OT Systems Subject Matter Expert

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an OT Systems Subject Matter Expert based in Romania.** As an OT Systems Subject Matter Expert, you will play a critical role in developing and scaling the operational technology infrastructure that powers next-generation AI data centres across Europe and North America. You will serve as the technical authority for Building Management Systems (BMS), Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS), SCADA, PLC-based controls, and Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) platforms. Working closely with design, IT, construction, engineering, and site operations teams, you will establish consistent technical standards and ensure reliable, secure, and efficient facility operations. You will oversee OT architecture, cybersecurity, commissioning, and lifecycle management across a growing portfolio of mission-critical sites. This hands-on role combines deep technical expertise with strategic influence, offering the opportunity to shape infrastructure standards from design through live operations. Join a fast-growing, international environment where your work directly supports the resilience, availability, and performance of advanced AI infrastructure. ### Accountabilities - **OT Strategy and Technical Standards:** Act as the technical authority for operational technology across all AI data centre facilities, establishing standardized OT architectures, design guidelines, engineering principles, and technical specifications in collaboration with the Design team. - **Design Review and Approval:** Review and approve OT designs, control philosophies, points lists, and sequences of operation for new builds, expansions, and retrofit projects, ensuring consistency, reliability, safety, and compliance with technical requirements. - **Commissioning and Operational Handover:** Lead OT activities throughout commissioning, including Level 1–5 testing and Integrated Systems Testing (IST). Validate the integration and performance of BMS, EPMS, and control systems, and establish clear acceptance criteria before handing facilities over to Operations. - **OT Cybersecurity:** Partner with IT to implement and maintain an OT cybersecurity framework covering network segmentation, access control, secure remote access, patch management, backups, vulnerability management, and configuration security. - **Asset and Configuration Management:** Maintain accurate OT asset inventories, network architecture documentation, and configuration baselines across all facilities in collaboration with the Asset and Inventory team. - **Incident Management and Root Cause Analysis:** Provide expert escalation support for OT incidents, lead structured root cause investigations, and implement corrective and preventive actions to improve system reliability and prevent recurrence. - **Change and Patch Management:** Establish and govern formal OT change management processes, ensuring all modifications to live systems are risk-assessed, tested, documented, and implemented safely without customer-impacting incidents or disruption to service-level agreements (SLAs). - **Vendor and Lifecycle Management:** Manage system integrators, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and service providers, defining technical scopes, reviewing performance against key performance indicators (KPIs), and overseeing lifecycle planning, maintenance, and technology obsolescence. - **OT/IT Integration:** Coordinate with IT, Design, Construction, and Site Operations to ensure effective integration between OT and IT systems, reliable data flows, consistent alarm management, and secure communications across facilities. - **Multi-Site Standardization:** Maintain consistent OT implementations across all sites through common standards, naming conventions, engineering templates, graphical interfaces, and documentation practices. - **Operational Resilience and Business Continuity:** Evaluate system redundancy, conduct resilience and recovery exercises, and maintain documented disaster recovery and business continuity plans for critical OT infrastructure. - **Safety and Compliance:** Ensure OT activities comply with operational principles, safety requirements, Methods of Procedure (MOPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs), and customer contractual obligations. - **Continuous Improvement and Optimization:** Drive improvements through operational analytics, alarm rationalization, energy efficiency initiatives, Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) optimization, and increased automation. - **Training and Technical Development:** Develop technical documentation and training materials to strengthen OT knowledge and operational capabilities across the wider Operations organization. ## Requirements - **Professional Experience:** At least 8 years of experience in operational technology, industrial control systems, or building automation, including a minimum of 3 years in mission-critical environments such as data centres, utilities, pharmaceutical facilities, or nuclear operations. - **OT Systems Expertise:** Demonstrated hands-on experience designing, integrating, configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting BMS, EPMS, SCADA, PLC-based control systems, and DCIM platforms. - **Mission-Critical Project Delivery:** Proven experience delivering OT systems across the full project lifecycle, from design and construction through commissioning and operational handover in critical facilities. - **OT Cybersecurity:** Practical experience implementing cybersecurity controls and secure remote access in live operational environments, with a working knowledge of relevant OT cybersecurity standards, frameworks, and risk management practices. - **Industrial Communication Protocols:** Strong understanding of OT network architectures and industrial or building automation protocols, including Modbus TCP/RTU, BACnet IP/MSTP, SNMP, and IEC 61850. - **Data Centre Infrastructure:** Solid knowledge of critical facility infrastructure, including medium- and low-voltage power distribution, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), generators, cooling systems such as chillers and CRAH/CRAC units, and fire detection systems, together with their associated control strategies. - **Operational Risk and Safety:** Sound understanding of alarm management, change control, system resilience, and safe working practices when maintaining or modifying live mission-critical systems. - **Vendor and Stakeholder Management:** Experience managing system integrators, OEMs, and service providers across multiple sites and countries, with the ability to establish clear technical expectations and maintain accountability for delivery. - **Analytical and Troubleshooting Skills:** Strong fault-finding, analytical, and root cause analysis capabilities, combined with the ability to interpret and review electrical, mechanical, and controls drawings, points lists, and sequences of operation. - **Communication and Influence:** Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical risks and complex engineering concepts to non-technical audiences and senior stakeholders, influence decisions, and collaborate effectively with vendors and internal teams. - **Organization and Prioritization:** Strong planning skills and the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple projects, facilities, and operational requirements in a fast-paced environment. - **Education and Qualifications:** A degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent technical qualifications and practical experience. - **Preferred Certifications:** Vendor certifications in leading BMS, EPMS, or SCADA platforms, such as Schneider Electric, Siemens, Johnson Controls, or Honeywell, are advantageous. Data centre certifications such as CDCP, CDCS, or Uptime Institute ATD/AOM are also beneficial. - **Background Screening:** Willingness to undergo pre-employment screening in accordance with applicable policies and local legal requirements. ## Benefits - **Competitive Compensation:** Salary aligned with the responsibilities of the role, relevant experience, qualifications, location, and professional contribution. - **Equity Participation:** Equity awards offering the opportunity to share in the organization's long-term growth and success. - **Performance-Based Bonus:** Eligibility for a discretionary bonus as part of the overall compensation package. - **Retirement and Pension Benefits:** Employer retirement or pension contributions, subject to applicable local arrangements. - **Health and Wellbeing:** Comprehensive healthcare, wellbeing, and insurance benefits, adapted to local requirements. - **Generous Annual Leave:** A competitive vacation allowance to support work-life balance and personal commitments. - **Remote-First Flexibility:** Remote working opportunities for eligible candidates based in Germany and other supported European locations. - **International Collaboration:** The opportunity to work with experienced professionals across engineering, IT, construction, and operations in a growing international organization. - **Technical Ownership:** Significant autonomy to establish OT standards, influence infrastructure design, and shape the operational technology strategy across a portfolio of advanced AI data centres. - **Professional Growth:** Exposure to complex, large-scale infrastructure projects and emerging technologies at the intersection of AI computing, industrial automation, and mission-critical engineering. - **Inclusive Work Environment:** A commitment to equal opportunity, diversity, accessibility, and a supportive recruitment experience, including reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring process.