Kubernetes Practice Specialist - Azure DevOps

Job Summary

The Digital Platform Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining digital infrastructure to enable machine connectivity, real-time data integration, and visualization within manufacturing environments. The role focuses on establishing reliable data pipelines from shopfloor equipment (e.g., new plating line machines), ensuring seamless integration with SCADA systems, and enabling real-time monitoring and analytics through platforms such as Grafana. This position plays a critical role in building scalable and secure digital foundations to support smart factory initiatives and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Infrastructure Setup & Configuration

• Design and implement infrastructure required to support machine connectivity and data acquisition (edge devices, gateways, network configurations)

• Configure environments for data ingestion, processing, and visualization (on-prem / cloud / hybrid)

• Ensure system reliability, scalability, and security of all platform components

Machine Connectivity & OT Integration 

• Establish connectivity with manufacturing equipment (e.g., plating line machines, sensors, PLCs)

• Integrate machine data using industrial protocols (e.g., OPC-UA, MQTT, Modbus, REST APIs)

• Ensure stable and secure communication between OT and IT environments

• SCADA Integration: Collaborate with automation engineers to interface seamlessly with SCADA systems and PLCs (e.g., Siemens, Rockwell) to extract telemetry and status data.

• Data Pipeline Reliability: Ensure the continuous, low-latency ingestion of high frequency machine data from the shop floor to core databases.

Real-Time Data & Visualization 

• Grafana Ecosystem: Own the administration, configuration, and optimization of Grafana for the manufacturing environment. 

• Dashboard Development: Build, maintain, and standardize real-time dashboards tracking OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), chemical parameters (for the plating line), energy consumption, and machine health.

• Data Storage Management: Manage and optimize Time-Series Databases (e.g., InfluxDB, Prometheus, TimescaleDB) to store and query high-volume machine logs efficiently.

Collaboration & Governance

• Partner with the Manufacturing Automation, Maintenance, and Plating Operations teams to translate production needs into technical requirements.

• Enforce cybersecurity best practices for IT/OT convergence, ensuring shop-floor data pathways are secure. 

Skill Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical/Automation Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field. • 3+ years of experience in a DevOps, Platform Engineering, or Industrial Automation (OT) role within a manufacturing environment.

Technical Skills Required

• Data Visualization & Storage: Expert-level knowledge of Grafana and experience with time-series databases. • Connectivity Protocols: Strong hands-on experience with MQTT, OPC-UA, and connecting PLCs/SCADA systems. • Infrastructure & OS: Proficiency in Linux/Windows Server administration, networking concepts (routing, firewalls, VLANs), and containerization (Docker/Kubernetes). • Scripting: Basic programming or scripting skills (e.g., Python, Bash, Node-RED) for data transformation and glue-code.

Soft Skills

• Strong troubleshooting skills with a knack for diagnosing complex data-flow bottlenecks between physical machines and software layers. • Excellent communication skills to act as the "bridge" between traditional IT teams and shop-floor operators. • Agile mindset, comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving digital transformation environment. 

Other Requirements

1.Relevant certifications in DevOps, Kubernetes, and Azure DevOps (e.g., Certified Kubernetes Administrator, Microsoft Certified1.Azure DevOps Engineer Expert) are a plus.