Technical Architect - MES, Unified Namespace & Digital Manufacturing Platforms

As a Technical Architect at AG SOLUTION, you will design the technical backbone of digital manufacturing solutions. You will work at the intersection of MES, automation, IIoT, data platforms, and the Unified Namespace (UNS) concept, helping shape scalable, future-proof architectures for our clients., * Define end-to-end digital manufacturing architectures, covering MES, UNS, edge/OT layers, data integration, and cloud/on-prem components.

• Design modular, scalable and secure architectures that support real-time operations, analytics, and cross-system connectivity.
• Translate business and process requirements into technical designs, data models, and integration patterns.
• Develop UNS structures (MQTT / Sparkplug / event-driven architectures), ensuring clean naming conventions, governance, and interoperability.
• Define how MES, historians, SCADA/PLC, and enterprise systems (ERP, LIMS, QMS) communicate.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical guidance to project teams (MES consultants, automation engineers, data engineers, developers).
• Review and validate functional & technical designs, ensuring alignment with the architectural vision.
• Support implementation by offering hands-on expertise when needed (prototyping, integration, troubleshooting).
• Coach teams and clients to adopt modern industrial IT/OT design principles.

Collaboration & Strategy

• Facilitate workshops with stakeholders to explore requirements and align on architectural decisions.
• Support clients in building digital transformation roadmaps - focusing on value, resilience, maintainability, and long-term scalability.
• Contribute to AG SOLUTION's internal knowledge base, best practices, and reference architectures.

Quality, Security & Governance

• Ensure architectures comply with cybersecurity, data governance, and reliability standards.
• Promote modern practices: event-driven architectures, decoupled integration, domain-based modelling, and clean data flows.

Do you have experience in Solution architecture?, Essential experience

• Strong expertise in MES platforms (e.g., Siemens Opcenter, Rockwell FTPC, Werum, Aveva, Ignition, etc.).
• Deep understanding of manufacturing processes and OT/IT ecosystem integration.
• Solid experience with Unified Namespace concepts and enabling technologies:

• MQTT, Sparkplug B, broker design, payload conventions
• Event-driven architecture & pub/sub models
• Data modelling for industrial environments

• Strong knowledge of industrial integration patterns (OPC UA, REST APIs, SQL databases, historians, etc.).
• Ability to design reference architectures and explain trade-offs clearly.
• Experience collaborating with automation teams (PLC/SCADA) and IT/data teams.
• A structured, analytical mindset with strong communication skills - able to make complex topics accessible.

Nice to have

• Experience with modern IIoT platforms or data platforms (Kafka, Azure/AWS IoT, Influx, etc.).
• Knowledge of ISA-95, ISA-88, and general manufacturing standards.
• Experience in cybersecurity frameworks for industrial systems.
• Ability to mentor junior engineers or lead small technical teams.
• Hands-on experience with scripting or coding (Python, Node-RED, .NET, etc.) is a plus, not a requirement.
• Fluency in English and Dutch

At AG Solution, we build intelligent solutions for the process industry, combining automation, process control, data management, and MES/MOM systems to help manufacturers reach operational excellence. Now part of the Saphir Group, we are one of Europe's leading Industry 4.0 partners, with more than 400 engineers and consultants working across Europe, the UK, and the US. Driven by People. Powered by Technology. Our success starts with our people. We invest in growth through continuous learning, mentorship, and our AG Academy, ensuring every colleague has the opportunity to develop their skills and career. We believe that innovation happens when people feel trusted, connected, and inspired. A Global Team with a Human Touch With offices in over 15 cities worldwide, we bring together diverse expertise and perspectives - from Antwerp to Barcelona, Rotterdam to Lyon, and New York to Krakow. At AG Solution, you'll work on meaningful projects that drive efficiency, sustainability, and digital transformation for leading manufacturers worldwide. Built to Scale. Driven by Talent. Ready to shape the future of industry? Explore our opportunities and grow with a team that's redefining what's possible.