IT Systems Engineer

Are you ready to move your career forward and help shape our company’s and customers’ futures?

If you aspire to challenge yourself, work with the best in the industry and join a successful team where you can make a meaningful contribution, then we invite you to join us at Ketjen Corporation, a provider of advanced catalyst solutions to leading producers in the petrochemical, refining, and specialty chemicals industries. Together, we can create a legacy marked by innovation, excitement, and energy.

General

At Ketjen, IT support for a manufacturing site follows industry standard ITIL support level hierarchy concepts.  The IT/OT System Engineer role falls under Tier I / II support in the hierarchy. The role requires proficiency with OT systems, along with hands-on experience in system implementation, troubleshooting and maintenance. The IT/OT System Engineer is responsible for maintaining the cybersecurity posture and supporting secure networking solutions, ensuring system reliability and upkeep, while collaborating across teams to enhance operational efficiency.

Function

The IT/OT System Engineer supports PCS (Process Control Systems), PIMS (Process Information Management Systems), Lab Systems, LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems), and Analytics Systems from an IT-OT Infrastructure standpoint.  Included in the support structure is the integration of IT (Business Network) and OT Systems. This role also assists in the design, implementation, maintenance, and monitoring of the IT-OT networks and systems throughout these areas. The role troubleshoots problems, identifies solutions, and performs routine administration at the infrastructure level and assists application owners at the software level.

The IT/OT System Engineer is responsible for the efficient performance, administrative maintenance, and “bootson-the-ground” level support of OT (Operations Technology) systems at manufacturing site production and research areas.  The role involves overseeing general technical processes to ensure optimal performance & operation while maintaining the security posture to minimize cyber exposure risk.

The role works closely with site operations, maintenance, R&T personnel, and PIMS / LIMS application administrators.

Knowledge and Experience

• 5+ years of experience in IT and OT system administration, development, and maintenance.
• Install and Maintain OT Baseline Hardware, Software, and Cybersecurity Solutions
• Implement Security Architectures for OT environments, ensuring effective network segmentation, access controls, and threat detection mechanisms
• Installation of OT cybersecurity hardware and software packages along with routine maintenance activities.  Possess a working knowledge of Windows Operating Systems, installing/uninstalling applications, and the various components associated with Process Control Systems, PIMS, Lab Systems, LIMS, and Analytics.  Experience with the various components associated with Process Control Systems, Lab Systems, and Analytics
• Experience in the usage and maintenance of PIMS (Process Information Management Systems) and LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems).  Possess an understanding of relational database structures, theories, principles, and practices.
• System Maintenance: Execute routine maintenance tasks, updates, and patches on OT systems to uphold peak performance and security
• Technical Support: Provide ITIL Level 1/2 technical assistance and troubleshooting for OT systems, including hardware, software, networks, and industrial equipment.
• System Maintenance: Execute routine maintenance tasks, updates, patches, and assess vulnerability alerts on OT systems to maintain peak performance and security.
• Network Administration: Possess a good understanding of network structures, theories, principles, and practices.  Maintain a working knowledge of and monitor site IT-OT networks and dataflows, including LAN, WAN, and industrial networks, to secure segmentation, stability, reliability, and availability.  Track and maintain IP assignments.
• Asset Management: HAM (Hardware Asset Management) and SAM (Software Asset Management) Maintain an inventory of OT assets, encompassing hardware, software licenses, and industrial equipment, ensuring proper documentation and tracking.
• System Integration: Assist in the integration of new OT systems, applications, and technologies into existing infrastructure, ensuring compatibility and secure operation.
• Documentation: Collect, develop, and maintain documentation, procedures, and technical manuals relating to OT systems, configurations, and processes.  Work with Maintenance and Capital project teams to insure system documentation reflects “as installed” accuracy.
• Audit: Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks, standards, and regulations (e.g., NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISA 62443).  Work with Internal and/or External Audit to complete security assessments: Help conduct in-depth assessments and vulnerability analyses of OT infrastructure, guiding the identification of potential weaknesses and the prioritization of mitigation efforts.

