Principal Network Architect - Automation Ecosystem

At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This Position reports to:

Head of Engineering

What we believe in

ABB’s Process Automation business area enables customers to operate some of the world’s largest and most complex industrial infrastructures, helping them outrun – leaner and cleaner.

We offer a broad range of automation, electrification and digital solutions for process, hybrid and maritime industries, including industry-specific integrated control and software as well as measurement and analytics solutions and services.

Your role and responsibilities

In this role, you will be responsible for defining and evolving the networking architecture for ABB’s Distributed Control System (DCS) platform that leverages modern cloud native technologies such as containerization, Kubernetes based orchestration, and distributed software patterns.

You will act as the primary networking authority within R&D, ensuring that all networking related aspects of the platform are robust, secure, deterministic, and aligned with the specific operational and safety requirements of industrial automation environments. The role spans both IT style software defined networking and OT industrial networking across the entire communication stack.

The work model for the role is: Hybrid

You will be mainly accountable for:

• Define, maintain, and evolve the networking architecture for an on-premise DCS platform using cloud-native technologies, aligned with industrial constraints and the long-term Automation Extended vision.
• Lead networking design across Kubernetes-based platforms, including CNI configuration, service mesh, ingress/egress strategies, workload routing, distributed node connectivity (edge and central clusters), and integration with control layers, I/O subsystems, controllers, HMIs, and Historian systems.
• Design networking solutions that operate effectively on embedded and resource-constrained industrial devices, addressing compute, memory, real-time, deterministic communication, redundancy (TSN, PRP), high availability, segmentation, zoning, and OT security layers.
• Ensure compliance with industrial cybersecurity standards (IEC 62443, NIST) and internal security guidelines, embedding zero-trust principles and secure cluster operations into the networking architecture.
• Collaborate with system architects and Product Management to consolidate networking requirements across DCS subsystems, manage the architectural backlog, evaluate design options, and prioritize based on business value and product roadmap alignment.

Qualifications for the role:

• Master’s degree in computer science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, with 10+ years of experience in networking architecture, distributed systems, and platform engineering.
• Strong expertise in IT/OT networking technologies, including deep knowledge of industrial networking architectures such as DCS, SCADA, and PLC environments.
• Robust understanding of deterministic communication models, Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), redundancy protocols (PRP), and segmentation of industrial zones aligned with IEC 62443 practices.
• Solid grounding in OT/IT cybersecurity, including secure architecture design, industrial zoning, and application of industry security standards.
• Advanced knowledge of Linux internals, network optimization techniques, and diagnostic tooling for performance tuning and troubleshooting.
• Proficiency in container technologies (e.g., Docker, Podman), including container networking, security best practices, and experience with distributed and microservices-based architectures (REST, API gateway patterns, micro frontends).
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate complex networking concepts; prior experience in Industrial Automation or familiarity with ABB DCS platforms is a strong advantage, along with the opportunity to work on cutting-edge automation technologies in a collaborative and innovative environment with strong professional development support

More about us

ABB’s Automation business enables the operation of large and complex industrial infrastructures that deliver essential resources, from energy and materials to water and manufactured goods.

The business area offers a broad range of automation, electrification and digital solutions and services for process, hybrid and maritime industries, including industry-specific integrated control and software, machine automation technologies, as well as measurement and analytics solutions.

Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. We welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.

Ready to make an impact? Apply today or visit www.abb.com to learn more about the impact of our solutions across the globe.

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