Functional Architect

Nextlink is seeking an experienced   Functional Architect / Critical Manufacturing (CM) MES Expert   to lead the end-to-end design, architecture, and deployment of   Critical Manufacturing MES   solutions for Industry 4.0 initiatives across global manufacturing sites. The role focuses on translating business and manufacturing requirements into scalable MES solutions that improve production efficiency, quality, traceability, and operational excellence in high-tech manufacturing environments such as semiconductors, electronics, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and industrial equipment.

Key Responsibilities

Solution Architecture &  MES Design

• Lead the end-to-end architecture, functional design, and   implementation of Critical   Manufacturing MES solutions.
  
• Define scalable MES   solution   architectures aligned with   Industry 4.0 and   smart manufacturing strategies.
  
• Design and configure   MES functionalities including:
  • Production Management
    
  • Dispatching
    
  • Genealogy & Traceability
    
  • Quality Management
    
  • WIP Tracking
    
  • Resource Management
    
  • Maintenance Integration
    
  • Electronic Work Instructions  (EWI)
    
• Develop functional workflows, use cases, business   process flows, and   solution blueprints.
  

Business Analysis &  Functional   Consulting

• Conduct discovery workshops   to understand customer   manufacturing processes   and business objectives.
  
• Gather, analyze, and   document   business and functional   requirements.
  
• Translate customer requirements   into configurable and   scalable MES solutions.
  
• Recommend MES   modeling approaches and   best practices   for complex   production environments.
  

Enterprise Integration

• Define integration architecture   between Critical Manufacturing   MES and enterprise   systems including:
  • ERP
    
  • PLM
    
  • SCADA
    
  • Historians
    
  • Automation & Equipment Interfaces
    
  • Enterprise Data Platforms
    
• Ensure seamless interoperability   between shop-floor   systems and enterprise   applications.
  

Project Delivery

• Lead solution validation, User Acceptance Testing  (UAT), go-live   planning, deployment, and hypercare support.
  
• Support multi-site   MES template development   and global rollout   programs.
  
• Work closely with   Project Managers to   ensure successful project   delivery within scope, timeline, and budget.
  
• Collaborate with Product   and Development teams   to resolve functional   and product-related   issues.
  

Documentation & Testing

• Prepare and maintain:
  • Functional Specifications
    
  • Business Requirement Documents (BRD)
    
  • Functional Requirement Specifications  (FRS)
    
  • Solution Design Documents
    
  • Test Cases
    
  • Process Flows
    
  • Deployment Documentation
    
• Execute functional testing   in Test and   Stage environments   and   support defect resolution.
  

Stakeholder Engagement &  Leadership

• Collaborate with manufacturing, engineering, quality,   IT, and business   stakeholders.
  
• Lead customer   workshops and solution   presentations.
  
• Provide functional leadership, mentoring, governance,   and best practices   across project teams.
  
• Support pre-sales   activities including solution   demonstrations, effort   estimation,   and proposal   preparation.
  
• Deliver end-user   training and promote   successful system adoption.
  

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's   degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Information   Technology, Computer Science, or a related   field.
  
• Minimum  8 years of   MES implementation experience , including  4+ years working   with Critical Manufacturing   MES .
  
• Strong expertise   in manufacturing operations   and shop-floor   processes.
  
• Proven experience in   MES functional consulting, solution architecture,   and enterprise integration.
  
• Hands-on experience   leading global MES   implementations and multi-site deployments.
  

Required Technical Expertise

Strong knowledge of:

• Critical Manufacturing MES
  
• Manufacturing Execution   Systems (MES)
  
• ISA-95 Standards
  
• Production Management
  
• Genealogy & Traceability
  
• Quality Management
  
• Non-Conformance Management  (NCM)
  
• Scheduling & Dispatching
  
• Master Data Management  (MDM)
  
• ERP Integration
  
• Industry 4.0 and   Smart Manufacturing
  
• Factory Automation & Shop   Floor Integration
  

Experience within semiconductor, electronics, medical device, pharmaceutical, or discrete   manufacturing industries   is highly preferred.

Required   Skills

• Excellent functional analysis   and solution design   skills
  
• Strong stakeholder and   customer management abilities
  
• Experience   facilitating workshops   and requirement gathering   sessions
  
• Strong analytical and   problem-solving skills
  
• Excellent verbal and   written communication skills
  
• Ability to lead   cross-functional and   global teams
  
• Experience   working in   customer-facing consulting   environments.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Critical Manufacturing MES   certifications
  
• Experience with enterprise   integration   architecture
  
• Knowledge of AI-enabled manufacturing and   advanced analytics
  
• Experience supporting pre-sales and solution   estimation activities
  
• Exposure to global   delivery models and   template-based MES   rollouts