Digital Manufacturing Engineer

Job Description:
We are seeking a skilled professional to join our team in building modern, highly customized digital applications on top of the Ignition platform to support complex discrete manufacturing operations at a heavy industrial US defense contractor. This role is a hybrid of industrial software engineering, combining hands-on experience with SCADA and industrial data systems with strong modern software development fundamentals.

Key Responsibilities

• Application Development
  • Design and develop responsive industrial web applications using Ignition Perspective and supporting web technologies.
  • Extend Ignition’s out-of-the-box components using JavaScript, CSS, and Python scripting to meet complex business and operational requirements.
  • Build modular, maintainable application architectures that support long-term scalability and reuse.
• Data & Systems Integration
  • Connect equipment and control systems to Ignition using OPC, Kepware, tags, and related industrial technologies.
  • Configure and troubleshoot real-time and historical data collection.
  • Integrate applications with industrial and enterprise systems including SQL databases, SAP, Sharepoint, Active Directory, OPC and historian data sources (Kepware, Canary, etc.), and REST APIs.
  • Design efficient data models and queries optimized for real-time operational use.
• Manufacturing Collaboration
  • Work directly in the manufacturing environment with trades, engineers, IT, supervisors, and managers to understand equipment, processes, and operational needs.
  • Determine what machine and process data is required, how it can be acquired, and how it should be presented to support end users.
  • Translate diverse user needs into intuitive applications and visualizations, adapting effectively to different technical backgrounds and communication styles.
  • Build trusted client relationships and represent the engineering team and company professionally.
• Quality & Reliability
  • Implement robust error handling, logging, and diagnostics.
  • Ensure solutions meet performance, security, reliability, and compliance requirements.
  • Produce clear technical documentation and solution architecture diagrams.

Required Qualifications

• Software Development Strengths
  • Strong experience with web UI development concepts: HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, responsive design, and modern UI patterns.
  • Proficiency in Python scripting for application logic and automation.
  • Solid experience working with SQL databases and relational data models.
  • Experience integrating external systems using REST APIs or web services.
  • Ability to design maintainable, modular software — not just single-purpose screens.
• Industrial & OT Strengths
  • Hands-on experience with SCADA/HMI systems and live industrial data.
  • Experience configuring and troubleshooting OPC connections, tags, and historian data.
  • Ability to understand equipment, controls, production workflows, and real-time operational requirements.
  • Experience with Ignition, Kepware, Canary, or comparable technologies strongly preferred.
• Customer & Manufacturing Aptitude
  • Comfortable working independently in an active industrial environment to understand equipment, processes, and user needs firsthand.
  • Able to communicate effectively with operators, maintenance trades, engineers, supervisors, and management.
  • Strong judgment, interpersonal maturity, and ability to build trust with users of widely varying technical backgrounds.
  • Able to translate loosely-defined operational problems into practical, intuitive digital solutions.

Bonus Experience (Nice to Have)

• Deep Ignition Perspective experience.
• Strong working knowledge of discrete manufacturing environments (aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding, heavy industry).
• Working familiarity with SAP integrations.
• Knowledge of cloud or hybrid architecture (AWS Industrial Solutions Framework).