OT Engineer (m/w/d)

Cognizant is a world leader in delivering digital transformation solutions to Life Sciences. Through our knowledge and expertise in Automation, MES & Digital, we deliver stable manufacturing systems that are optimized to improve operational efficiencies, whilst maintaining compliance.

Our specialist engineering teams have the aptitude to deliver and support Pharma 4.0 architectures and solutions covering all IT, OT and IoT applications, infrastructures and services

We are seeking a highly skilled Operational Technology (OT), Azure Local, edge computing

OT Project Engineer to lead the design, implementation, and integration of industrial

control systems and operational networks. In this role, you will bridge the gap between

Information Technology (IT) and the plant floor, ensuring that our critical infrastructure

(SCADA, DCS, and PLCs) is secure, reliable, and aligned with business goals.

Responsibilities:

• 1. Project Management & Execution
• Support the full lifecycle of OT projects, including scope definition, scheduling,
• budgeting, resource allocation, and risk management.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders (Operations, Maintenance, IT) and external
• vendors (system integrators, equipment manufacturers) to ensure alignment.
• Develop and maintain project documentation, including project charters, test plans,
• cutover strategies, and as-built drawings.
• Ensure projects are delivered with minimal disruption to ongoing production
• operations.
• 2. Technical Design & Integration
• Design, deploy and support Microsoft Azure Local infrastructure within OT/industrial
• environments.
• Integrate Azure Local with existing OT/ICS, SCADA, PLC, HMI and industrial network
• environments.
• Support infrastructure projects from requirements gathering and design through
• implementation, testing and handover.
• Work with Azure Arc, Azure management services and hybrid-cloud technologies.
• Ensure solutions comply with OT cybersecurity, segmentation, access-control and
• operational resilience requirements.
• Coordinate with IT, OT engineering, cybersecurity, network and application teams.
• Produce technical designs, architecture documents, implementation plans, test
• scripts and as-built documentation.
• Manage project risks, dependencies, change requests and technical issues.
• Perform system commissioning, troubleshooting and performance optimization.
• Support disaster recovery, backup, monitoring and business-continuity
• requirements.
• Ensure projects follow relevant organizational standards and OT security frameworks
• such as IEC 62443 where applicable.
• Oversee the integration of edge computing devices, IIoT sensors, and data historians
• (e.g., OSIsoft PI) into existing MES/ERP systems.
• Ensure system scalability and reliability for 24/7 manufacturing environments.
• 3. Cybersecurity & Compliance
• Implement security controls per industry standards (e.g., IEC 62443, NIST CSF) to
• protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats.
• Design network segmentation, firewall rules, and secure remote access solutions.
• Manage the patching and upgrade lifecycle for OT assets to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Testing & Commissioning
• Develop and execute Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and Site Acceptance Tests (SAT).
• Manage system migration and cutover activities for legacy system upgrades.
• Provide technical support during system start up and performance validation.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, or Computer), Computer Science, or a related field.
• Master’s degree or PMP/Prince2 certification.
• Strong experience with Microsoft Azure / Azure Local (Azure Stack HCI).
• Infrastructure engineering experience across Windows Server, Hyper-V/virtualization, Active Directory, DNS/DHCP and networking.
• Experience delivering infrastructure or cloud/edge projects in an OT, manufacturing,
• utilities, energy or industrial environment.
• Understanding of OT/ICS architectures and industrial networking.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity principles, network segmentation, firewalls and
• privileged-access management.
• Experience with Azure Arc and hybrid-cloud/edge architectures.
• Strong project coordination and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to produce professional technical documentation and work within change management
• processes.
• Several years of experience in OT/Controls engineering
• Proven experience managing industrial automation or infrastructure upgrade
• projects.
• GMP/GXP experience
• Deep understanding of OT network protocols (e.g., OPC, DNP3, IEC 61850, Hart,
• Foundation Fieldbus).
• Experience with Cisco or Stratix industrial switches and Palo Alto firewall
• configuration.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Azure local /AWS for cloud/IIoT integration is a plus.
• Experience with virtualized environments (VMware/Hyper-V) in industrial settings.
• Strong ability to translate complex technical concepts to non-technical business
• stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage conflicts and negotiate with vendors.
• Must be able to perform in a high-stress, 24/7 operating environment.

The Cognizant community:

We are a high caliber team who appreciate and support one another. Our people uphold an energetic, collaborative and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

• Cognizant is a global community with more than 300,000 associates around the world.
• We don’t just dream of a better way – we make it happen.
• We take care of our people, clients, company, communities and climate by doing what’s right.
• We foster an innovative environment where you can build the career path that’s right for you.

About us:

Cognizant is one of the world's leading professional services companies, transforming clients' business, operating, and technology models for the digital era. Our unique industry-based, consultative approach helps clients envision, build, and run more innovative and efficient businesses. Headquartered in the U.S., Cognizant (a member of the NASDAQ-100 and one of Forbes World’s Best Employers 2024) is consistently listed among the most admired companies in the world. Learn how Cognizant helps clients lead with digital at www.cognizant.com