Principal Lead - Plant Network Engineering

Kforce has a client that is seeking a Principal Lead - Plant Network Engineering in Plano, TX.

Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to OT network engineers supporting multiple manufacturing sites
• Standardize network engineering processes, service levels, documentation, and support practices across plant environments
• Guide complex OT network designs, implementations, troubleshooting, and escalations while partnering with site engineering teams
• Oversee network service performance, KPIs, capacity, workload, project priorities, and operational support
• Establish standards for network outages, maintenance windows, cutovers, incident response, and operational readiness
• Lead cross-site incident coordination, root-cause reviews, and continuous improvement efforts
• Partner with IT, OT, engineering, and plant operations teams to translate production requirements into secure, reliable network solutions
• Support deployment activities, critical cutovers, modernization initiatives, and high-priority production issues
• Mentor engineers, assist with hiring and onboarding, and support ongoing technical development and certifications
• Develop and maintain network architecture standards, procedures, and technical documentation
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience
• 10+ years of progressive network engineering experience, including 5+ years providing technical leadership to engineering teams
• Strong experience supporting OT, industrial, or manufacturing network environments
• Advanced knowledge of Cisco technologies such as Catalyst Center, SD-Access, Wireless, ISE, and ACI
• Experience with SD-WAN, routing, switching, VLANs, redundancy, firewalls, network segmentation, and secure remote connectivity
• Knowledge of industrial networking, IT/OT segmentation, IDMZ architecture, Purdue Model concepts, and ISA/IEC 62443 practices
• Experience managing network services across multiple locations, including KPIs, service reporting, workload, and delivery priorities
• Strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills within complex, high-availability environments
• Experience supporting major deployments, maintenance windows, cutovers, production incidents, and post-incident reviews
• Proven ability to mentor senior technical professionals and collaborate across IT, OT, manufacturing, and business teams
• Strong communication, documentation, stakeholder management, and technical decision-making skills

The pay range is the lowest to highest compensation we reasonably in good faith believe we would pay at posting for this role. We may ultimately pay more or less than this range. Employee pay is based on factors like relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, location, performance, union contract and business needs. This range may be modified in the future.

We offer comprehensive benefits including medical/dental/vision insurance, HSA, FSA, 401(k), and life, disability & ADD insurance to eligible employees. Salaried personnel receive paid time off. Hourly employees are not eligible for paid time off unless required by law. Hourly employees on a Service Contract Act project are eligible for paid sick leave.

Note: Pay is not considered compensation until it is earned, vested and determinable. The amount and availability of any compensation remains in Kforce's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified in its discretion consistent with the law.

This job is not eligible for bonuses, incentives or commissions.

Kforce is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

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