MFG Solution Architect Manufacturing & Industrial Systems
Location: Detroit, MI or Kansas City, KS
Work Arrangement: Remote with occasional client-site visits
Employment Type: Contract
Job Overview
We are seeking an experienced Manufacturing Solution Architect to design and deliver enterprise technology solutions supporting manufacturing operations, industrial automation, and digital transformation initiatives.
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in solution or enterprise architecture, manufacturing systems integration, industrial technologies, and reliability engineering. This role involves integrating shop-floor systems with enterprise applications, supporting smart factory initiatives, and providing technical leadership throughout the solution lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities
- Collaborate with business stakeholders, engineering teams, and IT teams to define solution requirements aligned with manufacturing objectives.
- Design scalable, secure, and efficient solutions integrating shop-floor systems such as MES and SCADA with enterprise applications such as ERP, PLM, and QMS.
- Lead solution architecture for smart factory initiatives, Industrial IoT (IIoT), data analytics, predictive maintenance, and digital twin technologies.
- Evaluate technologies, tools, platforms, and vendors for manufacturing systems.
- Ensure compliance with enterprise architecture standards, cybersecurity requirements, and applicable industry regulations.
- Provide technical leadership throughout the project lifecycle, from conceptual design through implementation and ongoing operational support.
- Participate in daily operations, sprint planning, team ceremonies, and solution delivery activities.
- Support process mapping, gap analysis, data conversion, data maintenance, and system configuration.
- Develop and maintain architectural documentation, including solution blueprints, process flows, data flow diagrams, and integration patterns.
- Identify and mitigate technical, operational, and implementation risks.
- Conduct architecture and application portfolio reviews to improve system stability, performance, scalability, and complexity.
- Mentor project team members and facilitate knowledge transfer.
- Contribute to project deliverables, technical documentation, and best-practice recommendations.
- Recommend alternative solutions based on business requirements, technical feasibility, and cost-effectiveness.
- Provide hands-on technical configuration, development, and application integration support as required.
- Stay current with Industry 4.0, manufacturing technologies, and digital transformation trends.
Required Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in IT, systems integration, solution architecture, or enterprise architecture.
- 5+ years of experience working with manufacturing systems, industrial automation, or manufacturing technology environments.
- Demonstrated experience designing and integrating manufacturing and enterprise applications.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing operations and shop-floor technologies.
- Experience with machine reliability, reliability-centered maintenance, or predictive maintenance solutions.
- Knowledge of enterprise systems such as MES, ERP, PLM, QMS, IBM Maximo, or comparable platforms.
- Understanding of IT/OT integration, industrial networking, and operational technology cybersecurity.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage competing priorities, and communicate technical concepts to business and IT leadership.
Technical Skills
Manufacturing & Industrial Automation
- Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
- SCADA, PLCs, HMI, DCS, and industrial networking
- Manufacturing operations and shop-floor system integration
- Machine reliability and Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM)
Enterprise Applications
- ERP platforms such as SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics
- PLM and Quality Management Systems (QMS)
- IBM Maximo or comparable enterprise asset management solutions
Integration & Architecture
- Solution architecture and enterprise integration patterns
- APIs, middleware, OPC UA, and MQTT
- Data modeling, data flows, and application integration
- IT/OT architecture and cybersecurity
Cloud & Digital Manufacturing
- AWS or Microsoft Azure
- Edge computing and Industrial IoT (IIoT)
- Predictive maintenance and condition monitoring
- Machine learning, AI-enabled manufacturing solutions, and digital twins
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience developing and deploying enterprise predictive maintenance solutions integrating equipment sensors, machine data, analytics, machine learning models, mobile applications, notifications, and enterprise systems.
- Hands-on application development or technical configuration experience.
- Experience with manufacturing platforms such as SAP PP/ME, Rockwell Automation, or Siemens.
- Familiarity with architecture frameworks such as TOGAF or ArchiMate.
- Relevant cloud architecture, ERP/MES, or Agile project management certifications.
- Experience with process modeling, architecture documentation, and technical knowledge transfer.
