• Manufacturing Systems Architect

    Ensign-Bickford Aerospace and Defense (Simsbury, CT)


    This opportunity is located within our Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company business, a global leader of mission-critical hardware and systems solutions including precision energetics systems and innovative explosive solutions. Click here (https://www.eba-d.com/) to learn more.

    Job Description

    EBAD is seeking a highly skilled Manufacturing Systems Architect to design, optimize, and oversee the integration of advanced manufacturing systems across our operations. This role is responsible for aligning business objectives, production requirements, and technology solutions to create scalable, efficient, and resilient manufacturing environments. The Manufacturing Systems Architect serves as a key bridge between engineering, IT, operations, and leadership teams to ensure seamless execution of digital transformation initiatives. This role is not only architectural but also hands-on in owning the full lifecycle of a business-critical MES application, from design and build through day-to-day operations, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.

    Key Responsibilities:

    + Systems Architecture & Design

    + Develop and maintain the overall architecture for manufacturing systems, including MES, ERP, SCADA, PLCs, robotics, IoT devices, and cloud platforms.

    + Define technical roadmaps that align with business strategy, operational efficiency goals, and industry best practices.

    + Ensure system interoperability, security, and scalability.

    + Own the end-to-end lifecycle of the MES platform and related integrations, ensuring high availability and proven scalability to meet 24/7 production needs

    + Integration & Optimization

    + Lead the integration of disparate systems into a unified digital manufacturing ecosystem.

    + Drive standardization of processes, data models, and system interfaces.

    + Identify and implement automation opportunities to improve throughput, quality, and cost efficiency.

    + Lead root-cause analysis and direct remediation of production incidents, balancing immediate response with long-term architecture improvements

    + Stakeholder Collaboration

    + Partner with operations, IT, engineering, and supply chain teams to gather requirements and translate them into system capabilities.

    + Act as the subject matter expert for manufacturing technologies during vendor evaluations, RFPs, and implementation projects.

    + Governance & Compliance

    + Establish and enforce governance standards for manufacturing systems, including cybersecurity, data integrity, and change management.

    + Ensure compliance with industry regulations (e.g., ISO, FDA, OSHA) and internal quality standards.

    + Continuous Improvement

    + Monitor system performance and lead root-cause analysis for complex issues.

    + Stay current with emerging technologies (Industry 4.0, IIoT, digital twins, AI/ML in manufacturing) and recommend adoption strategies.

    + Ability to troubleshoot and step in directly when systems impact production

    + Serve as primary technical authority for performance tuning, capacity planning, and disaster-recovery strategy for MES and connected systems

    Qualifications:

    + Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field.

    + 10+ years of experience in manufacturing IT/OT systems, with at least 3 years in an architecture or systems leadership role.

    + Strong knowledge of MES, ERP, SCADA, PLCs, robotics, and industrial IoT platforms.

    + Proven experience with system integration, data architecture, and digital transformation initiatives.

    + Familiarity with cloud solutions (Azure, AWS, or GCP) and edge computing in manufacturing environments.

    + Excellent problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills.

    + Demonstrated experience in direct administration, configuration, and troubleshooting of MES and related OT/IT systems in a high-volume manufacturing environment

    Preferred Skills:

    + Experience in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or process optimization methodologies.

    + Exposure to digital twin, predictive maintenance, or AI/ML applications in manufacturing.

    + Professional certifications (TOGAF, ISA-95/ISA-99, PMP, or related).

     

    Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.

     

    Ensign-Bickford Industries, (http://e-bind.com) (EBI), founded in 1836, is a privately-owned high technology conglomerate that participates in businesses that are relevant to the future of the world and have multigenerational growth prospects. As One EBI, we innovate in science and technology for the safety, health, and well-being of society, creating exceptional long-term value.

     

    Watch the video above to learn more about some of the incredible challenges we take on every day to deliver the best product for our customers, and ultimately the world.

     

    Ensign-Bickford Industries (EBI) is a global science and technology organization with unparalleled leadership positions in attractive industries and markets. We are EBI, positioned to take on some of the world's most complex technological and scientific challenges in diagnostics, pet food science, and aerospace and defense.

     

    Click here to learn about our Core Values (https://ensign-bickfordind.com/ebi-core-values/)

     

    We conduct business in a manner that reflects the highest human and ethical standards. With that commitment to mutually beneficial partnerships and a belief in the efficacy of genuine economic and social service, this cornerstone is the foundation of who we are as a company and our winning vision.

     

    AFB International (http://www.ensign-bickfordind.com/subsidiaries/afb-international/)

     

    + AFB is the leader in pet food flavor enhancers. Ensuring product performance for pet food manufacturers—and their customers—is our business.

     

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    Cawood (https://cawood.co.uk/)

     

    + Cawood is the UK’s leading scientific group, recognized for its technical capability and value-added service to customers in land-based industries.

    • Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (http://www.ensign-bickfordind.com/subsidiaries/ensign-bickford-aerospace-defense/)

    + EBAD is a global leader in precision energetic systems and other innovative explosives, non-explosive and electromechanical solutions for the defense and aerospace markets.

    • EnviroLogix (http://www.ensign-bickfordind.com/subsidiaries/envirologix-inc/)

    + EnviroLogix is an industry leader in the development and manufacturing of tests for the rapid detection of GMOs and mycotoxins throughout the worldwide food production chain.