Operational Technology Network Engineer
Location: Monroe, LA - This position requires traveling 40% of the time.As an
Operational Technology(OT) Network Engineer at Drax, you will specialize in designing, maintaining, and securing the networks that connect our industrial control systems (ICS), machinery, and monitoring platforms. Your role will be pivotal as you work closely with essential physical processes, including manufacturing lines and energy systems, where uptime, safety, and reliability are of utmost importance.
In this position, you will be responsible for the design, implementation, maintenance, and security of the industrial network infrastructure supporting control systems such as SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), Distributed Control Systems (DCS), and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC). You will ensure that these network systems provide high availability, predictable performance, and robust cybersecurity for our plant-floor operations.
Your Day-to-Day as an OT Network Engineer, You'll: Network Design & Implementation
- Design and maintain industrial Ethernet networks, including Layer 2/3 switching and VLANs.
- Configure industrial protocols such as Modbus TCP, PROFINET, and EtherNet/IP.
- Integrate OT networks with enterprise IT while ensuring proper segmentation.
System Support & Maintenance
- Monitor and troubleshoot network performance and outages.
- Support connectivity for PLCs, HMIs, historians, and control servers.
- Manage firmware upgrades and patching with operational teams.
Cybersecurity
- Implement OT security frameworks per Drax Cybersecurity Policies.
- Manage firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and network segmentation.
- Conduct vulnerability assessments and incident responses in OT environments.
Collaboration
- Work with automation engineers, maintenance teams, and IT staff.
- Support vendors and system integrators during commissioning and upgrades.
- Document network architecture and procedures.
Data Visualization
- Assist in generating management production and consumption reports.
- Create detailed analytics and interactive dashboards.
Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE)
- Foster a proactive HSSE culture and develop related leadership skills.
- Ensure compliance with HSSE systems, procedures, and audits.
- Provide support in developing safe operational guidelines and ensure risk management aligns with regulations.
What you'll bring:To excel in this vital role, you'll need:
- Bachelor's Degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering or a related field, with experience in an industrial plant environment.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in industrial networking or Operational Technology (OT) environments.
- Understanding of industrial control systems (SCADA, DCS, PLCs).
- Fundamentals of networking (TCP/IP, routing, switching).
- Proficiency in data visualization tools (Power BI, DataParc) and industrial cybersecurity.
- Experience with firewalls, segmentation appliances, and remote access solutions for OT environments.
- Familiarity with process control communications (Ethernet/IP, Profibus, Profinet, etc.) and managing Cisco industrial switches.
- Skills in HMI programming and PLC software (Siemens, Allen Bradley).
- Experience with VFDs (Allen Bradley Powerflex, Siemens G120) and Smart MCCs (Siemens SIMOCODE, Allen Bradley IntelliCenter).
- Hands-on experience with industrial network hardware.
- Understanding of relevant codes, standards, and regulations.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
