OT Subject Matter Expert (OT-SME)

We are looking for an experienced OT Subject Matter Expert (OT-SME) to support the delivery of the Edge Cloud programme across manufacturing environments. This role requires strong OT Security experience in manufacturing and proven OT Manufacturing experience, with the ability to provide technical leadership and site-level guidance across assessment, design, readiness, migration, testing, and transition activities.

The OT-SME will act as the technical bridge between program delivery, site operations, OT engineering, infrastructure teams, and security stakeholders. The role requires a strong understanding of industrial environments, OT systems, manufacturing constraints, and cybersecurity requirements in plant-facing operations.

This is not a generic IT infrastructure role. The candidate must be able to work credibly in OT Manufacturing environments and support technically complex changes in operationally sensitive sites.

• 7+ years of experience in OT / industrial / manufacturing environments
• Demonstrated experience in OT Security within manufacturing
• Demonstrated experience in OT Manufacturing environments
• Experience in one or more of the following:
  • OT network segmentation
  • industrial networking
  • OT cybersecurity remediation
  • plant infrastructure upgrades
  • server / VM / platform migration in OT environments
  • industrial site assessments
  • firewall, VLAN, routing, and secure connectivity in plant networks
  • OT infrastructure deployment or refresh
  • multi-site OT rollout support
• Experience working with site engineers, automation teams, operations teams, validation teams, and support functions
• Ability to identify technical dependencies and implementation risks in manufacturing environments
• Understanding of production constraints, downtime windows, validation considerations, and operational risk

Nice to have:

• GICSP or equivalent industrial cybersecurity certification
• CISSP, CISM, or similar cybersecurity certification
• IEC 62443 knowledge or certification
• Vendor or infrastructure certifications in networking, Microsoft, or virtualization technologies

• Provide OT domain expertise to support delivery of the Edge Cloud programe across manufacturing sites
• Support technical activities across programe phases including:
  • discovery and site assessments
  • site surveys and current-state analysis
  • high-level and low-level design inputs
  • OT infrastructure and network readiness reviews
  • hardware deployment and site integration support
  • migration planning and technical readiness assessment
  • pilot activities
  • testing and validation coordination
  • service readiness and transition support
• Act as the OT technical focal point between programe management, site teams, infrastructure teams, security teams, and external vendors
• Assess site-level OT environments and identify dependencies, technical risks, and implementation constraints
• Support design validation to ensure proposed solutions are fit for manufacturing and OT Security requirements
• Review OT network, infrastructure, connectivity, and system impacts related to Edge Cloud deployment activities
• Support site readiness, cutover planning, migration activities, and issue resolution
• Ensure technical alignment with operational constraints, production sensitivity, and local support requirements
• Contribute to risk assessments, technical issue management, and remediation planning
• Support documentation, testing evidence, technical governance, and handover to support teams
• Provide practical site-facing guidance during rollout and implementation

Due to Client security requirements in the project, it is a condition of your employment in the offered position to present a valid NFC-enabled ID card (i.e. an e-chip-enabled ID/Passport) and undergo the Client mandated ID check as a part of the Client onboarding to the project. If the above requirement is not fulfilled Cognizant will be entitled to cancel this offer and not enter into employment agreement with you or, in case the employment agreement is signed with you prior to completion of the abovementioned verification, to terminate your employment. The Client being the data controller responsible for this specific verification process will contact you separately to provide you with more detailed information in this regard.