Principal IT OT Architect (Finance)

Responsible for designing and architecting comprehensive IT/OT (Information Technology/Operational Technology) solutions that bridge enterprise systems with manufacturing shop floor technologies. Ensures connectivity, compatibility, and seamless integration across the entire technology stack, from business applications to production equipment. Works closely with Business Systems Analysts, Manufacturing Operations, Production Engineering, Infrastructure teams, and other related roles to ensure collective commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and quality in design and implementation. Delivers scalable outcomes to the business by defining and executing technology convergence roadmaps, driving platform modernization, and establishing secure, reliable data flows between enterprise and operational systems while seeking to reduce technical debt.

Essential Position Responsibilities - This is a salary exempt position.

Assesses, defines, and champions IT/OT architecture strategies and standards, ensuring alignment with overall enterprise architecture while addressing the unique requirements of manufacturing environments. Supports the overall solution design and configuration of systems related to manufacturing execution, SCADA, Historians, PLCs, industrial control systems, and their interactions with enterprise applications, including ERP, custom extensions, reports, integrations, and supporting business systems. Establishes protocols and frameworks for secure, efficient data exchange between enterprise IT systems and shop floor OT systems that adhere to recognized cybersecurity standards. Develops and enforces security architecture models that protect both IT and OT environments while enabling necessary integration and data flow. Develops reference architectures that standardize approaches to IT/OT integration challenges across multiple manufacturing facilities

Designs innovative solutions to manufacturing and business challenges, developing architectures that enable real-time data flow between production systems and enterprise applications. Conducts architecture impact analysis of proposed changes, ensuring optimal solution selection for business process improvements across both IT and OT domains. Develops and produces architecture artifacts, technical designs, strategy documents, and other technical documentation that clearly articulates the integration between enterprise and shop floor systems. Creates data models and information flow diagrams that map the journey of manufacturing data from operational equipment to business intelligence systems.

Customer Advocacy. Look at every problem and our solutions through the eyes of a technologist. Works with stakeholders in all business units to formulate scope and objectives for new initiatives and matches those objectives with proposed technology solutions. Ensures technical direction best serves the needs of the customers, the technology needs of Simmons, and is scalable.

Leads the solution areas by developing specifications for development or enhancements and by being the key technical interface between IT and OT teams. Defines company's IT/OT architecture requirements by documenting current state architectural landscape, creating a future state convergence roadmap, and translating the roadmap into project plans. Formulates and defines technology roadmap through research and fact-finding combined with an understanding of manufacturing operations, business requirements, and industry trends. Leads technical teams with design reviews, education sessions, and mentoring, particularly focusing on best practices for IT/OT integration. Prototypes/produces system documentation, data models, data flows, and process flows that span from shop floor to enterprise systems. Analyzes the current manufacturing technology environment to detect critical deficiencies and identify improvement opportunities for greater operational efficiency and data visibility.

Serves as a subject matter expert on IT/OT integration, industrial networks, SCADA systems, historians, manufacturing execution, and their connections to enterprise applications. Responds to platform questions and troubleshoots efforts by having a thorough understanding of manufacturing processes, business workflows, and the complete technology landscape from shop floor to executive dashboard. Ensures that proposed solutions limit technical debt, maximize the company's technology investments, and ultimately deliver valuable outcomes to both operations and business stakeholders. Assists different business units, manufacturing teams, and technology groups with defining best practices for integrated solutions. Understands and translates both the business strategy and manufacturing requirements into comprehensive application and system solutions. Researches, analyzes, and recommends solutions which meet business and operational technology needs. Solves highly technical and complex problems that span enterprise and industrial systems. Maintains the highest level of influence on projects and with key stakeholders.

Participates as a member of the Team. Participates in the ongoing development, communication, and implementation of team concepts, programs, and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with all team members. Works with both IT and Operations teams, attending appropriate team meetings across both groups. Accepts responsibility to quickly identify any areas that lack cohesiveness, bringing them to the attention of team leaders and working with teams in a supportive manner to resolve issues.

Simmons Operating systems principles and objectives: Is familiar with Simmons' established operating systems (e.g. quality, security, office environment, company policies, LEAN); understands the responsibility to maintain IS Project Manager 2 familiarity with the systems and this position's role in support of these systems - including a consideration of the impact of individual actions on the systems and the responsibility to communicate concerns and improvement ideas.

Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives: This position description is intended to guide the activities of the person in this position and is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person as to the work of this function nor is it intended that this describe all the work that may be required of the person in this position.

Physical Activities: Enters and locates information on a computer. Visually verifies information, often in small print. Communicates with Customers, Vendors, or Employees via telephone, in person, and/or electronic mail. May present information to small or large groups. Must be able to work in various temperatures. Move about in an office or manufacturing environment and surrounding property. May travel via car or plane to various work locations.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): As required by visiting facility.

Travel: Approximately 10-15% travel, including travel to Simmons facilities, one to two offsite classes or conferences per year, and to Simmons offices. Must currently possess or have the ability to obtain a passport.

Technical Experience: 10+ years of combined experience in IT systems architecture and OT/industrial control systems, Experience with industrial networks, SCADA, MES, historians, PLCs, and other manufacturing technologies. Proven experience integrating enterprise applications (ERP, CRM, etc.) with shop floor systems. Background in developing and implementing IT/OT convergence strategies. Experience with industrial protocols (e.g., OPC UA, MQTT, Modbus) and their integration with enterprise systems. Knowledge of cybersecurity principles for industrial environments.

Industry Experience: Preference for food processing organization.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, or in a related field of study.

Preferred Education: MS degree in Information Services, Computer Science, Control Systems Engineering, or MBA.