Data Collection Engineer

Title: Data Collection Engineer
Location: Remote

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Sensor & Hardware Strategy
  • Evaluate production processes and recommend appropriate sensors (photoeyes, encoders, proximity sensors, counters, etc.)
  • Determine best-fit hardware based on product type, line speed, and manufacturing environment
  • Configure and deploy sensor hardware to ensure accurate production data capture Industrial
• Networking & IT Collaboration
  • Quickly assess plant network architecture (VLANs, firewalls, segmentation, security policies)
  • Provide exact technical requirements and steps for secure machine connectivity
  • Configure gateways and edge devices for data collection
  • Partner with plant IT and maintenance teams to accelerate deployment
• Manufacturing Process Expertise
  • Identify key data points required for OEE and performance monitoring
  • Understand how discrete vs. high-speed packaging vs. co-manufacturing environments impact data strategy
  • Translate operational goals into scalable data collection architecture
  • Help customers understand and leverage their production data
• Customer Enablement
  • Conduct Site Surveys
  • Lead technical training sessions
  • Ensure customers are comfortable operating and maintaining the system
  • Support issue resolution post-implementation
• Machine Connectivity & PLC Integration
  • Program and modify PLCs (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.) to enable data extraction
  • Develop and validate tag mappings between PLCs and the Smart Factory platform
  • Connect equipment using industrial protocols (EtherNet/IP, Modbus, Profinet, OPC-UA)
  • Work with unfamiliar equipment to determine optimal integration methods
  • Troubleshoot communication issues during implementation and post-go-live

Required Qualifications

• Experience configuring industrial gateways and edge devices
• Strong networking knowledge (routing, switching, VLANs, firewalls, TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP)
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing automation, controls engineering, or industrial data collection
• Proven experience integrating equipment into production monitoring or MES systems
• Deep understanding of industrial communication protocols (EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, Profinet, OPC-UA)
• Practical knowledge of plant network architecture and IT coordination
• Experience selecting and deploying industrial sensors
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills
• Driver’s license and passport
• Ability to Travel, up to 50%

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with PLC programming (Rockwell/Allen-Bradley preferred; Siemens a plus)
• Experience implementing OEE or production monitoring systems
• Ability to document and standardize connectivity best practices
• Comfort leading customer-facing technical sessions
• Experience working in 3PL, co-packing, co-manufacturing, or high-speed manufacturing environments
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus

 
 
At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws. This position’s starting pay is: $ 103000.00/Yearly.