Staff Engineer OT Digital Systems

Job Location: Hershey, PA or Remote (with travel to manufacturing sites as needed)

Position Title: OT Data Engineer

Summary:

The OT Data Engineer - Unified Namespace is responsible for designing and implementing scalable industrial data solutions that enable real-time visibility and integration across manufacturing systems. This role supports Hershey's Digital Factory initiatives by connecting Control Systems, Historians, MES, and ERP platforms through a unified, standards-based data architecture.

This Staff Engineer role contributes to enterprise OT data strategy, improving decision-making, operational efficiency, and digital capabilities across the manufacturing network.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, build, and maintain a Unified Namespace (UNS) architecture using MQTT-based technologies
• Develop semantic data models and hierarchical structures aligned to ISA-95 and ISA-88 standards
• Integrate PLC/SCADA, historians, MES, WMS, Production Planning, QMS, and ERP systems
• Implement and support HiveMQ, HighByte, and Ignition platforms
• Develop data pipelines and integrations using Python for scripting ETL jobs, API integrations, and automation
• Establish data governance standards and practices
• Enable real-time, event-driven data architectures
• Collaborate cross-functionally across OT, IT, and Engineering
• Support Digital Factory and MES initiatives
• Integrate and optimize historian platforms such as AVEVA PI

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
• 5+ years of industrial data engineering or OT experience
• Experience with Unified Namespace and MQTT architectures
• Experience with HiveMQ, HighByte, or similar platforms
• Experience with Inductive Automation Ignition platform
• Experience integrating MES, ERP, and control systems
• Proficiency in Python and pipeline orchestration and transformation tools
• Knowledge of ISA-95, ISA-88, and data modeling
• Experience with OT data governance
• Experience with factory floor industrial manufacturing technology including PLCs, SCADA, Robotics

Preferred:

• Experience with AVEVA PI or other historians
• Familiarity with analytics, machine learning, and AI platforms; Databricks preferred
• Experience with APIs and event-driven architecture
• Experience with messaging tools such as Apache Kafka
• Understanding of OT cybersecurity

Key Capabilities:

• Strong analytical and system design skills
• Ability to translate manufacturing needs into scalable solutions
• Effective cross-functional collaboration
• Focus on reliability, scalability, and standardization

Additional Information:

• This position focuses on the Operations Technology space and supports Hershey's Manufacturing Supply Chain Network. Knowledge of factory floor automation systems is required.
• Travel as required for on-site support of manufacturing sites
• Occasional off-hours support as needed