Preferred Qualifications

• A 4 Year degree in a STEM associated field or equivalent experience
• In depth knowledge of Secure Network Architectures in an OT Environment (Industrial Controls, Lab Systems, etc.) 
• Baseline or better Network Design / Management Certifications such as o CCENT (or similar)

                       o    NETWORK+ (or similar)

• ISA CAP (or regional similar) Training and/or Certifications
• NIST (or similar) Training and/or Certifications
• Experience with Hypervisors including VMware, Hyper-V, and AHV
• OT Cybersecurity Assessment and Cybersecurity Program implementation and planning
• Experience in interaction with Internal and External Audit teams

Key Responsibilities

Infrastructure 

• Responsible for compliance to corporate IT-OT Security Policies and Standards
• Maintenance of system design documentation and asset inventories of the site IT/OT environment (including the OT DMZ, Process Control Networks, and Laboratory Networks).
• Maintenance of architecture and dataflow diagrams for systems in the OT networks including interconnections into IT Business network.
• Ability to create and maintain clearly written technical, user, and system documentation.
• Support the administration of a virtual environment including Host Hardware, Hypervisor, and Virtual Machines.
• Assist with and maintain site specific client software installation procedures for PIMS and LIMS related applications.  Work with local and corporate IT to support deployment and roll out of those applications.  Ensure compliance to corporate policies and procedures pertaining to these tasks.
• Follow Albemarle Policy and Processes for change control, application support, and proper escalation of violations.
• Coordinate and assist with the execution of backup and recovery processes. 
• Provide technical maintenance of OT systems pertaining to Network Infrastructure and Endpoint management.

System Management

• Responsible for compliance with the corporate OS patching policy within the OT DMZ, Process Control, Lab System, and any other site-specific OT System environments.   
• Responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting the Endpoint & Anti-Virus (AV) solution within the OT DMZ, Process Control, Lab System, and any other site-specific OT System environments.
• Assist application owners in application patching and upgrades.
• Assist in database system maintenance.
• Responsible for a working knowledge of “OT Interest” based systems on business networks such as the Engineering Workstation (EWS).
• Responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting of OT network devices such as switches, routers, and firewalls in the OT DMZ, Process Control, Lab System, and any other site-specific OT System environments.
• Assist with the troubleshooting and maintenance of the site Historian System(s).
• Assist with the troubleshooting and maintenance of the site Laboratory Information Management System(s).
• Assist with the troubleshooting and maintenance of analytics software suites.
• Responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting the interfaces between the local historian and enterprise historian.
• Responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting system interfaces such as LIMS to PIMS.

Project Management

• The IT/OT System Engineer actively participates in IT projects effecting IT-OT systems.  This role must work closely with Capital Projects, Site Maintenance, Researchers, and Management to juggle tasks and priorities.
• The IT/OT System Engineer must be flexible about dynamically shuffling priorities to accommodate a very rapidly changing environment.

Key Actions

• Participate / Collaborate with local and global project teams related to OT infrastructure, PIMS, LIMS, and interconnections to IT business infrastructure. 
• Take part in discussions with Site Maintenance, Project Teams, and Lab System Researchers, and Plant Management to understand their networking, software, and compute needs. 
• Support the roll out and test of OT and IT solutions.
• Understanding and documentation of OT and IT interconnected systems specific to a site.
• Ensure proper licensing management / registration of OT infrastructure components and software.  Maintain SAM indexes and provide to ITAM per procedures.

Communication

    The IT/OT System Engineer role will require effective communication both orally and through written reports and memos.  The role must maintain a positive working relationship with end users, other groups, and senior management.

Benefits of Joining Ketjen

• Competitive compensation

• Comprehensive benefits package

• A diverse array of resources to support you professionally and personally.

Apply today and help Ketjen unleash the POTENTIAL of advanced chemistry for industries that power the world.