Robert Half Technology is seeking an experienced IT/OT Manager to lead Operational Technology (OT), Industrial Automation, and IT Infrastructure across two manufacturing facilities in Southern California.
This is a highly visible leadership position responsible for ensuring the reliability, security, and continuous improvement of mission-critical manufacturing systems. The IT/OT Manager will partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and executive leadership to drive plant performance, modernize technology, and maintain secure, highly available production environments.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary IT/OT leader supporting Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Quality Control Systems (QCS), PLCs, industrial networks, historians, instrumentation, drives, and process control systems.
- Lead IT/OT incident response efforts, coordinating internal teams and third-party vendors to restore operations while identifying and implementing permanent root-cause solutions.
- Improve operational reliability, process stability, production uptime, operator effectiveness, and business continuity across both manufacturing facilities.
- Maintain secure and reliable OT infrastructure, including industrial networks, servers, virtualization, remote access, backup and recovery, cybersecurity, patch management, and change control.
- Provide leadership and direct supervision for Process Control Engineers supporting multiple locations.
- Participate in capital projects, including design reviews, testing, commissioning, startup activities, and production handoffs to ensure long-term operational support.
- Develop technical documentation, training materials, support procedures, and knowledge transfer programs to strengthen local technical capabilities.
- Establish accountability through clearly defined ownership while collaborating with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and executive leadership.
- Communicate technology risks, infrastructure needs, lifecycle planning, system performance, and cybersecurity initiatives to leadership.
- Manage relationships with technology vendors and ensure successful execution of assigned projects.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on manufacturing technology, operational efficiency, and system reliability.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Engineering, Computer Science, Industrial Technology, or a related discipline preferred. Equivalent experience will be considered.
- Minimum of three years of leadership experience supporting IT/OT, industrial controls, process automation, or manufacturing technology.
- Experience working within continuous process manufacturing environments such as pulp and paper, chemical processing, petrochemical, utilities, power generation, or other industrial manufacturing operations.
- Hands-on experience supporting:
- Distributed Control Systems (DCS)
- Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)
- Quality Control Systems (QCS)
- SCADA and industrial automation platforms
- Industrial networking and communications
- Historians and process control systems
- Instrumentation and variable frequency drives
- Strong understanding of:
- Industrial networking
- Virtualization
- Windows Server environments
- Remote access technologies
- Backup and disaster recovery
- Patch management
- IT/OT cybersecurity
- Network segmentation
- Change management
- Experience leading incident response, root-cause analysis, documentation, knowledge transfer, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Proven leadership experience managing technical teams while collaborating effectively across multiple business functions.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to travel approximately 25%.
Compensation & Work Environment
Salary: $150,000 - $200,000 annually
Work Schedule: Primarily onsite
Locations: Ontario, CA
This position offers the opportunity to lead strategic IT/OT initiatives while supporting mission-critical manufacturing operations within a highly collaborative environment.
Apply Today
If you are an experienced IT/OT professional with a passion for manufacturing technology, industrial automation, and operational excellence, we encourage you to apply.
Please submit your most recent resume through Robert Half Technology for confidential consideration.
