PI Consultant

Overview

The PI Consultant is a key role within the SolutionsPT One Technical Team (OTT), it provides hands-on technical input to assist in driving toward the OTT vision with respect to all aspects of the AVEVA PI software portfolio. With the ability to work flexibly from anywhere in the UK or Ireland it provides technical engineering and consulting during all stages of AVEVA PI and related customer projects, including accurate effort estimates, writing specifications, software development, deployment, installation, commissioning and acceptance testing. The successful candidate will develop solutions in line with Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) principles, supporting the development of scalable applications, and allowing re-use of Intellectual Property (IP) from project to project. The role is expected to be a technical authority/Subject Matter Expert in the application of AVEVA PI solutions and also their place in the wider context of the full AVEVA software portfolio.  Excellent communications skills and the ability to interact with customers at all levels, ie technical/engineering up to C level is crucial.

Key Responsibilities

• To understand customer requirements and translate them into a technical solution in order to scope consultancy and project work for AVEVA PI products.
• To propose robust solution architectures that meet the needs of our customers
• To deliver consultancy and project work to time, cost and quality requirements
• To assist in the response to customer RFI/RFPs.
• To lead and assist with the delivery of Proof of Value projects using the full range of AVEVA PI software.
• Deliver PI health checks and in depth obsolescence / security / upgrade / governance audits
• To actively support our customers with technical issues and identify new opportunities for future growth.
• To liaise, communicate and coordinate with other stakeholders for the customer – both internal and external, including SolutionsPT Project Manager; Technical Service Manager; Sales Account Manager; and colleagues and peers involved in delivering Consultancy and projects to your customer.
• To interact effectively with customers on a technical and commercial level from engineer to C level.
• To escalate technical and/or commercial concerns to your line manager.
• To deal with internal and external customers providing a high level of both pre & post sales senior level of support, whilst providing an escalation path from the service desk team. Perform duties of a product consultant for specified products(i.e. products you are SME for) defined: Understand product / version value proposition and be able to communicate to customers.
• Understand how the product fits into the complete solution (e.g. Customer 1st)
• Understand the product market space in terms of trends, customer needs and opportunities in relation to SolutionsPT products/services. Provide direct customer feedback to products group and sales. Feed into the supplier technical pain lists.
• To stay up to date with the development of new products & operating systems

General Responsibilities:

• To operate within company and group standards.
• To assist in the introduction and continuous improvement of Procedures and standards
• To work with minimum supervision both at SolutionsPT and customer premises.
• To develop appropriate skills with new products & operating systems and manage a self-development plan in line with SolutionsPT business plan.
• To ensure quality is maintained and to improve where necessary.
• To exceed our expectations for customer satisfaction and in particular our customers Net Promoter Score (NPS)
• To be responsible for own working practices, time management and personal development.
• To engage at all levels within the organisation to ensure input is provided in the innovation of products, procedures, technologies & services to ensure the organisation continuously improves value to our customer base.

Authority and Key Accountability:

• Accountable for ensuring that your technical knowledge and expertise is current and of high standards Authority to determine the most applicable technical advice, guidance or consultancy to meet a customer or peer’s requirements
• Accountable for on-time and on-budget delivery of consultancy or project work.
• Accountable for adherence to processes, procedures and working practices applicable to activities being carried out
• Accountable for the technical suitability and correctness of advice or consultancy delivered to customer or peers
• Accountable for Stakeholder Satisfaction, both internally and externally Note: In addition to these responsibilities, employees are required to carry out other such duties as may reasonably be required  

Skills, qualifications and competence level

• Thorough understanding of the AVEVA PI portfolio from a value proposition to delivery level (including AVEVA CONNECT / Datahub / OSI OCS)
• Deep understanding of communications drivers and other data interfaces, ie OPCUA, MQTT etc including an ability to configure and troubleshoot from PLC through to ERP system.
• Essential Willingness to learn new software and hardware skills.
• The ability to multitask and prioritise work.
• Being able to align to the company values
• Experience developing and supporting high end PI solutions
• Data and Information management skills
• Python scripting
• Experience of structured programming languages
• An understanding Microsoft Server OS administration and networking
• An understanding of configuring and working in a virtualized environment
• Experience with APIs and PI System Access (PSA)

Desirable

• Exposure to Machine Learning / AI
• Experience or exposure to high end SCADA and MES solutions (preferably AVEVA but also competitors such as Siemens, Rockwell etc)
• Ability to assist with the delivery SCADA consultancy and projects when resource constraints require it
• A good understanding of Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Reporting Services, experience desirable
• Understanding of structured design and development methodologies plus the ability to understand, disseminate and convert design documents into technology function blocks and test specifications. 
• Should have the ability to work in all aspects of the project lifecycle, from requirements to project commissioning (including short periods working away from home across the UK & Ireland – expected to be <25% of the time).