Job Description

Position: IT/OT Engineer. Location: Cork, Ireland.

PACIV, a global leader in industrial automation solutions with offices in Ireland, the United States and Puerto Rico, and serving the Life Science, Food & Beverage (F&B) and Utilities industries, is looking for an experienced IT/OT Engineer for a F&B project. This is a site-based role.

The IT/OT Engineer will report to the IT/OT Automation Lead and is responsible for delivering the technical design, implementation, commissioning, and documentation of all IT and OT network infrastructure supporting the new plant. This includes site network architecture, segmentation, DMZ layers, firewalls, server/virtualization environments, industrial Ethernet, and secure connectivity between PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, MES and business systems.

Act as the technical owner of network and architectural decisions during project execution, ensuring all systems are delivered safely, on time, and in full, meeting the Company’s global IT/OT, cybersecurity and engineering standards. Your expertise will be essential to ensuring the facility is operationally ready, cyber secure, and scalable for future digitalisation as the site progresses to start‑up.

As part of the plant project team, you will play an important role in technical execution, commissioning readiness, documentation, and troubleshooting during start‑up. This role provides an excellent pathway for internal development into broader engineering, IT/OT or operations leadership positions within the Company.

Responsibilities of the Role

Project Execution & Commissioning

• Lead the installation, configuration, integration, and commissioning of network components and server/virtualization environments.
• Conduct FAT/SAT for network equipment, cybersecurity controls, and OT system connectivity.
• Troubleshoot network and IT/OT connectivity issues during construction, commissioning, and start‑up.

Technical Ownership – Network & Architecture

• Act as the technical Subject Matter Expert for IT/OT network infrastructure, including LAN/WAN, Wi-Fi, industrial Ethernet, VLANs, segmentation, DMZ and firewall architecture.
• Define and validate the IT/OT network topology supporting PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, MES, historians, and business systems.
• Ensure alignment to Company global IT/OT standards and cybersecurity requirements.

Cybersecurity & Compliance

• Implement cybersecurity controls across IT/OT systems, including segmentation, access control, hardening, patching, backup/restore, and secure remote access.
• Support cybersecurity assessments, remediation plans, and compliance documentation.
• Maintain audit‑ready technical records for all network and OT infrastructure.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Automation, Engineering, Operations, Quality, R&I, EHS, and Supply Chain to ensure network readiness for commissioning and start‑up.
• Act as the primary technical interface for network‑related topics with EPCM partners, integrators, Global/Regional IT/OT, and automation/MES vendors.

Infrastructure Delivery & Support

• Support deployment of virtual machines, storage, domain integration, user profiles, and IT/OT monitoring tools.
• Ensure stable and secure connectivity for control systems, SCADA/MES, historian, and digital quality solutions.
• Provide hands‑on technical support during system bring‑up, line trials, and early operations.

Documentation & Standards

• Develop and maintain network documentation: architecture diagrams, IP schemas, firewall rulebooks, switch configurations, OT device registers, and validation protocols.
• Ensure EPCM and vendors deliver all required documentation for commissioning and operations handover.

Operational Readiness & Handover

• Support creation of IT/OT SOPs, troubleshooting guides, backup/restore procedures, PM plans, and CMMS master data.
• Ensure all infrastructure is validated, backed up, and documented prior to handover to Operations/IT.

Reporting & Decision Support

• Provide status reporting on network and IT/OT readiness, risks, and open issues to the IT/OT Lead – Automation and project leadership.
• Offer technical insights to support design, commissioning, and operational decisions.

Requirements

Candidates must have a valid EU Work Permit and Irish residency

Please no agencies

Qualifications

• BSc in Software Engineering, Automation/Control Engineering, Electronic/Network Engineering or related field.

Experience/Skills Required

• 4+ years of experience in IT/OT, network engineering or industrial systems integration.
• Experience in manufacturing, F&B, pharmaceutical, or related process environments preferred.
• Experience in IT/OT network design (LAN, VLAN, WiFi), industrial Ethernet, cybersecurity, and automation system connectivity.
• Familiarity with PLC, SCADA, HMI systems and OT connectivity requirements.
• Experience collaborating with engineering, automation vendors, operations, IT and cross‑functional engineering teams.
• Experience with Cisco, Fortinet, HP, Stratix switches, firewalls, and network tools.
• Knowledge of IT/OT convergence, integrating business systems with automation layers.
• Experience with virtual servers/VMs (VMware/Hyper‑V/Nutanix), backups, and resilience.
• Ability to interpret network diagrams, specifications, and infrastructure documentation.
• Troubleshooting experience in IT/OT connectivity, SCADA/MES links, and device networks.
• Familiarity with project execution processes (FAT/SAT, commissioning, documentation).