Automation OT/IT Consultant

Automation, Digitalisation & OT/IT Consultant

Location: London – Hybrid (2 days onsite)
Sector: Life Sciences & Pharma | Chemicals | Energy
Salary: £75,000 - £125,000 + benefits

We are working with a specialist consultancy operating at the intersection of engineering, technology and management consulting. Due to continued growth, they are looking for a Senior Automation Digitalisation & OT/IT Consultant to help major industrial clients understand how digital technologies can transform their operations and capital projects.

This is not an Automation Engineering role. The ideal candidate will likely come from an automation, controls or systems background but will have developed into digitalisation, OT/IT integration, technology strategy or client advisory.

The Role

You will work directly with clients at the early stages of major capital projects, advising them on how OT, IT and emerging technologies can deliver measurable operational benefits.

You will:

• Advise clients on OT/IT integration, automation architecture and digitalisation strategies.
• Help clients understand how AI, machine learning, robotics, IIoT and advanced data platforms can improve industrial operations.
• Advise on OT cybersecurity, systems architecture and risk.
• Determine how OT systems can integrate with IT, MES, ERP, LIMS and cloud platforms.
• Assess and advise on data storage, contextualisation, historians and industrial data platforms.
• Translate complex technical concepts into clear business benefits and investment cases for senior stakeholders.
• Support the development of automation and systems architectures at a high level.
• Work across Life Sciences, Chemicals, Energy and Nuclear projects.
• Contribute to business development and help shape the consultancy's growing digitalisation offering.

About You

The hiring team is not looking for a traditional Automation Engineer focused primarily on programming, commissioning or detailed controls delivery.

Instead, you are likely to have an Automation, Controls, Systems or OT background and have progressed into a more strategic, technology-focused position.

You should have:

• Strong understanding of industrial automation and systems architecture.
• Proven experience with OT/IT integration and industrial digitalisation.
• Knowledge of PLC, DCS, SCADA and industrial communication technologies.
• Understanding of OT cybersecurity and industrial networks.
• Experience with industrial data platforms, historians or cloud technologies.
• An interest in AI, machine learning, robotics, IIoT and advanced manufacturing technologies.
• The ability to work directly with clients and demonstrate how digitalisation can positively impact their operations.
• Strong consulting, communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Experience within at least one highly regulated environment, ideally Life Sciences, Chemical, Energy or Nuclear.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to move beyond traditional automation delivery and become a trusted digitalisation and technology advisor to major industrial clients.

You'll be involved at the point where major investment decisions are being made, helping clients determine what their future OT/IT architecture should look like, which technologies are worth investing in and how digitalisation can create genuine operational value.