Operational Technology (OT) Engineer

POSITION OVERVIEW

Ascend Performance Materials is a global leader in high-performance chemicals fibers and plastics committed to enhancing quality of life through innovation. With fully integrated manufacturing facilities across North America Europe and Asia we develop essential solutions that drive safer vehicles cleaner energy advanced medical devices and durable consumer goods. Guided by a strong focus on safety sustainability and customer success we operate responsibly while delivering value through cutting-edge technologies and industry expertise. Join our team and be part of a collaborative environment where your work drives meaningful global impact.

We are seeking a highly motivatedOperational Technology (OT) Engineerto join our PCS team at the Chocolate Bayou site. This role bridges the gap between IT and manufacturing supporting OT infrastructure cybersecurity and data systems. The ideal candidate will have strong technical skills a collaborative mindset and a passion for driving digital transformation in a manufacturing environment.

TARGETED OUTCOMES

• Provide technical support and act as liaison between various IT departments such as IT security networking and infrastructure teams and manufacturing site personnel on projects related to OT.
• Develop and execute a forward-looking OT strategy that aligns with Ascends digital transformation goals.
• Advance the integration of modern OT capabilities across automation and enterprise platforms.
• Maintain reliable compliant operations of process data historian systems and networked OT infrastructure.
• Foster strong cross-functional partnerships between IT cybersecurity infrastructure and manufacturing.
• Act as technical resource and administrator for process data historian instances for the site

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a technical liaison between IT (security networking infrastructure) and manufacturing teams.
• Develop and implement OT strategies aligned with Ascends digital transformation goals.
• Administer and maintain process data historian systems (e.g. AspenTech IP21).
• Support and maintain OT applications including predictive maintenance endpoint protection and backup/recovery systems.
• Ensure OT servers are compliant through regular patching and updates.
• Collaborate with MES/ERP teams to develop KPIs and leverage automation data.
• Apply Six Sigma and continuous improvement methodologies to enhance process efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with safety cybersecurity (e.g. IEC 62443) and quality standards.

TEAM

• Reports to: OT Manager

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Chemical industry experience.
• Experience with process information management.
• Working knowledge of firewall and cybersecurity best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to work as both individual contributor as well as part of larger teams.
• Good time management skills and ability to prioritize assigned tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to apply Continuous Improvement Tools.
• Strong initiative to identify and address areas for improvement.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• BS in Engineering IT or Computer Science.
• Experience in digital transformation for chemical process control and instrumentation is highly preferred.
• 4 years of experience with OT or digital transformation initiatives for chemical process control and instrumentation.
• AspenTech IP21 administrator experience.
• DeltaV firewall experience.
• Experience communicating with legacy hardware.

At Ascend Performance Materials we value transparency and fairness in our hiring process. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters search firms or staffing agencies. Any resumes received from such entities will be considered the property of Ascend Performance Materials and we will not be obligated to pay any fees for such submissions. Our Talent Acquisition Team actively engages with preferred recruitment partners who have established agreements with us. We encourage all interested candidates to apply directly through our official channels to be considered for any open positions.

Skills Summary:

About Us:

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high quality chemicals fibers and plastics. With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities we are able to develop new products from our core technologies and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution facilities across the globe and six manufacturing facilities globally. As a privately-held company our people do big things and make big decisions often much earlier in their careers than at larger companies. Ascend Performance Materials offers team members the opportunity to contribute in big meaningful waysall within a stable and growing business.

Why work at Ascend

Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 66 value chain creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone everywhere every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values.

We care. We operate safely with high integrity for our employees our customers and our communities. Our people are our greatest assets and our Total Rewards Program extends beyond traditional benefits to include access to on-site medical clinics at our U.S. facilities a global wellness rewards program and Performance Matters an employee-driven recognition plan. Our Commitment to Zero demonstrates our belief that is it possible to operate with zero personal injuries zero process safety incidents and zero environmental releases. And the Ascend Cares Foundation led by Ascend employees supports Ascend families in times of need provides inspiring opportunities for community engagement and facilitates community leadership.

Customer-focused. We exist for our customers; they drive our actions. Their success is our success. Our plastics and chemicals are building blocks that help make everyday essentials safer and more sustainable and we constantly strive to develop new and innovative products to meet the future needs of our customers. And that customer focus doesnt only apply to the marketplace it also applies to how we treat our colleagues and our fellow community members.

Better every day. We invest in our people and our processes to improve every day. A2E our continuous improvement program guides the way we do business. And this way of problem solving applies not only to our manufacturing practices but also to our commitment to developing our people. Youll see it during your career at Ascend in our leadership development skills training and mentoring programs

Agile. We think broadly and lead proactively in a constantly evolving organization and industry. Agility doesnt mean simply working quickly it means critical thinking creative problem solving and novel approaches to everyday challenges.

One Ascend. All together with a common set of goals and an eye toward the future. We dont accept silos. We look for ways to share across departments sites and geography. This means you wont be boxed into a single role at Ascend you could get the chance to work with teams across the globe to improve the way we serve our people our customers and our communities.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color sex national origin age religion disability sexual orientation gender identity protected veteran status citizenship genetic information or other protected status under federal state or local laws.