Manufacturing IT/OT Support Technician

NES Fircroft are currently recruiting for a Manufacturing Technician for our client, who have a state-of-the-art additive manufacturing facility in Worcester.

Location: Worcester

Duration: 6-month rolling contract (long-term work)

Role Purpose

The Manufacturing IT/OT Support Technician ensures the quality of technology delivery to critical manufacturing operations in Worcester. This role supports secure, efficient, and standardized digital operations across production systems, contributing to both local and global digitalization initiatives. The role will support the convergence and development of the location’s IT/OT network infrastructure and requires a strong industrial cybersecurity focus, ensuring alignment with corporate security standards and safeguarding production systems from cyber threats. As part of a small, agile team, the technician will engage in a balanced mix of independent and collaborative work to deliver high-quality digital services and secure connectivity to production areas. The technician will also provide support to the existing IT Technical User Support technician.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Support & Optimization
  • Provide hands-on support for IT/OT systems in the manufacturing environment.
  • Collaborate with engineering, operations, and maintenance teams to maximize equipment uptime and throughput.
  • Support local and global manufacturing software solutions.
  • Support IT Technical User Support activities including providing holiday cover.
• Project Implementation
  • Assist in the local implementation of IT/OT projects.
  • Ensure compliance with global standards such as ISO/IEC 27001 and IEC 62443.
  • Implement and maintain hardware/software standards for the production areas.
• Network & Asset Management
  • Set up and maintain secure network connectivity for OT hardware and external vendor equipment.
  • Contribute detailed documentation of local network architecture.
  • Manage local OT assets and support IT business continuity planning, including disaster recovery.
• Collaboration & Communication
  • Serve as a technical liaison between IT, OT, engineering, and business teams.
  • Participate in global Manufacturing IT/OT community initiatives to standardize services.
  • Ensure high-quality service delivery through measurable productivity and security metrics.
• Cybersecurity
  • Implement and maintain secure and resilient operations of IT and OT systems within the factory environment.
  • Coordinate with global cybersecurity teams and local stakeholders to implement, monitor, and improve cybersecurity measures.
  • Collaborate with engineering, operations, and maintenance teams to ensure secure system configurations and patch management.
  • Support the onboarding of new digital assets, ensuring compliance with cybersecurity requirements from day one.

Skills & Qualifications

Required:

• Degree in Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field.
• Some experience in a technology support role, ideally with experience in industrial manufacturing OT environments.
• Foundational knowledge of IT networking principles.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks and industrial cybersecurity standards.
• Effective time management and problem-solving abilities with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.

Preferred:

• Experience with IIOT machine connectivity (e.g., OPC UA) and cloud platforms like AWS Connected Factory.
• Familiarity with OT hardware such as PLCs, HMIs, and sensors.