The Manufacturing Systems Architect is a senior IT Business Leader responsible for defining, designing, and governing the enterprise-wide modernization of our manufacturing system landscape. Positioned at the intersection of complex manufacturing operations and high-level IT strategy, this role takes total ownership of architectural vision, technology selection, and system standardization leading the transformation from legacy platforms to next-generation, AI-enabled ecosystems.
CORE COMPLEXITY & STRATEGIC IMPACT
- IT Business Alignment: Bridges complex shop-floor business processes with scalable, modern IT architecture.
- Architectural Authority (vs. Project Delivery): Focuses on creating reference models, technology selection, and governance rather than routine task coordination or program management.
- Multi-Stakeholder Governance: Establishes alignment among executive leaders, operational heads, and technical engineering teams around a unified digital blueprint.
- High-Stakes Decision Making: Establishes standards and technology choices with long-term impact on enterprise scalability, product delivery, and manufacturing productivity.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES & ARCHITECTURAL DUTIES
Architecture Design & AI Modernization
- Defined & Architected End-to-End Solutions: Design scalable, integrated architecture blueprints across MES, ERP, shop floor systems, and enterprise integration frameworks to ensure data integrity and operational agility.
- Drove AI-First Modernization: Formulate and promote the technology roadmap for replacing legacy manufacturing software with modern, AI-enabled, and automation-first solutions.
- Created Reference Models & Blueprints: Translate complex business capabilities and manufacturing needs into clear target architecture models and technical artifacts.
Technology Selection & System Governance
- Selected Core Technologies: Evaluate the global technology landscape, identify system gaps, and mandate best-fit software, hardware, and digital tools aligned with strategic business outcomes.
- Established Technical Standards & Policies: Define company-wide architectural standards, operational framework guidelines, and data integration policies for all manufacturing systems.
- Governed Implementation & Compliance: Establish technical governance frameworks to oversee solution deployments, ensuring strict alignment with architecture designs, regulatory standards (US & International), and data governance.
Strategic Leadership & Organizational Enablement
- Steered Cross-Functional Alignment: Serve as the authoritative technical consultant to IT, Engineering, Quality, and Operations leadership, translating operational pain points into structural IT capabilities.
- Architected Change & Risk Frameworks: Define system risk mitigation strategies and change management architectures to ensure system reliability and operational readiness post-implementation.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical discipline. (Master's degree or TOGAF / Enterprise Architecture certifications highly preferred).
Experience & Competencies
- 8+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing IT, manufacturing systems design, and enterprise architecture.
- Proven Architectural Track Record: Proven experience leading high-level architectural decision-making and driving major platform modernization or software replacement initiatives.
- IT Business Expertise: Deep ability to articulate business strategy through IT architecture, bridging technical depth with executive-level business dialogue.
- AI & Automation Authority: Practical expertise evaluating, selecting, and architecting AI/Machine Learning and automation frameworks into shop-floor and business workflows.
- Strong Architectural Mindset: Clear preference for establishing standards, governing implementations, and designing end-to-end solutions over tactical project administration.
