BTS Operations M&A Architect

Responsibilities

• Lead technical visioning and architecture for IT/OT systems supporting plant acquisitions, separations, new construction, and expansions, including transition-state and target-state architectures.
• Define Day-1 / Day-30 / Day-100 technology readiness plans, cutover approach, and stabilization ("hypercare") architecture for acquired/expanded sites.
• Produce and maintain a repeatable Site Integration Playbook (reference architectures, approved patterns, checklists, standard bills of material, and evidence templates).
• Own the IT due diligence architecture assessment for target sites: current state inventories (apps/integration/data/infrastructure), IT/OT connectivity, vendor dependencies, obsolescence/EOL, licensing/contracts, support model, and integration complexity.
• Assess cybersecurity posture and third-party risk in coordination with InfoSec, including segmentation, remote access, endpoint posture, asset discovery, identity onboarding, and remediation planning.
• Develop integration options and recommendations (e.g., retain vs. standardize vs. replace) using agreed criteria (risk, compliance, speed, cost, sustainability, architectural fit).
• Ensure architectures align to AbbVie standards for security, data privacy, GxP/CSV expectations, and technology governance, with audit-ready traceability.
• Drive architecture decisioning through governance forums (e.g., ARB or equivalent): maintain architecture decision logs/records, exception/risk acceptance documentation, and standards conformance evidence.
• Identify and proactively manage cross-site risks (schedule, cyber, validation, operational readiness), escalating tradeoffs and decisions early.
• Architect manufacturing technology stacks spanning MES, SCADA/automation interfaces, historians, plant connectivity, ERP integrations, and core infrastructure platforms.
• Define integration patterns and interface inventories: data flows, API/event/file interfaces where applicable, master data alignment, and operational reporting.
• Establish site connectivity and operating model requirements: monitoring, backup/recovery, patching, incident response, and support handoffs.
• Partner with BTS Ops program/project managers and implementation teams to guide execution and ensure delivered solutions match architecture intent, quality, compliance, and operational supportability.
• Lead cross-functional workshops with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Procurement, and key vendors to align requirements, validate designs, and resolve tradeoffs.
• Mentor solution architects & project technical leads; set expectation and raise architectural maturity across site deployment teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with 7 years of experience, Master's Degree with 6 years, or PhD with 2 years in IT systems architecture or a related applied discipline; manufacturing or pharmaceutical industry experience strongly preferred.
• Strong background in manufacturing IT, including understanding of plant floor systems, enterprise integrations, and regulatory compliance (GxP, FDA, etc.).
• Proven experience leading IT projects for new site builds, plant expansions, or acquisition integrations.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to assess risk, think strategically, and deliver high-quality solutions in dynamic environments.
• Experience with relevant technology platforms (MES, ERP, Automation/SCADA, network infrastructure, etc.).
• Strong analytic, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Knowledge of applicable corporate and divisional policies and project management methodologies.