We’re a great Australian success story, having rapidly grown to become a major player in the global lithium market. Our Pilgangoora Operation is one of the largest, hard-rock lithium operations in the world.
THE OPPORTUNITY: Reporting to the Technology Infrastructure Lead with a functional reporting line to the Process Control Superintendent, the Senior OT & Processing System Engineer is a technical authority responsible for the strategic design, implementation, and optimization of PLS's operational technology infrastructure supporting critical plant processing operations.
This mid to senior level position requires a proven expertise to architect resilient OT systems, lead complex technical initiatives, and provide strategic guidance ensuring the reliability, security, and performance of mission‑critical processing infrastructure. The role requires hands‑on technical expertise combined with strategic planning, vendor management, and cross‑functional leadership.
The Senior OT & Processing System Engineer serves as the primary technical expert for all OT processing systems, driving innovation, establishing best practices, and ensuring operational excellence across the entire technology stack supporting plant operations.
THIS is a permanent full‑time role based at our West Perth office, near the City West train station.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Lead the strategic planning and architecture of OT infrastructure roadmaps, ensuring alignment with business objectives and operational requirements
Design and implement enterprise‑level solutions for OT servers, storage, networking, and virtualization platforms supporting critical plant processing systems
Drive infrastructure modernization initiatives, evaluating emerging technologies and recommending strategic investments to enhance operational capability
Architect high‑availability and disaster recovery solutions tailored to the unique requirements of OT processing environments
Establish infrastructure standards, design patterns, and technical frameworks that ensure consistency, scalability, and maintainability
Lead capacity planning and performance optimization initiatives across the entire OT infrastructure stack
Oversee the full lifecycle management of OT infrastructure, from strategic planning through decommissioning
Advanced System Administration & Technical Expertise
Design and implement complex Active Directory architectures, Group Policy frameworks, and security controls specific to OT environments
Develop automation solutions and scripts to improve operational efficiency and reduce manual intervention
Conduct advanced troubleshooting and root cause analysis of technical issues across the OT infrastructure
Establish proactive monitoring and performance baselines for early detection of potential issues
MES & Processing Systems
Collaborate strategically with the Process Control Superintendent to align technology solutions with operational requirements
Manage system access frameworks including vendor and contractor remote access to critical infrastructure and systems with effective security controls
Support data provisioning and integration requirements for business intelligence and analytics
Cybersecurity Leadership
Implement comprehensive cybersecurity for OT processing environments in collaboration with the Cybersecurity Lead
Deploy and manage advanced security tools in OT environment
Establish security hardening standards and conduct regular security assessments of OT systems
Lead incident response activities for OT security events and coordinate remediation efforts
Ensure compliance with PLS cybersecurity frameworks and industry best practices
Business Continuity & Resilience
Design and operate backups and disaster recovery solutions for critical OT processing systems
Develop comprehensive recovery procedures and runbooks for various failure scenarios
Conduct regular disaster recovery testing of critical systems
Establish Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) aligned with business requirements
Lead system restoration activities during outages, ensuring minimal disruption to operations
Implement high availability architectures for business‑critical systems
Governance, Documentation & Compliance
Develop and maintain technical documentation including system architectures, configurations, and standard operating procedures
Establish configuration management processes and ensure accurate asset inventory
Ensure software licensing compliance and lead vendor license optimization initiatives
Develop technical standards and policies governing OT infrastructure management
Conduct internal audits to ensure compliance to standards and regulatory requirements
Evaluate vendor solutions and provide technical recommendations for procurement decisions
Negotiate technical aspects of contracts and service level agreements related to OT infrastructure
Coordinate with vendors on technical issues, upgrades, and strategic initiatives
Represent the technology team in cross‑functional meetings related to OT infrastructure
Identify opportunities for automation, optimization, and modernization of OT infrastructure
Research emerging technologies and industry trends relevant to OT environments
Lead proof‑of‑concept initiatives for new technologies and approaches
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve system performance, reliability, and security
Champion innovation while maintaining stability and minimizing operational risk
ABOUT YOU:
Tertiary qualification in Information Technology, Information Systems, Computer Science, or Engineering with up‑to‑date industry certifications
Microsoft Certifications Engineer or higher
VMware Certified Professional (VCP) or higher
WA Driver’s License
Minimum 7‑10 years of progressively responsible experience in OT/IT infrastructure roles, with at least 3‑5 years in senior technical positions
Demonstrated expertise in maintaining complex infrastructure in industrial or plant processing environments
Advanced knowledge of the Microsoft technology stack including Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, and PowerShell automation
Proven experience managing VMware vSphere environments at enterprise scale
Deep understanding of OT networking principles, industrial protocols, and network segmentation strategies
Experience with Rockwell Thin Manager or equivalent systems
Experience with Claroty SRA or similar
Advanced experience with Dell enterprise server infrastructure and storage systems
Proven ability to lead complex technical projects
Exceptional communication skills with ability to present technical information to both technical and non‑technical audiences
Demonstrated problem‑solving abilities and analytical thinking for complex technical challenges
Experience developing and maintaining technical documentation and standards
WHAT WE OFFER
Novated leasing through salary sacrifice
Access to the Company’s KidsCo holiday program
Paid Community Leave
WHAT WE STAND FOR
Safety First
Outstanding People
We Deliver
One Team
Shaping Tomorrow
PROMOTING DIVERSITY PLS recognises that talented people come from diverse backgrounds, who can contribute to our successes in different ways. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly recommend women and Australian indigenous people to apply.
OUR RECRUITMENT PROCESS As part of our recruitment process, we require proof of eligibility to work in Australia, reference checks, a pre‑employment medical, drug and alcohol screen and a National Police Clearance.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY PLS respectfully acknowledges the Nyamal and Kariyarra People of the Pilbara, and the Whadjuk Noongar People of the Perth region who are the traditional owners and first people of these lands. We would like to pay respect to the Elders past, present and emerging for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of the Nyamal, Kariyarra and Whadjuk Noongar Peoples.
If you are interested in learning more about PLS or registering for future opportunities, please visit our website www.pls.com.
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