Senior MES Engineer / Solutions Architect

Senior MES Engineer / Solutions Architect Role Overview We are seeking an experienced and customer-facing Senior MES Engineer / Solutions Architect with 8+ years of hands-on expertise in Manufacturing Execution Systems to join our team. This is a hybrid role that combines deep technical leadership with significant pre-sales engagement: you will design end-to-end MES architectures for our industrial clients while playing a key role in shaping winning proposals, leading workshops, and acting as the trusted technical advisor during the sales cycle. The ideal candidate has delivered MES projects across discrete, batch, or process industries, is comfortable conversing with C-level stakeholders and shop-floor engineers alike, and thrives at the intersection of business strategy, technology, and customer engagement. Strong knowledge of leading MES platforms, ISA-95, and Industry 4.0 reference architectures is essential. Key Responsibilities Lead the design of end-to-end MES and Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) solution architectures, including integration with ERP, PLC/SCADA, historians, LIMS, and emerging Unified Namespace / IIoT platforms. Act as the lead technical contributor in pre-sales activities: discovery workshops, requirement gathering, solution shaping, demos, proofs-of-concept, and proposal writing. Translate customer business needs into compelling, well-scoped, and competitively priced technical solutions, working closely with sales, delivery, and partner teams. Respond to RFI/RFP documents, prepare effort estimates, define delivery roadmaps, and validate commercial assumptions. Present solution architectures and value propositions to senior client stakeholders, both technical and executive. Provide architectural governance during project delivery, ensuring that solutions are implemented in line with the design and adapt cleanly to evolving requirements. Build and maintain reference architectures, accelerators, and reusable assets that strengthen our MES practice and shorten time-to-proposal. Maintain deep expertise in leading MES platforms (e.g., Siemens Opcenter, TrakSYS, Rockwell FactoryTalk PharmaSuite/ProductionCentre, AVEVA MES, Werum PAS-X, Apriso, Critical Manufacturing, Tulip) and partner ecosystems. Mentor junior MES engineers and consultants, sharing knowledge through coaching, internal training, and design reviews. Stay current with industry trends — ISA-95/88, B2MML, OPC UA, Industry 4.0, Smart Manufacturing, UNS, cloud-native MES, AI in operations — and translate them into client-relevant value propositions. Required Skills & Experience A background in Industrial / Automation / Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. 8+ years of experience designing, implementing, and deploying MES/MOM solutions in real industrial environments (pharma, chemical, food & beverage, automotive, semiconductor, or similar). Demonstrated track record as a Solutions Architect on at least 2–3 full-lifecycle MES programs, with end-to-end responsibility for the technical design. Significant prior experience in pre-sales or technical consulting roles: leading workshops, scoping engagements, building proposals, and presenting to customers. Hands-on expertise with at least one major MES platform (Siemens Opcenter, Rockwell, AVEVA, Werum PAS-X, Apriso, GE Proficy, Critical Manufacturing, Tulip, iBASEt, or comparable). Strong working knowledge of ISA-95, ISA-88 (batch), B2MML, and MES integration patterns with SAP (PP/PI/QM) and OT layers. Solid understanding of industrial protocols and integration mechanisms: OPC UA, MQTT, REST/SOAP APIs, message brokers, Unified Namespace concepts. Experience designing solutions across on-prem, hybrid, and cloud-native deployment models (Azure, AWS, or GCP). Familiarity with adjacent technologies: historians (Aspen IP.21, OSIsoft PI, Canary), SCADA/HMI (Ignition, WinCC, FactoryTalk), LIMS, and analytics platforms. Comfort articulating commercial implications: effort estimation, TCO, licensing models, and delivery risk. Key Skills Deep architectural thinking with the ability to balance technical excellence, business value, and delivery feasibility. Strong customer-facing communication and presentation skills, with the gravitas to engage at executive level. Excellent commercial acumen and the ability to translate technical decisions into business outcomes. Skilled at facilitating workshops and synthesizing complex client requirements into a clear solution narrative. Proven leadership in shaping winning proposals and influencing buying decisions. Ability to operate independently across multiple parallel opportunities while maintaining quality and pace. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a structured approach to ambiguity. Excellent written communication for proposals, statements of work, and architecture documentation. Additional Considerations Prior experience in regulated industries (pharma GxP, food safety) is a strong advantage. Experience working in a consultancy, systems integrator, or vendor pre-sales environment is highly valued. Familiarity with Industry 4.0, IIoT, AI/ML in manufacturing, and emerging UNS-based architectures will set strong candidates apart. Willingness to travel periodically to client sites across the region. Dutch written and spoken is required. This is an outstanding opportunity for a senior MES professional to combine deep technical leadership with a high-impact pre-sales role, shaping the digital transformation journeys of leading industrial clients. If you are energized by solving complex manufacturing challenges, designing elegant architectures, and winning the trust of customers from the very first conversation, we would love to hear from you. Join AG Solution Where Talent Shapes Industry 4.0 At AG Solution, we build intelligent solutions for the process industry, combining automation, process control, data management, and MES/MOM systems to help manufacturers reach operational excellence. Now part of the Saphir Group, we are one of Europe’s leading Industry 4.0 partners , with more than 400 engineers and consultants working across Europe, the UK, and the US. Driven by People. Powered by Technology. Our success starts with our people . We invest in growth through continuous learning, mentorship, and our AG Academy, ensuring every colleague has the opportunity to develop their skills and career. AG Solution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that innovation happens when people feel trusted, connected, and inspired. A Global Team with a Human Touch With offices in over 15 cities worldwide , we bring together diverse expertise and perspectives — from Antwerp to Barcelona, Rotterdam to Lyon, and New York to Krakow. At AG Solution, you’ll work on meaningful projects that drive efficiency, sustainability, and digital transformation for leading manufacturers worldwide. Built to Scale. Driven by Talent. Ready to shape the future of industry? Explore our opportunities and grow with a team that’s redefining what’s possible. #LI-CR1 Division AG SOLUTION Department Development and Integration / Consulting & Business Transformation Locations Antwerp Remote status Hybrid Employment level Executive/Senior Level Contract Type Contract of Employment, Full-time