Operational Technology Architect
Posted Today by identifi Global Resources
£100 Per hour
Outside
Hybrid
Preston, England, United Kingdom
Summary: The Operational Technology Architect is tasked with defining, designing, and governing the architecture of industrial and operational systems that manage physical processes. This role emphasizes the security, resilience, and interoperability of OT environments while facilitating integration with IT and cloud platforms. The architect serves as a technical authority across various industrial control systems, providing both strategic direction and hands-on leadership. The position requires DV or SC clearance and involves a hybrid working arrangement with three days on-site.
Key Responsibilities:
- Define and maintain OT architecture principles, standards, and reference designs
- Design end-to-end OT solutions covering control systems, networks, data flows, and integrations
- Support long-term OT roadmaps, modernization initiatives, and IT/OT convergence
- Ensure architectures meet safety, availability, and operational resilience requirements
- Architect solutions across ICS, SCADA, DCS, PLCs, and HMIs
- Support integration of OT systems with enterprise IT, cloud, and data platforms
- Define standards for industrial protocols (e.g. Modbus, OPC UA, DNP3, IEC 61850)
- Enable secure adoption of IIoT and edge computing technologies
- Embed security-by-design into OT architectures
- Define OT network segmentation, zoning, and access controls (Purdue Model / IEC 62443)
- Conduct risk assessments, threat modeling, and architecture assurance reviews
- Support compliance with safety and security regulations and standards
- Design for high availability, fault tolerance, and disaster recovery in OT environments
- Ensure architectures support real-time performance and operational continuity
- Align designs with functional safety and operational risk requirements
- Support incident response and recovery planning for OT systems
- Act as the OT technical authority for projects and programmes
- Collaborate with engineering, operations, IT, cyber security, and vendors
- Review designs, vendor solutions, and system changes for architectural compliance
- Produce clear architecture documentation, standards, and guidance
Key Skills:
- Strong experience with OT and industrial control system architectures
- Deep understanding of ICS/SCADA/DCS environments
- Knowledge of industrial networking and protocols
- Experience with OT cyber security principles and standards
- Understanding of IT/OT integration and data flows
- Experienced in OT, industrial engineering, or architecture roles
- Proven experience designing or governing OT architectures in complex environments
Salary (Rate): £100.00/hr
City: Preston
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: hybrid
IR35 Status: outside IR35
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: IT
OT Architect - Operational Technology Architect DV OR SC Cleared Considered - OT Architect - 6 months - £700p/d - Outside IR35 - 3 days onsite
About the role
The Operational Technology (OT) Architect is responsible for defining, designing, and governing the architecture of industrial and operational systems that control and monitor physical processes. This role ensures OT environments are secure, resilient, interoperable, and aligned with business, safety, and regulatory requirements, while enabling convergence with IT and cloud platforms where appropriate. The OT Architect acts as a technical authority across industrial control systems (ICS), SCADA, and IIoT, providing strategic direction and hands-on architectural leadership.
Key Responsibilities
- OT Architecture & Strategy
- Define and maintain OT architecture principles, standards, and reference designs
- Design end-to-end OT solutions covering control systems, networks, data flows, and integrations
- Support long-term OT roadmaps, modernization initiatives, and IT/OT convergence
- Ensure architectures meet safety, availability, and operational resilience requirements
- Industrial Systems & Platforms
- Architect solutions across ICS, SCADA, DCS, PLCs, and HMIs
- Support integration of OT systems with enterprise IT, cloud, and data platforms
- Define standards for industrial protocols (e.g. Modbus, OPC UA, DNP3, IEC 61850)
- Enable secure adoption of IIoT and edge computing technologies
- OT Cyber Security & Risk
- Embed security-by-design into OT architectures
- Define OT network segmentation, zoning, and access controls (Purdue Model / IEC 62443)
- Conduct risk assessments, threat modeling, and architecture assurance reviews
- Support compliance with safety and security regulations and standards
- Reliability, Safety & Performance
- Design for high availability, fault tolerance, and disaster recovery in OT environments
- Ensure architectures support real-time performance and operational continuity
- Align designs with functional safety and operational risk requirements
- Support incident response and recovery planning for OT systems
- Governance & Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as the OT technical authority for projects and programmes
- Collaborate with engineering, operations, IT, cyber security, and vendors
- Review designs, vendor solutions, and system changes for architectural compliance
- Produce clear architecture documentation, standards, and guidance
Required Skills & Experience
- Technical Skills
- Strong experience with OT and industrial control system architectures
- Deep understanding of ICS/SCADA/DCS environments
- Knowledge of industrial networking and protocols
- Experience with OT cyber security principles and standards
- Understanding of IT/OT integration and data flows
- Professional Experience
- Experienced in OT, industrial engineering, or architecture roles
- Proven experience designing or governing OT architectures in complex environments
For more information and immediate consideration please apply today. Immediate interviews available.