Senior Manufacturing Systems Engineer - OT Integration

You will be part of the Operations Technology team, a forward deployed engineering group that embeds directly with manufacturing users to understand workflows, define requirements, and build or integrate AI-native solutions. As the Senior Manufacturing Systems Engineer - OT Integration, you will own the architecture and implementation of the industrial connectivity layer that links manufacturing equipment with the systems that run the business.

This is not a pure controls-support position and it is not a generic IT role. You will define how GDMS collects, contextualizes, secures, and uses machine data across sites. You will set standards for OT-to-IT integration, evaluate vendors and platforms, and ensure that connected-factory investments integrate cleanly with MES, IFS, CMMS, PLM, and enterprise data platforms., Forward Deployed Engineering and Collaboration:

• Work directly with manufacturing sites to understand operations before defining architecture or requirements.
• Partner with manufacturing, quality, maintenance, facilities, supply chain, IT, cybersecurity, AIRE, and external vendors across multiple sites.
• Communicate technical tradeoffs clearly to operators, engineers, site leadership, and executive stakeholders.
• Own assigned work end to end, from discovery and architecture through deployment, adoption, and continuous improvement.

Operational Technology and Industrial Data Architecture:

• Lead the architecture for industrial connectivity across PLCs, HMIs, SCADA platforms, historians, industrial networks, site brokers, and enterprise applications.
• Define scalable OT-to-IT integration patterns using OPC UA, MQTT, APIs, SQL, edge gateways, and appropriate industrial protocols.
• Apply ISA-95 equipment and work hierarchy modeling to create consistent, contextualized machine and production data.
• Establish standards for site-level machine connectivity, Unified Namespace patterns, data ownership, naming, and lifecycle management.
• Design the pathways that connect machine data to MES, ERP, CMMS, PLM, cloud analytics, and the enterprise data platform.

Connected Factory Deployment and Vendor Governance:

• Lead the technical evaluation, pilot, integration, and scale-out plan for the connected-factory initiative.
• Serve as the technical owner for vendor architecture reviews, integration requirements, acceptance criteria, data access, portability, and long-term supportability.
• Embed with site engineering, operations, maintenance, and IT teams to identify equipment, controllers, data sources, network constraints, and practical deployment sequencing.
• Translate pilot results into reusable enterprise standards rather than isolated site-specific solutions.

Software, Data, and Security Integration:

• Build or direct the development of integration services, data pipelines, APIs, and observability needed to make industrial data reliable and useful.
• Use Python, C#, JavaScript, SQL, or comparable tools to automate data collection, transformation, validation, and system integration.
• Work with IT and cybersecurity partners to design segmented, secure OT environments and meet GDMS security requirements.
• Ensure connected systems are observable, supportable, documented, and ready to operate beyond a pilot or vendor engagement

Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering, or a related Science, Engineering or Mathematics field, plus a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree plus a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience., Applicants selected may be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required., * Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering, or a related Science, Engineering or Mathematics field, plus a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree plus a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience. Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, is preferred.

• Hands-on experience with industrial automation and operational technology in a production manufacturing environment.
• Experience integrating PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, historians, sensors, or industrial equipment with MES, ERP, cloud, or analytics platforms.
• Working knowledge of OPC UA, MQTT, and one or more of Modbus, Profinet, EtherNet/IP, or similar industrial communication protocols.
• Experience with industrial networking, OT cybersecurity, segmentation, and collaboration across IT and OT boundaries.
• Proficiency with SQL and at least one programming or scripting language used for integration work, such as Python, C#, JavaScript, or similar.
• Demonstrated ability to own ambiguous, cross-functional projects and work directly with plant personnel and vendors.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain architecture and tradeoffs to non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred:

• Experience with Ignition, Kepware, FactoryTalk, Siemens, Canary, or comparable SCADA, historian, and industrial data platforms.
• Experience with Unified Namespace, edge computing, industrial data modeling, or cloud-connected manufacturing platforms.
• Experience designing or integrating MES applications, manufacturing data platforms, or enterprise system interfaces.
• Experience with Azure, Docker, Kubernetes, or cloud data pipelines.
• Experience with AI coding assistants and AI-enabled manufacturing applications.
• Experience with robotics, machine vision, AMRs, VLMs, or other automated manufacturing equipment.
• Experience in defense, aerospace, high-mix manufacturing, or other regulated industrial environments.

General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of 12,000+ top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defense and scientific arenas. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. We offer highly competitive benefits and pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose. You will also enjoy a flexible work environment where contributions are recognized and rewarded. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we invite you to join our high-performance team!

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans General Dynamics is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer that is committed to hiring a diverse and talented workforce. EOE/Disability/Veteran