Operational Technology Engineer

We at Yara are part of a global network, collaborating to profitably and responsibly solve some of the world's key challenges - resource scarcity, food insecurity and environmental change.

About the Unit

At Yara, the Digital Enablement - Technology & Platforms organization builds and operates the core technology capabilities that support industrial digitalization across our global production network. We provide the shared platforms, connectivity solutions, and digital services that enable production sites and product teams to leverage data, automation, and cloud technologies effectively.

By delivering secure, scalable, and reusable technology foundations, we help accelerate innovation, improve operational performance, and ensure consistent engineering standards across Yara's digital ecosystem.

About the Role

Are you a structured collaborator with an analytical mindset who thrives at the interface between technology and business? We are seeking a Connectivity Specialist to serve as the OPC UA Platform Responsible for bridging our technical teams and production site automation and digital initiatives. In this capacity, you will take ownership of the interface between technology and business. You will be responsible for ensuring production data flows effectively from the Yara’s global plants to the cloud, maintaining an agile mindset and upholding structured documentation and industrial standards across the global platform.

Responsibilities

Platform Responsibility & Collaboration: Serve as the main point of contact between technical teams and site automation/digital teams to align global platform goals with local operational needs.
Connectivity Ownership: Design, establish, and maintain robust connectivity between the digital platform and existing critical OT systems, including control systems, condition monitoring systems, and instrument data.
Architecture & Scalability: Apply OT-infrastructure expertise to ensure the platform architecture is "fit for purpose" and contributes to building scalable cloud components such as GRAFANA.
Data Flow & Management: Take ownership of solutions bringing production data to the cloud, oversee the end-to-end flow of production data with OPC UA utilizing SQL, PowerShell, or CLI to validate and manage data integrity.
Device Deployment: Manage the integration and deployment of specialized hardware and sensors (IoT, Radar, Lidar) into the OT environment in coordination with global tech teams.
Structured Documentation: Lead the identification and documentation of requirements using Jira and Confluence, ensuring a high standard of "Documentation Hygiene" for the entire platform.
LEAN Mindset: Apply continuous improvement to simplify processes and improve the "bridge" between OT and the cloud.
Security & Troubleshooting: Ensure solutions follow security best practices. Travel to production sites if required for configurations, troubleshooting, or training.

Profile

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Automation, Computer Science, Industrial Connectivity, or a related field.
Experience: Experience in technical environments or collaborative roles within complex system development. Experience in industrial production, automation control system software and hardware or OT connectivity in 7 years.
Analytical Mindset: Naturally curious and able to break down complex problems. You have a knack for spotting patterns or inconsistencies in data and processes.
Technical Foundation:

- Experience in SQL, PowerShell, or CLI for data management.
- Strong understanding of IT networking and a desire to master OT infrastructure (VLANS, Firewalls, Switches, Routers, DMZs)
- Knowledge of programming or scripting (C, C++, Python) or IIOT protocols (OPCUA, MQTT, LORAN) is an advantage.
- Experience with Cloud Infrastructure (AWS or Azure) is desirable.
Soft Skills:
- Highly structured with a disciplined approach to documentation and follow-up.
- Independent contributor capable of working in a timely and proactive manner.
- Adaptable to different cultures and comfortable working across diverse global teams.
- You have strong English written and verbal communication skills and can communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Knowledge grows through differences
Yara is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We believe that creating a diverse and inclusive work environment is not only the right thing, but also the smart thing to do. To deliver on this, Yara has firmly anchored Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) in our business strategy and has more than 400 employees worldwide involved in D&I ambassadors networks.

As part of our recruitment process, where permitted by local law, we may conduct reference and background checks. These checks will only be performed when deemed necessary for the nature of the job. Candidates will be informed by HR before any background checks are initiated.