Digital Factory Technologist

Who we are:

Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) is a leading Research and Technology Organisation providing a portfolio of operations research, training, and consultancy services to Industry across the following four thematic pillars: Digitisation, Sustainable Manufacturing, Design for Manufacturing, and Robotics and Automation. As a leading manufacturing Research & Technology Organisation (RTO) with labs and industrial pilot lines in Dublin and Mullingar, IMR works with leading global and indigenous brands to demystify and derisk new and emerging technologies and to deliver high-impact collaborative research and services to enable advanced manufacturing for a broad range of clients across Ireland’s manufacturing network.

What IMR offers:

• An opportunity to contribute to the national economic growth agenda
• A competitive salary and pension
• A friendly and flexible working environment with State-of-the-art Innovation Centres
• Lots of diversity in terms of people, technology, projects and ideas
• The opportunity to join a dynamic and committed team
• Interaction with a diverse range of industrial clients and state partners
• 5 weeks holidays

About PEACEPLUS DATUM programme

As part of the PECEPLUS Programme, Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) is helping to lead a joint EU and UK digitalisation initiative across Northern Ireland and the border counties. As a Digital Innovation Hub, IMR act as a one-stop-shop for Industry to access technology, R&D capability, knowledge, funding supports and services from across the research ecosystem in Ireland and Europe. Our primary objective is to work with Irish industrial partners to introduce new technology to them that will improve their competitiveness on a global stage and futureproof employment security in this critical sector for our national economy.​

The Role:

Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) is seeking a Digital Factory Technologist on a 23-month contract to join the Digitalisation team as part of the PEACEPLUS DATUM service delivery team. The successful candidate will contribute to the delivery and development of IMR’s Digital Factory capability. The role combines hands-on engineering and systems integration across the manufacturing IT/OT stack with participation in client and applied research projects. Alongside delivering assigned technical work, the Technologist will support project planning and coordination, contribute technical input to DATUM opportunities and proposals, and feed learning from client work into IMR’s research and technology roadmap, demonstrators and reusable capabilities.

The role reports to the Digital Factory Programme Manager and works closely with the Digital Factory Systems Architect and other specialists. The Programme Manager oversees programme and project delivery; the Systems Architect provides technical direction and leads architecture and roadmap decisions. The Technologist takes ownership of projects and defined work packages, contributes to client discussions and helps turn IMR’s technical capabilities into validated solutions and future opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver defined technical work packages: Design, configure, integrate and test digital factory solutions across the ISA-95 stack, from sensors, PLCs and SCADA to manufacturing systems, edge and cloud platforms.
• Develop integrations and applications: Build APIs, middleware and data pipelines; use appropriate programming tools for data processing, dashboards and operator-facing applications; apply version control and collaborative development practices.
• Support deployment and validation: Configure and troubleshoot industrial networks and protocols, support commissioning and testing in IMR and client environments, document results, and follow OT cybersecurity and safety practices. Escalate architecture and security decisions to the Systems Architect.
• Contribute to DATUM client engagements: Support discovery, site assessments and readiness activities, translating manufacturing needs into feasible technical options, work plans and demonstrable outcomes.
• Support project planning and delivery: Work with the Programme Manager and project teams to estimate and plan assigned work, track deliverables and dependencies, communicate progress and risks, and deliver to agreed scope, schedule and quality.
• Contribute to the opportunity pipeline: Identify technical opportunities arising from DATUM engagements and support scoping, effort estimates and technical input to proposals or funding applications, in line with programme requirements and agreed funding arrangements.
• Contribute to IMR’s research and technology roadmap: Bring evidence from client work and project outcomes, identify relevant manufacturing needs and emerging technologies, and suggest research priorities, demonstrators and reusable capabilities with the Systems Architect.
• Document and share learning: Maintain clear technical documentation and reusable methods, and collaborate across automation, software, data and manufacturing disciplines.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Electronic, Computer, Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering, Computer science, Automation, or a related discipline. (Master’s degree desirable).
• 5+ years’ relevant hands-on experience in industrial automation, manufacturing systems, software development or IT/OT integration.
• Experience with an industrial control or manufacturing systems environment, such as PLCs, SCADA/HMI, MES, historians, IIoT platforms or production equipment, and working knowledge of industrial protocols such as OPC UA, MQTT, Modbus, Profinet or EtherNet/IP.
• Practical ability in a programming or scripting language such as Python or JavaScript, and experience with APIs, data integration workflows or structured manufacturing data.
• Familiarity with relational or time-series databases, software version control and collaborative development practices, preferably using Git.
• Ability to investigate technical problems, test solutions systematically and document work clearly.
• Good communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to deliver assigned work with appropriate guidance and raise risks or seek technical input when needed.
• Experience with platforms such as Ignition, Kepware, Siemens, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Codesys, AWS IoT or Azure IoT, and with Docker or other container technologies, desirable.
• Familiarity with ISA-95, ISA-88, the Purdue model, industrial cybersecurity principles, machinery safety or databases such as PostgreSQL and InfluxDB, desirable.
• Experience in a client-facing, consulting, applied research or manufacturing innovation environment, desirable.
• Awareness of digital twin, simulation, robotics or mobile automation technologies, desirable.

Location:

Candidates will be required to be resident in Ireland. IMR offices are situated in Rathcoole, Co. Dublin and Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. This role will be based in our Mullingar office. We offer a hybrid working model with onsite presence in the office required at least one day per week. Travel between offices and client sites will be required from time to time.

Salary & Benefits:  

This position will command a package consisting of basic salary (€67,214 - €81,760 depending on qualifications and experience), employer pension contribution and 5 weeks holidays.

Closing Date:

All applicants must include an up-to-date version of their CV with their application. Electronic applicants only via LinkedIn or to careers@imr.ie

Closing date for receipt of all applications is noon Monday, 16th November. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive sufficient applications. Early application is encouraged.

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 23rd November.

IMR is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We actively promote equity and equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities. We do not discriminate based on age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. We strive to ensure our recruitment processes are fair, accessible, and free from bias.