Principal Network Engineer

* Lead the design, specification, and governance of network architectures supporting SCADA, PLC, and industrial automation systems across enterprise environments.

* Establish and standardize network segmentation strategies aligned to OT cybersecurity frameworks and business risk models.

o Define and influence cybersecurity architecture requirements, incorporating industry best practices (e.g., ISA/IEC 62443, zero-trust principles).

o Review, approve, and govern network design artifacts, ensuring technical accuracy, scalability, and compliance with enterprise standards.

oProvide strategic technical leadership and oversight for Operational Technology (OT) network architecture, guiding cross-functional engineering and project teams toward aligned, standardized solutions.

* Architect and oversee network configurations, including physical connectivity, industrial communication protocols, IP schema design, VLAN strategies, and firewall policy frameworks across complex environments.

* Drive the design and evolution of secure, resilient OT network architectures, ensuring high availability, performance, and compliance with cybersecurity and operational requirements.

* Lead root-cause analysis and resolution of complex network and infrastructure issues, establishing best practices and improving system reliability across development and production environments.

* Guide early-stage solution development by reviewing system designs, RFQs, and project requirements, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture and long-term scalability.

* Serve as a thought leader by continuously evaluating emerging technologies, industry standards, and best practices, and translating them into actionable strategies, standards, and roadmaps for the organization.

What We Are Looking For:
Qualifications & Experience
* Bachelor's or advanced degree in Information Technology, Network Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline; advanced technical certifications or graduate-level education preferred.
* Deep expertise in industrial plant-floor network architectures, with authoritative understanding of IT vs. OT convergence and clear segmentation strategies.
* Proven leadership in designing, standardizing, and scaling industrial automation systems and enterprise-wide architectures.
*Advanced mastery of networking principles, including complex routing, switching, and large-scale VLAN design across distributed manufacturing environments.
*Recognized subject matter expert in industrial cybersecurity, including firewall strategy, zero-trust concepts, and defense-in-depth for OT networks.
*Extensive experience architecting and governing Industrial DMZ (IDMZ) frameworks aligned to industry standards (e.g., ISA/IEC 62443).
* Demonstrated ability to lead integration of IoT/IIoT technologies within industrial environments, ensuring secure, scalable connectivity.
* Expert-level knowledge of industrial communication protocols and architectures (e.g., OPC, MQTT), with experience driving standardization and interoperability.
*Industry-recognized certifications (e.g., Cisco, Hirschmann/Belden, or equivalent) with preference for advanced or specialized industrial networking and cybersecurity credentials.
Core Competencies
*Demonstrated expertise in diagnosing, leading, and resolving highly complex technical challenges within dynamic, large-scale industrial environments, often setting direction for others.
* Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to influence and align both technical and executive stakeholders, translating complex concepts into clear business and operational impact.
* Proven capability to lead comprehensive network assessments and audits, establishing standards and providing strategic recommendations on architecture, topology, cabling, and infrastructure design.
* Collaborative technical leader who mentors engineers, drives cross-functional alignment, and enables successful execution of enterprise-wide initiatives.
* Strong track record of defining, presenting, and institutionalizing network standards, governance models, and best practices across diverse organizational teams.
Additional Requirements
* Willingness to travel up to 25% and work additional hours as needed to support project and business demands.