Architect

Key Objectives of the Role

• Identify what machine and process data already exists within PLCs and control systems
• Establish safe, read-only access to that data
• Lay the foundations for a centralised cloud data lake
• Enable reliable data visualisation and reporting as the next phase
• De-risk future analytics, SPC, and optimisation initiatives

Key Responsibilities

1. PLC & Shop-Floor Connectivity

• Assess production equipment and identify:
  • PLC make, model, and generation (eg Siemens S7, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Mitsubishi, Omron)
  • Available communication protocols (OPC UA/DA, Profinet, EtherNet/IP, Modbus)
• Work with maintenance and controls teams to:
  • Confirm Ethernet availability
  • Identify safe read-only data access options
• Document machine connectivity constraints and opportunities

2. Data Discovery & Availability Assessment

• Identify what process data is present at PLC level, including:
  • Machine states (run/stop/fault/idle)
  • Cycle counts and rates
  • Fault and alarm codes
  • Setpoints vs actual values
  • Key process variables (eg temperature, pressure, speed)
• Distinguish between:
  • PLC-resident data
  • HMI-only or report-level data
• Create a clear data availability Matrix by line and asset

3. OT/IT Security & Access Alignment

• Assess OT and IT constraints impacting data access
• Ensure all connectivity approaches are:
  • Read-only
  • Non-intrusive
  • Aligned with OT safety principles
• Work with IT to align on:
  • Network segmentation
  • Firewall rules
  • Cloud connectivity patterns

4. Cloud Data Lake Foundations (Next Phase Readiness)

• Contribute to the design of a cloud-based data lake capable of ingesting:
  • PLC and machine telemetry
  • ERP, batch, and quality data (later phases)
• Define:
  • Raw vs curated data layers
  • Naming standards and timestamp handling
  • Basic data validation and quality rules
• Ensure shop-floor data is structured for downstream use (SPC, reporting, analytics)

5. Data Visualisation Enablement

• Support the transition from raw data to meaningful visualisation, including:
  • Line and machine status dashboards
  • Throughput, waste, and energy views
  • Early OEE-style metrics
• Work with analysts or BI developers (eg Power BI) to ensure:
  • Data models align with manufacturing realities
  • Metrics are traceable back to source signals

6. Advisory & Roadmap Support

• Provide practical recommendations on:
  • Which lines/assets to prioritise
  • Where quick wins exist
  • What should be phased later
• Help define a realistic roadmap from:
  • Connectivity - data lake - visualisation - SPC - advanced analytics

Required Experience & Skills Essential

• Strong Experience in manufacturing environments
• Hands-on knowledge of PLCs and industrial control systems
• Experience working with industrial data protocols:
  • OPC UA/OPC DA
  • Modbus
  • Profinet/EtherNet/IP
• Practical understanding of OT safety and read-only access principles
• Experience contributing to or designing cloud data platforms, such as:
  • Azure Data Lake/Fabric/Databricks (or equivalent)
• Ability to translate shop-floor data into structured, analytics-ready datasets
• Comfortable working on-site with operators, engineers, and IT

Desirable

• Experience with industrial edge platforms (eg Kepware, Ignition, IoT Edge)
• Familiarity with manufacturing KPIs (OEE, yield, waste, energy)
• Experience supporting Power BI or similar BI tools
• Exposure to SPC or quality analytics (not mandatory)
• Consulting or advisory Experience in brownfield manufacturing sites

Job Title: Architect

Location: Peterborough, UK

Job Type: Contract

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