Manufacturing IT Manager

Blue Chip Talent, in partnership with a manufacturing organization, is seeking a skilled Plant IT Manager. This role is responsible for leading plant-level IT operations, supporting manufacturing systems and infrastructure, and serving as the primary technology leader for a high-volume production environment. The ideal candidate combines hands-on technical expertise with leadership experience and thrives in fast-paced manufacturing operations where uptime and production support are critical.

Job Duties

• Lead all plant-level IT operations and serve as the primary technology escalation point for the facility
• Support manufacturing systems, infrastructure, networking, and end-user technologies across production and business environments
• Troubleshoot production-related technology issues and drive resolution to minimize operational downtime
• Partner closely with operations, maintenance, engineering, and corporate IT teams to support plant objectives
• Manage and develop a team of IT support professionals across multiple shifts
• Support manufacturing systems integrations, production data collection, and reporting processes
• Maintain plant infrastructure, including network, wireless, server, and endpoint technologies
• Participate in facility startup activities, production launches, and ongoing continuous improvement initiatives

Skills Required:

• 5+ years in a Plant IT Manager role
• Experience supporting IT operations within an automotive manufacturing environment
• Experience leading plant-level IT teams or technology operations
• Knowledge of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and shop-floor technology environments
• Experience in troubleshooting SQL-based manufacturing systems and production data issues
• Working knowledge of Active Directory, virtualization technologies, and enterprise networking
• Experience supporting wireless networks, end-user devices, and manufacturing hardware
• Ability to provide hands-on technical support in a production environment when required

Preferred:

• Tier 1 automotive supplier or OEM manufacturing experience
• Experience supporting build-to-sequence or build-to-broadcast manufacturing operations
• Exposure to Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
• Knowledge of Cisco networking and Cisco Meraki environments
• Experience supporting Zebra printers, barcode scanners, and mobile devices
• Familiarity with PLCs, industrial communication networks, and controls environments
• Experience supporting manufacturing system integrations between production equipment and business systems