Job Description:We are seeking a skilled professional to join our team in building modern, highly customized digital applications on top of the Ignition platform to support complex discrete manufacturing operations at a heavy industrial US defense contractor. This role is a hybrid of industrial software engineering, combining hands-on experience with SCADA and industrial data systems with strong modern software development fundamentals.
Key Responsibilities- Application Development
- Design and develop responsive industrial web applications using Ignition Perspective and supporting web technologies.
- Extend Ignition's out-of-the-box components using JavaScript, CSS, and Python scripting to meet complex business and operational requirements.
- Build modular, maintainable application architectures that support long-term scalability and reuse.
- Data & Systems Integration
- Connect equipment and control systems to Ignition using OPC, Kepware, tags, and related industrial technologies.
- Configure and troubleshoot real-time and historical data collection.
- Integrate applications with industrial and enterprise systems including SQL databases, SAP, Sharepoint, Active Directory, OPC and historian data sources (Kepware, Canary, etc.), and REST APIs.
- Design efficient data models and queries optimized for real-time operational use.
- Manufacturing Collaboration
- Work directly in the manufacturing environment with trades, engineers, IT, supervisors, and managers to understand equipment, processes, and operational needs.
- Determine what machine and process data is required, how it can be acquired, and how it should be presented to support end users.
- Translate diverse user needs into intuitive applications and visualizations, adapting effectively to different technical backgrounds and communication styles.
- Build trusted client relationships and represent the engineering team and company professionally.
- Quality & Reliability
- Implement robust error handling, logging, and diagnostics.
- Ensure solutions meet performance, security, reliability, and compliance requirements.
- Produce clear technical documentation and solution architecture diagrams.
Required Qualifications- Software Development Strengths
- Strong experience with web UI development concepts: HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, responsive design, and modern UI patterns.
- Proficiency in Python scripting for application logic and automation.
- Solid experience working with SQL databases and relational data models.
- Experience integrating external systems using REST APIs or web services.
- Ability to design maintainable, modular software - not just single-purpose screens.
- Industrial & OT Strengths
- Hands-on experience with SCADA/HMI systems and live industrial data.
- Experience configuring and troubleshooting OPC connections, tags, and historian data.
- Ability to understand equipment, controls, production workflows, and real-time operational requirements.
- Experience with Ignition, Kepware, Canary, or comparable technologies strongly preferred.
- Customer & Manufacturing Aptitude
- Comfortable working independently in an active industrial environment to understand equipment, processes, and user needs firsthand.
- Able to communicate effectively with operators, maintenance trades, engineers, supervisors, and management.
- Strong judgment, interpersonal maturity, and ability to build trust with users of widely varying technical backgrounds.
- Able to translate loosely-defined operational problems into practical, intuitive digital solutions.
Bonus Experience (Nice to Have)- Deep Ignition Perspective experience.
- Strong working knowledge of discrete manufacturing environments (aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding, heavy industry).
- Working familiarity with SAP integrations.
- Knowledge of cloud or hybrid architecture (AWS Industrial Solutions Framework).
