Solution Architect IT/OT

About the role

Novartis is looking for a Solution Architect, IT/OT, to strengthen its internal IT/OT architecture capability across Digital Labs, Digital Plant and scientific data connectivity. The role focuses on the Novartis OT Security Reference Architecture (NORA) and SPINE Connect, turning complex infrastructure, security and business needs into pragmatic, secure and compliant architecture solutions. It is a highly collaborative, business-facing position with an immediate focus on Technical Research and Development, and is based in Barcelona, Spain.

Key responsibilities

• Define and implement NORA-compliant solution architectures for laboratory and plant systems.
• Build and maintain inventories of IT/OT systems, components, connectivity and vendor-managed assets.
• Shape Manufacturing Execution System and Historian integration with SPINE alongside Digital Labs and Digital Plant architecture.
• Translate infrastructure and security requirements into reusable architecture patterns across laboratories and plants.
• Partner with infrastructure, security, quality, sites, vendors and delivery teams to turn architecture decisions into executable solutions.
• Create architecture decision records, diagrams, decision logs, migration-readiness views and reusable integration patterns.
• Ensure designs address regulatory impact, performance, supportability, operational continuity, monitoring and security by design.

Required profile

• 10+ years of information technology experience, including at least 3 years in architecture or solution design.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related discipline.
• Experience in regulated or validated environments, ideally pharmaceutical, life sciences, laboratory or manufacturing.
• Strong ability to engage business and technical stakeholders and turn technical and security requirements into clear architecture decisions.

Required skills

• IT/OT architecture, manufacturing technology, laboratory systems and OT security.
• Operational technology network segmentation, industrial connectivity, identity models, endpoint standards and secure vendor access.
• APIs, microservices, event-driven architecture and enterprise integration technologies.
• Laboratory and manufacturing platforms such as LIMS, electronic laboratory notebooks, MES, Historians and vendor-managed systems.
• Desirable: TOGAF, AWS or Azure Solutions Architect certification, and experience with architecture specifications, decision records and inventories.

What we offer

• Annual salary of 41,900 to 77,700 EUR.
• 22 working days of annual leave, with the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• 18 weeks of parental leave, health insurance and a defined-contribution pension plan.
• Flexible benefits, wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.