Challenge Manufacturing · 4 hours ago
Digital Analytics & IIoT Manager
Grand Rapids, MI
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
7+ years expChallenge Manufacturing is a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry. They are seeking a strategic, hands-on Digital Analytics & IIoT Manager to lead the collection, integration, and analysis of plant-floor data to improve production efficiency, uptime, and quality.
AutomotiveIndustrialManufacturing
Responsibilities
Lead the design, deployment, and management of industrial data pipelines for MES/SCADA, PLCs, and IIoT sensors across multiple plants
Implement digital twins, real-time monitoring dashboards, and predictive maintenance models to prevent unplanned downtime and improve asset utilization
Develop and maintain KPIs, operational dashboards, and reporting tools to drive improvements in throughput, OEE, cycle times, first-pass yield, scrap reduction, and energy usage
Integrate IIoT devices and industrial sensors with OT systems, MES/SCADA, ERP, and analytics platforms for seamless end-to-end visibility
Partner with Production, Maintenance, and Quality teams to identify bottlenecks, optimize processes, and implement data-driven solutions
Manage and mentor Data Scientists, BI Developers, and Analytics Engineers, building analytics capabilities across multiple plants
Ensure data governance, integrity, and cybersecurity compliance, in alignment with automotive standards (IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO/SAE 21434)
Apply advanced analytics, statistical modeling, and AI/ML techniques for predictive maintenance, quality monitoring, and process optimization
Standardize analytics tools, methodologies, and best practices across sites to enable scalable and repeatable operations
Support new vehicle program launches and plant expansions with data-driven readiness assessments and production monitoring strategies
Train plant personnel on analytics dashboards, reporting, and interpretation to foster a data-driven culture
Evaluate and adopt emerging IIoT, edge computing, and analytics technologies to improve plant operations and predictive capabilities
Collaborate with OT, Automation, and IT infrastructure teams to ensure secure, reliable, and high-performance data systems
Drive continuous improvement initiatives using predictive analytics to optimize production scheduling, maintenance, and quality assurance
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, or related field required
7+ years industrial analytics, IIoT, or MES/SCADA experience in automotive or high-volume manufacturing
Hands-on experience with MES/SCADA, PLCs, and industrial sensors (multi-vendor, multi-protocol)
Proficiency in industrial communication protocols (EtherNet/IP, OPC UA, MQTT, Modbus, PROFINET)
Experience with cloud-based industrial analytics platforms (Azure, AWS IoT/Analytics, Snowflake)
Applied experience with AI/ML for predictive maintenance, quality improvement, and operational efficiency
Experience implementing digital twins, edge analytics, and advanced visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau, Grafana)
Knowledge of industrial cybersecurity standards and secure OT/IT convergence practices
Proven experience leading multi-plant analytics or IIoT teams
Strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills; ability to translate complex data into actionable operational insights
Experience supporting vehicle launch programs and high-volume production schedules
Experience with multi-site standardization, cross-plant KPI monitoring, and analytics deployment in automotive manufacturing
Preferred
Master's degree in Data Analytics, Industrial Engineering, or related field preferred
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions
Flexible Spending Accounts
Company-paid Short-Term Disability and Basic Life Insurance
Voluntary Life and Long-Term Disability options
Employer 401k Match
ESOP shares
Tuition reimbursement
Referral Bonus Program
Challenge Incentive Program
Paid time off
Company
Challenge Manufacturing
Challenge Manufacturing is an automotive company offering stamped and welded automotive assemblies.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Challenge Manufacturing has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (9)
2024 (11)
2023 (11)
2022 (13)
2021 (6)
2020 (7)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$100M2021-02-02Debt Financing· $100M
Leadership Team
Doug Bradley
President & CEO
Recent News
2025-08-05
Business Wire
2023-10-16
Company data provided by crunchbase