Manufacturing Intelligence (MI) Solutions Specialist I

Come join our team at DIS-TRAN Steel!

Our people – not our machinery - are our biggest assets. DIS-TRAN Steel’s leadership team lives by our company values, modeling our culture of respect and integrity each day. We're a team that likes to have fun, but we also know how to get stuff done.

DIS-TRAN Steel is looking to add an MI Solutions specialist I to the team at our location in Ruston, LA.

The MI Solutions Specialist I supports the design, development, testing, deployment, and adoption of Manufacturing Intelligence (MI) solutions that improve operational visibility, performance, and decision-making.

This hands-on role translates defined business and functional requirements into working system components under the guidance of senior specialists and architects. The MI Solutions Specialist I assists with configuring applications, developing integrations, building dashboards and reports, testing solutions, and supporting successful deployment and adoption.

What You’ll Do

Business Partnership

• Participate in discovery meetings, workshops, plant walkthroughs, operational assessments, and project discussions.
• Gather and document operational, technical, and business information.
• Assist with documenting current-state manufacturing processes, workflows, system interactions, and business requirements.
• Support the development of process maps, workflow diagrams, functional documentation, and project materials.
• Communicate professionally with business stakeholders, plant personnel, technical teams, and project team members.
• Support user-acceptance testing, stakeholder feedback, solution training, and implementation activities.
• Solution Delivery
• Assist with configuring MI applications, operator interfaces, dashboards, reporting tools, and data-collection solutions.
• Translate approved requirements and technical designs into working system components under appropriate guidance.
• Prepare and maintain implementation documentation, configuration records, testing materials, and user-support information.
• Participate in system deployment, commissioning, upgrades, maintenance, and optimization activities.
• Follow approved architecture, cybersecurity, quality, documentation, and deployment standards.
• Technical Responsibilities
• Develop and maintain software components according to defined requirements and technical designs.
• Assist with developing SQL queries, stored procedures, reports, scripts, and data integrations.
• Support integrations involving ERP systems, historians, PLCs, SCADA platforms, MES applications, databases, and industrial devices.
• Assist with troubleshooting system integrations, deployments, configurations, data issues, and application performance.
• Develop foundational knowledge of manufacturing operations, industrial systems, databases, and MI technologies.
• Testing and Continuous Improvement
• Execute unit, integration, regression, and user-acceptance testing.
• Document defects, test results, corrective actions, and final outcomes.
• Use source control, CI/CD pipelines, and established coding and documentation standards.
• Participate in peer reviews, project retrospectives, lessons-learned sessions, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Support the maintenance of process maps, technical records, project documentation, and team knowledge resources.
• Contribute to collaborative problem-solving and knowledge sharing.
• Leadership and Development
• Work under the guidance of senior specialists and architects.
• Seek guidance appropriately and communicate project risks, issues, and status to senior team members.
• Demonstrate learning agility, accountability, attention to quality, and professional communication.
• Continue developing technical, manufacturing, analytical, and customer-service skills.
• Organize assigned work and meet established project expectations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, information technology, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Approximately zero to three years of relevant experience in Manufacturing Intelligence, SCADA, MES, software development, data systems, or a related area.
• Exposure to SQL, scripting, databases, dashboards, or reporting tools.
• Foundational understanding of SQL, databases, and basic data structures.
• Basic understanding of industrial systems, including PLCs, SCADA platforms, and Manufacturing Execution Systems.
• Ability to configure and support MI applications under appropriate guidance.
• Ability to follow approved functional requirements, technical designs, procedures, and standards.
• Ability to execute and document unit, integration, regression, and user-acceptance testing.
• Developing ability to troubleshoot integrations, deployments, system configurations, and data issues.
• Developing ability to create process maps, workflow diagrams, technical documentation, and project records.
• Strong learning agility, analytical thinking, attention to detail, and communication skills.
• Ability to communicate professionally with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and contribute to team efforts.
• Exposure to an industrial or manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Preferred Technology Experience
• Ignition
• Microsoft SQL Server
• PostgreSQL
• Python
• JavaScript
• Java
• Microsoft Azure
• GitHub
• Docker
• REST APIs
• OPC UA
• MQTT
• Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
• SCADA platforms
• Microsoft Office Suite

COMPETENCIES

• Customer Focus
• Decision Quality
• Business Insight
• Drives Results
• Collaborates
• Communicates Effectively
• Courage
• Instills Trust
• Manages Ambiguity
• Strategic Mindset
• Ensures Accountability
• Develops Talent
• Builds Effective Teams
• Drives Vision and Purpose
• Process Development & Improvement

Why Join DIS-TRAN Steel?

This is an opportunity to lead a critical function in a manufacturing environment where accuracy, process improvement, operational discipline, and strong decision-making make a measurable difference. You will have the opportunity to strengthen systems, improve material flow, develop supplier performance, support production success, and help build scalable supply chain infrastructure for continued growth.

As strategists, operational experts, customer advocates and team players, we all believe in the power of our people. Explore how you can become a part of our team of strength and commitment that's built to last!

DIS-TRAN Steel is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information.

DIS-TRAN Steel is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request information regarding reasonable accommodation, contact your Human Resource Business Partner.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c).

Part of the CREST INDUSTRIES family of companies.