networking and Cybersecurity teams.
• Coordinate implementation and validation of connectivity changes.
• Ensure network solutions meet enterprise cybersecurity and manufacturing operational requirements.

5. Data Integrity & Regulated Environment Support

• Support Data Integrity (DI) and infrastructure upgrade initiatives within manufacturing and laboratory environments.
• Work in accordance with applicable GxP/GMP requirements for IT/OT systems.
• Maintain appropriate documentation discipline and audit readiness.
• Apply risk-based decision-making when supporting regulated manufacturing systems.
• Ensure infrastructure changes and incident-resolution activities are appropriately documented.
• Support compliance and audit activities when required.

6. Backup, Storage & Recovery

• Support and coordinate backup, retention, storage capacity, and recovery readiness for manufacturing, laboratory, and OT workloads.
• Review and verify backup and infrastructure logs.
• Coordinate and validate recovery/test-restore activities.
• Identify backup, capacity, retention, and recovery gaps proactively.
• Work with Storage/Backup and infrastructure teams to remediate identified risks.
• Ensure critical manufacturing workloads have appropriate recovery capabilities.

7. Windows, Active Directory & Identity Support

• Apply Windows administration fundamentals when troubleshooting manufacturing and laboratory systems.
• Support issues involving:
• Windows servers/workstations
• Active Directory
• AD groups
• User/service accounts
• Authentication
• Authorization
• Access permissions
• Coordinate IAM and Active Directory changes with enterprise teams.
• Troubleshoot access issues and determine whether problems originate from identity, application, operating system, network, or security layers.

8. Laboratory & Manufacturing Systems Support

• Support infrastructure and connectivity associated with laboratory and manufacturing technology environments.
• Work with systems and platforms such as:
• LIMS
• CDS
• Laboratory instruments
• SCADA
• HMI
• Historians
• Manufacturing equipment
• Coordinate with application SMEs, manufacturing teams, laboratory teams, infrastructure groups, and vendors to restore services quickly.
• Understand dependencies between manufacturing equipment, applications, infrastructure, networks, and security services.

9. Documentation & Asset Management

• Maintain clear and accurate technical documentation, including:
• Incident documentation
• RCA summaries
• Connectivity requirements
• Infrastructure requirements
• Troubleshooting documentation
• Technical change requirements
• Maintain accurate asset and CMDB information for supported systems and infrastructure.
• Ensure documentation meets operational, compliance, and audit-readiness expectations.

10. Stakeholder & Vendor Coordination

• Coordinate activities across global/shared service teams including:
• Networking
• Cybersecurity
• IAM
• Server/Windows
• VMware/Virtualization
• Storage/Backup
• End User Computing
• Manufacturing/Lab application teams
• External vendors
• Manage multiple incidents and project activities concurrently.
• Prioritize activities based on operational impact and business risk.
• Communicate technical issues clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Translate technical problems into understandable business impact, operational risk, and remediation requirements.
• Set appropriate expectations and escalate issues based on business criticality.

Required Skills & Experience

• 8-10+ years of strong experience supporting IT/OT infrastructure within manufacturing and/or laboratory environments.
• 5+ years of demonstrated ability to own complex end-to-end IT/OT troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
• Experience supporting VxRail infrastructure is highly desirable.
• 5+ years of experience supporting manufacturing equipment digitalization and network connectivity.
• 5+ years of working knowledge of GxP/GMP regulated environments and associated documentation and audit-readiness expectations.
• 3 to 5 years of strong understanding of networking fundamentals including VLANs, switching/routing, DNS, DHCP, ports/protocols, and firewall connectivity.
• Experience coordinating network and firewall changes with enterprise infrastructure and cybersecurity teams.
• Experience with VMware/virtualization technologies and troubleshooting across host, VM, network, and storage layers.
• Working knowledge of Windows administration and Active Directory.
• Experience troubleshooting authentication, authorization, and access-related issues.
• Experience with backup, retention, storage, capacity management, recovery readiness, and test restores.
• Familiarity with manufacturing and laboratory technology environments such as LIMS, CDS, instrument connectivity, SCADA, HMI, and historian systems.
• Experience working within shared-services and limited-privilege operating models.
• Strong incident management, troubleshooting, escalation, and follow-through capabilities.
• Strong technical documentation skills, including incident notes, RCA documentation, connectivity requirements, and CMDB maintenance.
• Strong vendor and cross-functional team coordination skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage concurrent incidents and project activities based on business impact and risk.

Preferred Skills

• Experience supporting pharmaceutical, life sciences, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience with manufacturing equipment network onboarding and digitalization initiatives.
• Experience with MERA network onboarding.
• Hands-on exposure to VxRail and VMware infrastructure.
• Experience supporting manufacturing/laboratory systems in a GxP/GMP environment.
• Experience coordinating across global infrastructure and cybersecurity shared-service organizations.
• Familiarity with Data Integrity (DI) requirements and infrastructure upgrades within regulated environments.

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