Plant Automation Smart Factory MES & IoT

Job Purpose

The role includes Plant Automation, Smart Factory, MES & IoT will drive the digitization of Vikram Solar's shop-floor operations, leading the deployment and adoption of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), IoT-enabled equipment connectivity, and smart factory / Industry 4.0 initiatives across the Company's plants. Working as an individual contributor within the Process & Digitization vertical of Corporate Strategy, the role partners closely with plant Manufacturing, Engineering, IT & Digital and Quality teams to translate the Company's digitization roadmap into real-time production visibility, tighter process control and measurable productivity gains on the shop floor.

Role & responsibilities

• Lead the rollout and continuous enhancement of the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) across Falta, Chennai and Gangaikondan, ensuring real-time capture of production, quality and downtime data at each stage of the module/cell line.
• Define and drive the smart factory / Industry 4.0 roadmap in partnership with plant Manufacturing and Engineering covering IoT sensorization of critical equipment, machine connectivity (OT-IT integration), and real-time production dashboards.
• Own the process automation agenda on the shop floor identifying opportunities for automated data capture, andon/alerting systems, and reduction of manual, paper-based process steps.
• Work with plant teams to define OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), yield and downtime tracking standards, and ensure MES/IoT systems deliver reliable, single-source-of-truth data for these metrics.
• Partner with IT & Digital on the technical architecture, integration and cybersecurity considerations for OT (operational technology) systems, MES and IoT platforms, ensuring alignment with enterprise IT standards.
• Drive change management and user adoption of MES and digital shop-floor tools among plant operators, supervisors and engineers, including training and standard operating procedures.
• Evaluate and pilot emerging smart manufacturing technologies (predictive maintenance, machine vision for quality inspection, digital twin) relevant to solar cell/module manufacturing, in collaboration with Engineering and R&D.
• Track implementation progress, adoption metrics and realized benefits (productivity, quality, downtime reduction) of automation and digitization initiatives, and report status to the GM Process & Digitization.
• Benchmark Vikram Solar's smart factory maturity against leading global solar and electronics manufacturers, identifying priority gaps to close.
• Support new plant/line commissioning by ensuring MES, automation and IoT infrastructure are planned and deployed as part of the project timeline from day one.

Preferred candidate profile

Educational Qualification

• B.Tech/B.E. in Instrumentation, Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical or Computer Science/IT; an MBA or relevant certification in Industry 4.0/Smart Manufacturing is an added advantage.

Experience

• 1015 years of experience in manufacturing automation, MES implementation, plant digitization or Industry 4.0 roles, ideally in a discrete or process manufacturing environment (solar, electronics, automotive).
• Hands-on experience implementing or scaling an MES platform and IoT-based shop-floor connectivity in a multi-plant setup.
• Experience working at the intersection of OT (operational technology) and IT systems is strongly preferred.

Skills

• Strong working knowledge of MES platforms, industrial IoT architecture and shop-floor automation concepts.
• Ability to translate plant-floor problems into digitization/automation solutions, and to work hands-on with plant Manufacturing and Engineering teams.
• Good understanding of OT-IT integration, data security and industrial network considerations, partnering effectively with IT & Digital.
• Strong project management and change management skills to drive adoption among shop-floor users.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to translate production data into clear productivity and quality insights for leadership.