Principal Network Engineer

The base pay range for this role is estimated to be $136,800.00 - $205,200.00 at the time of posting. Final compensation will be determined by various factors such as work location, education, experience, knowledge, and skills. We offer:

• 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.

• 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.