[Hiring] Senior MES Systems Administrator @BAE Systems

Role Description

We are seeking a Senior MES Systems Administrator to serve as the primary administrator for our Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES). This role's main responsibility is to work with our manufacturing customers and IT colleagues to ensure the operational stability, technical maintenance, and compliance of the MES platform. The successful candidate will ensure that the digital infrastructure supporting our shop floor remains highly available, secure, and compliant with defense industry standards. We are interested in candidates that have a strong background in IT and/or Manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Application Administration: Serve as the primary technical owner of the MES platform. Manage system configurations, user permissions, security roles, and the deployment of patches and updates to ensure optimal system performance.
• Issue Resolution: Act as the senior escalation point for all MES technical failures. Troubleshoot and resolve complex application errors, database connectivity issues, and integration failures to minimize impact on manufacturing throughput.
• Compliance Adherence: Ensure the MES environment adheres to all corporate IT policies and defense industry regulatory requirements. Maintain rigorous audit trails, manage version control, and ensure all system changes are documented and approved according to compliance frameworks.
• System Monitoring: Proactively monitor system logs and performance metrics to identify potential failures before they impact the shop floor.
• Technical Support: Provide expert-level support for manufacturing personnel, resolving software glitches and configuration errors in real-time.
• Virtual Server Management: Oversee the health and maintenance of the virtual servers hosting the MES. Monitor resource utilization (CPU, RAM, Disk), perform routine server restarts, manage backups, and coordinate with the infrastructure team for scaling and optimization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Systems Administration, or a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3–5 years of experience in application administration or systems management. Proven experience managing the lifecycle of enterprise software in a production environment.
• Hands-on experience managing virtual servers (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V), including basic server administration and resource monitoring.
• Direct experience working within a manufacturing environment (Defense or Aerospace preferred). Familiarity with the criticality of "zero-downtime" in a production setting.
• Strong knowledge of SQL for troubleshooting and data validation. Experience with server-side logs and diagnostic tools.

Requirements

• We will consider candidates that have a strong background in IT or a strong background in using MES systems in a manufacturing setting like a material planner.

Preferred Skills and Education

• Knowledge of defense industry compliance standards (e.g., AS9100, NIST, or CMMC).
• Relevant certifications in Server Administration (e.g., VCP) or IT Service Management (e.g., ITIL).
• Experience specifically in using or administering industry-standard MES platforms (e.g., Solumina, Siemens Opcenter, or Aegis FactoryLogix).

Company Description

BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us. As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.

Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Purpose isn't a tagline here. It's what drives us. We're developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet. When you join BAE Systems, you're not just building a career. You're contributing to a mission that truly matters.