Project Lead – Digital Transformation (Manufacturing Ops Tech)

Job Description

About Kognisense: Kognisense is a young consulting firm where manufacturing meets cutting-edge Operations Technology, backed by Big-4-grade advisory know-how, and relentless focus is on execution of systems, to achieve operational performance excellence. In our first six months, we have forged global partnerships, landed marquee projects, and - while many downsize - we’re hiring. We deploy world-class partner products, build in-house tools when the market falls short, and grow talent that breaks industry silos. Why You’ll Love This Role: ● Immediate impact: Own a critical project rollout at a major client from month 1. ● Experience the breadth of industry: Visit manufacturing sites, both large and small, across a wide spectrum of industries and plants. ● Problem-solve at the source: Assess current operational realities first-hand, witness client challenges, and experience the thrill of conceiving and delivering solutions-whether leveraging market offerings, our partner ecosystem, or building in-house products where gaps exist. ● Consult, craft, and implement: Advise clients on the best-fit solutions, lead them through digital transformation journeys, and see your recommendations come to life. ● Shape the future: When not on client projects, drive our Labs Program-building, testing, and launching new solutions inspired by your field experience. ● Wear many hats: From pre-sales, marketing, and brand-building to training the next generation, you’ll help position Kognisense at the forefront of manufacturing plants, driving them towards operational performance excellence. ● Best of both worlds: Enjoy the exposure and rigor of a Big 4 consulting firm, while actually solving hard-core operations problems with cutting-edge tech from global partners and our own labs. Your First 6 Months: ● Lead onboarding and implementation of B2B SaaS platforms or COTS applications (such as Dimension Software’s E-Logbook) for enterprise manufacturing clients. ● Oversee the full project lifecycle: discovery, requirements gathering, configuration, UAT, go-live, and support, ensuring all deliverables align with client-defined acceptance criteria. ● Collaborate with client IT and operations teams for installation, troubleshooting, and user acceptance-including SQL Server setup and integration with Active Directory, SSO, and service accounts. ● Maintain all project documentation, reports, and working files in editable formats, ensuring seamless knowledge transfer and compliance with client handover requirements. ● Respond to client feedback and exception reports, driving root cause analysis and corrective actions as per the formal acceptance process. ● Bring deep knowledge of shift operations, handovers, log/reporting, and troubleshooting to every client engagement. ● Guide digital transformation, integrating solutions with OT (SCADA, Data Historians, MES, PLCs) and Industry 4.0 technologies. ● Identify operational pain points and visualize solutions-whether by matching existing market products or conceiving innovative, in-house approaches, especially for unique or corner cases. ● Stay abreast of the operations tech stack, products, competitors, and integration best practices. ● Act as a bridge between clients, vendors, and internal teams, always focused on customer satisfaction and delight. ● Mentor and guide a small team, deliver super-user/end-user training, and create clear documentation. ● Contribute to Labs: help build and launch new solutions and empower the next generation of industry-ready talent. Who You Are: Strong Academics ● B.E./B.Tech. in Mechanical, Metallurgy, Process & Control, or similar from a reputed institute. Manufacturing Experience ● 2-3 years in steel, cement, mining, smelting or similar plants; deep in shift operations, hand-overs and reporting. ● Completed at least one end-to-end OT or B2B SaaS rollout (discovery → support). Tech-Savvy ● Working knowledge of SCADA/control systems, data historians (Canary, AVEVA OSIsoftPI), MES, PLCs, Industry 4.0. ● Strong with MS SQL – DB design, setup, T-SQL querying and tuning. ● Comfortable with domains, SSO, Active Directory and service accounts. ● Comfortable with PowerShell, Python, Markdown scripting; eager to learn new tech (AI agents, low-code, etc.). ● Exposure to AI/ML concepts and app-building is a plus. ● Proven small-team leader, trainer and stakeholder whisperer. Mindset: ● Start-up DNA-initiative, resilience, bias for action, ease with ambiguity. Independent and can work effectively with little to no oversight. ● Growth oriented-values learning and delivery over short-term comfort. ● Work-first mentality-ready to live plant-side (Mon–Sat) with PPE when required. ● Thorough professional-disciplined, safety-conscious, champion and respectful of personal, client and company reputation. ● Has a strong sense of ownership, responsibility, initiative, and rigor-ready to take up any challenge, known or unknown, whether listed in the JD or not, and will not stop until it is addressed, keeping company management informed at every step. ● Not limited to 9–5 or fixed working hours; willing to put in long hours, for prolonged periods, if and when needed to deliver on commitments. ● Willing to take up tasks, responsibilities, or assignments on short notice, as per business demand. What We Offer: ● Seat at the table: Lead delivery and influence Kognisense’s future. ● Launch-pad exposure: Hands-on Industry 4.0 transformations across India. ● Empowered culture: Build, test and iterate with passionate mentors. ● Competitive contract pay + delivery incentives; clear path to full-time. ● Travel & lodging covered while onsite. How to Apply: Email your profile and a brief “why me” note to employee.experience@kognisense.com with the subject “Project Lead – Digital Ops Tech”. Join us at the heart of India’s digital-manufacturing revolution-where learning and delivery always outrank comfort. Show more Show less