Technical Consultant - MES Applications Job

Job Summary

• Reports directly to the Manager of Manufacturing/HES/R&D Applications, collaborating with various iTeam professionals at different levels.
• This position does not supervise others but will provide guidance to less experienced professionals or external resources (contractors) involved in enhancements or projects.
• Supports over 1,000 users across more than 40 manufacturing and warehouse facilities.
• Engages in middle management interactions with Process Owners, Business stakeholders, and the iTeam.
• Serves as the Subject Matter Expert making decisions about design, implementation, configuration, and installation of manufacturing applications across the AMAS region and globally as needed.
• Applications supported include data historians, engineering modeling tools, manufacturing execution tools, and many smaller distinct apps used in Manufacturing and HE&S.
• Coordinates globally on applications of similar nature.
  Serves as the system administrator for Aspen IP.21 and OSI PI installations.
• Configure, test, tune, monitor, maintain and upgrade manufacturing applications.
• Install, config and maintain data historian interfaces, add-ins, connectors, and adaptors.
• Position assesses end user needs and provides technical guidance and support for
• Business Process Owners.
• Works as part of large projects/programs to address all the dimensions of architecture: functional analysis, application mapping, API/interface design.
• Works on application development enhancement projects, small to large, regional to global, on-prem or cloud solutions and applications.
• Leads teams which may include full time iTeam resources and/or temporary contractors, and/or outsourced vendors.
• Facilitates vendor relationships for specific application support or project implementations.
• Provides functional and/or technical expertise for specific areas of system modifications.
• Plays a lead role in resolving technical issues, and in providing guidance to others.
• Defines alignment with regional strategic initiatives and assesses opportunities to align globally.
• Supports other applications as assigned and can be called upon to consult for other projects.

Responsibilities

Projects(45%)

• Performs project management through all project stages and formal transition of ongoing application supportand maintenance as appropriate. Assigns project tasks to project team members, including self. Collaborates with project leads from business on all project management activities.

• Leverages functional/technical expertise within other iTeam application/technical teams during all project phases, for delivery of activities such as security design, external data processes and programming.
• Participate or lead detail requirements gathering, analysis of systems issues and definition of alternatives.
• Position works with other iTeam technical teams on activities such as identification and selection of technical alternatives, security design and external data processes.
• Will facilitate work with third party vendors as implementation partners or to design/construct/test integration.
• Position uses vendor documentation, Arkema documentation, vendor help services, internal and external resources to learn and understand system capabilities.
• Collaborates with Business Process Owners and iTeam groups, globally and regionally. Position is expected to share business, technical, and professional knowledge and facilitate teamwork with customers and peers.
• Works closely with business project participants to confirm developments meet business needs.
• Follow architecture framework and standards including maintaining architecture maps and blueprints, scope documents, test procedures and interface design documents.

Upgrades and Application Enhancements (15%)

• Manage enhancements requiring integrated business process definition with no direct supervision and can translate high level business requirements into detailed functional specifications.

• Performs application upgrades and supports OS server upgrade activities, as part of a team, including analysis,
  configuration, programming specs, testing, documentation, and cutover activities.
• Performs small to medium business modifications, enhancements, for system developments. Participates or leads components of implementation rollouts and enhancement projects.
• System developments includes defining requirements for system modification via user interviews, research, writing specifications to meet requirements by matching functionality with business needs, technical design, configuration, testing and documentation.
• Position will deploy new applications. Deployment activities include specifying server requirements, requesting servers, installing applications, coordinating server and firewall security, requesting SQL DB setup, application configuration, application enrollment and developing interfaces.
• Works independently on all assignments and may lead, supervise, or provide direction for other analysts on larger, more complex programs or application developments.
• Facilitates application integration, working with IT technical teams for delivery of activities such as security design, external data processes and programming.
• Ensures the application integrity of system with each system modification.
• Works with the infrastructure group to create user roles/access using standard Windows security / groups.

Application Support & SME knowledge Transfer(40%)

• Performs application support activities, including monitoring services, routine business configuration, maintenance, patches, problem/root cause analysis, and fixing bugs. Resolves complex issues independently and proactively initiates problem prevention. Consults for others engaged in complex issue resolution.

• Position ensures modifications properly fix issues and meet user expectations via thorough requirements gathering, system testing, user acceptance testing and appropriate regression testing.
• Support work includes problem analysis, solution and prevention, programming, configuration, testing and documentation.
• Provides proactive and timely problem resolution and communication.
  Position monitors system process and manages maintenance assignments including updating, enhancing, and/or
• streamlining of technical functions of the system, including data or system cleanup, or standardizing processes.
• Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates applications to determine improvements and make recommendations.
• Position enrolls users using standard application functionality in active directory.
  Position also works with multiple relational database (SQL Server, MySQL, Postgres) during upgrades and data integrity issues.
• Understands MES (manufacturing execution systems) and data historians to ensure their continuous usage which requires an understanding of networks (TCP/IP, firewalls, etc.)

Requirements

• 6+ years' experience in various technical aspects of manufacturing systems and applications.
• Bachelors Degree in Computer Science or related field
• Manufacturing industry experience required; process industry preferred.
• Proficiency in functional / application / integration architecture methods.
• In depth knowledge of PLC, OPC and DCS based control systems and their integration with IP.21 and PI.
• Highly competent in implementing, configuring and troubleshoot OSI PI and Aspen IP.21 interfaces, including but not limited to, OPC DA/UA, PI to PI, PI to IP.21.
• Experience with server administration and security.
• Experience supporting SQL-based applications preferred.
• Experience with network, web services, and scripting languages