Operational Technology - Automation Engineer

Pacific Steel, a wholly owned subsidiary of BlueScope, is New Zealand’s only manufacturer of wire rod, reinforcing bar and coil products. You may know us for our flagship SEISMIC® brand or WIREMARK® branded fencing wire, trusted by New Zealand’s fencing industry for over 50 years.

8-Hour Days | Permanent | Heavy Industrial Environment

We’re looking for an experienced Operational Technology - Automation Engineer to support and strengthen our plant’s industrial control systems. In this role, you’ll work at the intersection of Operations and IT, ensuring our automation platforms are reliable, secure, and optimised for performance across a complex steel manufacturing environment.

As part of our engineering team, you will design, implement, and maintain critical OT systems—including HMI, SCADA, PLCs, industrial networks, and data systems—while driving continuous improvement in reliability, safety, and efficiency.

What You’ll Be Doing

System Design & Implementation

• Develop and deploy OT solutions including network architecture, control systems (HMI, TWS, OWS), and PLCs (Siemens)
• Integrate IoT devices and manage industrial protocols such as Modbus, Profibus, OPC UA, and Ethernet/IP
• Ensure seamless integration between legacy platforms and modern technologies

Cybersecurity

• Apply corporate cybersecurity policies across OT environments
• Industrial networks comply with security directives
• Contribute to secure architecture planning and risk mitigation activities

Maintenance & Support

• Maintain OT system uptime and reliability
• Troubleshoot automation and network issues, including after-hours support where required
• Lead incident response and root-cause analysis for OT-related failures

IT/OT Integration

• Bridge IT and OT environments to ensure smooth data flow and interoperability
• Support shared infrastructure and standards to maintain system consistency and compliance

Performance Improvement

• Analyse system performance, identify bottlenecks, and recommend technical upgrades
• Enhance reliability, availability, and cost-effectiveness through continuous improvement initiatives

Project Management

• Lead automation and network components of capital projects
• Manage system migrations, upgrades, and change control for new installations or modifications

   

   

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Automation Engineering
• 5+ years’ experience in OT/automation or systems integrator within heavy industry or steel manufacturing
• Solid experience with:
  • Control systems (HMI, IFIX, TWS, OWS)
  • PLCs (Siemens)
  • IoT devices
  • Industrial protocols (Modbus, Profibus, OPC UA, Ethernet/IP)
  • Data Historians
• Strong understanding of network engineering, including TCP/IP, industrial networks, and firewalls
• Knowledge of cybersecurity principles in OT environments
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ability to collaborate with IT, engineering, and operations teams
• Well‑developed communication and influencing skills
• A hands‑on approach with the ability to prioritise, troubleshoot, and resolve complex technical issues

   

   

What Will Set You Apart

Your technical expertise, your ability to work across multiple disciplines, and your talent for communicating complex issues clearly will make you a key contributor to our plant’s reliability and operational performance.