XLCC is an independent British company founded in 2020 to address the critical infrastructure needs of the global energy transition.
Our mission is to engineer, manufacture, install and maintain HVDC cable; a critical enabler for the energy transition.
As the world moves toward Net Zero, electrification becomes essential. However, there is a global shortage of HVDC subsea cables needed for this transformation.
To meet this demand, we will build a world-class HVDC manufacturing facility in Hunterston, Scotland, along with the necessary marine and project management capabilities.
Our factory will create 1,200 high-skilled full-time manufacturing and project management jobs, including 200 apprenticeships and will bring £2bn of private capital into the UK economy.
About the Role
The System Architect will be instrumental in developing the design for XLCC’s technical architecture from the ground up. This greenfield role offers a unique opportunity to shape the architecture of XLCC’s IT and OT systems and lead on the technical implementation, ensuring seamless integration and optimisation for large-scale data analysis. The successful candidate will lead the development of a technical architecture to support systems including SAP ERP, MES, and Operational Technology such as Industrial Control Systems using Siemens systems. Additionally, the role will require a strong focus on cybersecurity, implementing security by design and ensuring compliance with relevant security frameworks and standards.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design and Development: Design, develop and create a scalable systems architecture, including interface requirements and data flow design to facilitate requirements for manufacturing operations, sub-sea cable installation and maintenance, corporate IT systems (e.g. ERP, CRM etc.) and future growth needs.
- Deployment and Integration:Provide technical input and oversight for the implementation and integration of systems between multiple platforms (private & public cloud and on-prem) and environments.
- Industrial Automation: Research, identify and develop technical specifications to integrate advanced automation technologies into manufacturing processes, enhancing efficiency, reducing manual effort, improving process cycle times and manufacturing equipment availability and enhancing product quality.
- Supply Chain Integration:Collaborate with supply chain to design systems that streamline processes, improve visibility, optimise resource allocation and raw material sourcing.
- Cross-functional Leadership:As part of the IT team, work closely with the wider organisation including Operations, Sales & Delivery, and other central functions as well as third-party suppliers to ensure alignment and successful delivery.
- Innovation and Strategy:Identify emerging technologies and trends to incorporate into system designs, ensuring XLCC remains at the forefront of technological advancements.
- Documentation and Standards:Develop comprehensive technical documentation and establish best practices and design standards to ensure consistency and quality across all projects.
- Cybersecurity:Implement security by design principles across all systems and processes. Develop and enforce cybersecurity policies, standards, and procedures aligned with ISO27001, IEC62443, NIST, and other relevant frameworks. Ensure robust protection of critical systems and data for both corporate IT and OT environments.
- Data Science and Machine Learning:Design a machine learning-ready architecture, ensuring the data infrastructure can support large-scale data ingestion, processing, and analysis. Develop and manage data storage solutions that are scalable and optimised for machine learning workloads, such as data lakes and data warehouses. Implement data governance frameworks to ensure data quality, integrity, and security.
Key Expertise and Skills:
- Proven experience in scalable systems design, deployment, and integration.
- Strong knowledge of industrial automation technologies and their application in real-world scenarios.
- Expertise in supply chain integration and related technologies.
- Exceptional cross-functional team leadership skills, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across departments and disciplines.
- Solid understanding of system architecture frameworks and methodologies (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman, or similar).
- Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) and modern software development practices.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to address complex technical challenges.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
Qualifications and experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- Relevant certifications in system architecture, industrial automation, or related areas are a plus.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a similar role, with a proven track record of successful project delivery, from concept through to delivery.
