Manufacturing Intelligence (MI) Solutions Specialist I

DIS-TRAN Steel is looking to add an MI Solutions specialist I to the team at our location in Ruston, LA.

The MI Solutions Specialist I supports the design, development, testing, deployment, and adoption of Manufacturing Intelligence (MI) solutions that improve operational visibility, performance, and decision-making.

This hands-on role translates defined business and functional requirements into working system components under the guidance of senior specialists and architects. The MI Solutions Specialist I assists with configuring applications, developing integrations, building dashboards and reports, testing solutions, and supporting successful deployment and adoption.

What You’ll Do:

Business Partnership

• Participate in discovery meetings, workshops, plant walkthroughs, operational assessments, and project discussions.
• Gather and document operational, technical, and business information.
• Assist with documenting current-state manufacturing processes, workflows, system interactions, and business requirements.
• Support the development of process maps, workflow diagrams, functional documentation, and project materials.
• Communicate professionally with business stakeholders, plant personnel, technical teams, and project team members.
• Support user-acceptance testing, stakeholder feedback, solution training, and implementation activities.

Solution Delivery

• Assist with configuring MI applications, operator interfaces, dashboards, reporting tools, and data-collection solutions.
• Translate approved requirements and technical designs into working system components under appropriate guidance.
• Prepare and maintain implementation documentation, configuration records, testing materials, and user-support information.
• Participate in system deployment, commissioning, upgrades, maintenance, and optimization activities.
• Follow approved architecture, cybersecurity, quality, documentation, and deployment standards.

Technical Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain software components according to defined requirements and technical designs.
• Assist with developing SQL queries, stored procedures, reports, scripts, and data integrations.
• Support integrations involving ERP systems, historians, PLCs, SCADA platforms, MES applications, databases, and industrial devices.
• Assist with troubleshooting system integrations, deployments, configurations, data issues, and application performance.
• Develop foundational knowledge of manufacturing operations, industrial systems, databases, and MI technologies.

Testing and Continuous Improvement

• Execute unit, integration, regression, and user-acceptance testing.
• Document defects, test results, corrective actions, and final outcomes.
• Use source control, CI/CD pipelines, and established coding and documentation standards.
• Participate in peer reviews, project retrospectives, lessons-learned sessions, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Support the maintenance of process maps, technical records, project documentation, and team knowledge resources.
• Contribute to collaborative problem-solving and knowledge sharing.

Leadership and Development

• Work under the guidance of senior specialists and architects.
• Seek guidance appropriately and communicate project risks, issues, and status to senior team members.
• Demonstrate learning agility, accountability, attention to quality, and professional communication.
• Continue developing technical, manufacturing, analytical, and customer-service skills.
• Organize assigned work and meet established project expectations.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, information technology, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Approximately zero to three years of relevant experience in Manufacturing Intelligence, SCADA, MES, software development, data systems, or a related area.
• Exposure to SQL, scripting, databases, dashboards, or reporting tools.
• Foundational understanding of SQL, databases, and basic data structures.
• Basic understanding of industrial systems, including PLCs, SCADA platforms, and Manufacturing Execution Systems.
• Ability to configure and support MI applications under appropriate guidance.
• Ability to follow approved functional requirements, technical designs, procedures, and standards.
• Ability to execute and document unit, integration, regression, and user-acceptance testing.
• Developing ability to troubleshoot integrations, deployments, system configurations, and data issues.
• Developing ability to create process maps, workflow diagrams, technical documentation, and project records.
• Strong learning agility, analytical thinking, attention to detail, and communication skills.
• Ability to communicate professionally with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and contribute to team efforts.
• Exposure to an industrial or manufacturing environment is preferred.

Preferred Technology Experience

• Ignition
• Microsoft SQL Server
• PostgreSQL
• Python
• JavaScript
• Java
• Microsoft Azure
• GitHub
• Docker
• REST APIs
• OPC UA
• MQTT
• Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
• SCADA platforms
• Microsoft Office Suite

COMPETENCIES:

· Customer Focus

· Decision Quality

· Business Insight

· Drives Results

· Collaborates

· Communicates Effectively

· Courage

· Instills Trust

· Manages Ambiguity

· Strategic Mindset

· Ensures Accountability

· Develops Talent

· Builds Effective Teams

· Drives Vision and Purpose

· Process Development & Improvement

Why Join DIS-TRAN Steel?

This is an opportunity to lead a critical function in a manufacturing environment where accuracy, process improvement, operational discipline, and strong decision-making make a measurable difference. You will have the opportunity to strengthen systems, improve material flow, develop supplier performance, support production success, and help build scalable supply chain infrastructure for continued growth.