About The Company
Charter Manufacturing Co., Inc. is a distinguished fourth-generation family-owned enterprise dedicated to continuous growth and operational excellence. With a rich heritage rooted in manufacturing, the company prides itself on doing things better through innovation, quality, and a commitment to its employees and community. Charter Manufacturing’s portfolio includes industry-leading companies specializing in steel production, manufacturing, and related services, making it a vital contributor to the American manufacturing landscape.
As part of its strategic expansion and modernization efforts, Charter Manufacturing emphasizes the integration of advanced technology and automation to enhance productivity, safety, and security across its operations. The company fosters a collaborative environment where innovation and teamwork are highly valued, providing employees with opportunities for professional growth and development.
About The Role
Charter Steel is seeking a highly skilled Operation Technology Network Architect to join our team in Saukville, Wisconsin, or Cleveland, Ohio. This role is pivotal in designing, implementing, and maintaining robust industrial network infrastructure that underpins our manufacturing processes. The successful candidate will serve as a key technical leader in ensuring seamless communication between Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) systems, supporting our smart factory initiatives and automation systems.
The OT Network Architect will work closely with production teams, maintenance crews, IT professionals, and cybersecurity experts to develop secure, reliable, and compliant network solutions. This position demands a strategic thinker with extensive experience in industrial network architecture, security protocols, and system integration, capable of addressing complex challenges in a dynamic manufacturing environment. The role offers a hybrid work model with three days in the office and up to 5% travel between locations, with relocation benefits available.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Network Engineering, Industrial Automation, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
- Minimum of five years of experience in network administration, IT/OT systems, or industrial automation within manufacturing settings.
- Proficiency in network fundamentals including TCP/IP, VLANs, DNS, DHCP, routing, and switching.
- At least three years of hands-on experience with industrial network protocols such as Modbus, EtherNet/IP, Profinet, OPC UA, and DNP3.
- Experience in integrating firewalls, VPNs, IDS/IPS, and implementing network security principles.
- Strong understanding of cybersecurity concepts, risk management, and compliance standards relevant to OT environments.
- Proficiency with network troubleshooting tools like Wireshark, SNMP monitoring, and NetFlow.
Nice to have qualifications include additional years of experience in industrial automation, certifications such as ICS, Cisco CCNA Industrial, ISA/IEC 62443, GICSP, CompTIA Security+, or CISSP, which can enhance candidacy for cybersecurity-focused roles.
Responsibilities
- Design and deploy industrial network architectures supporting Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), SCADA, PLCs, HMIs, and IIoT devices to ensure efficient and secure operations.
- Configure and maintain industrial Ethernet, VLANs, and segmented networks to optimize performance and security.
- Integrate OT and IT networks, enabling secure data flow between production systems and enterprise applications.
- Apply zero-trust security architecture to safeguard PLCs, robots, IoT devices, and SCADA components from cyber threats.
- Develop and implement tools for continuous monitoring of network traffic, latency, and uptime to ensure high availability and performance.
- Diagnose and resolve network issues related to latency, interference, and other root causes impacting plant operations.
- Ensure compliance with industry standards such as ISA/IEC 62443, NIST, and ISO 27001 through regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
- Manage patching, incident response, and backup strategies to mitigate risks and ensure system resilience.
- Provide technical support and escalation assistance to plant engineers, maintenance teams, and IT staff for automation system connectivity issues.
- Support the integration of new plant equipment through network architecture planning and device configuration.
- Maintain accurate documentation of network diagrams, security policies, configurations, and change management records.
- Develop and oversee Management of Change (MoC) processes to ensure controlled updates to OT systems.
- Support data architecture and integration across SCADA, MES, ERP, and business intelligence systems to facilitate seamless information flow.
Benefits
Charter Manufacturing offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support our employees’ well-being and professional growth. Our offerings include health, dental, and vision insurance plans, ensuring comprehensive coverage for employees and their families. We provide a 401(k) plan with employer matching contributions and profit-sharing options to help secure your financial future.
Additionally, employees receive company-paid life insurance, disability coverage, and paid time off (PTO) to promote work-life balance. We believe in fostering a supportive work environment that encourages development, recognition, and career advancement. Our benefits are designed to attract and retain top talent committed to our company’s success and growth.
Equal Opportunity
Charter Manufacturing Co., Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees are valued and respected regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. We believe that a diverse workforce enhances our ability to innovate and serve our customers effectively. We welcome applications from all
