Our client operates a highly automated manufacturing environment with advanced robotics, AI-enabled systems, and high-speed production lines. As part of a major transformation initiative, the organization is redesigning its IT/OT data architecture to support scalable analytics, AI applications, and real-time decision-making across equipment and departments.
The Functional Analyst plays a key role in translating business and operational needs into clear functional specifications for data pipelines, message brokers, and a Unified Namespace, acting as the bridge between stakeholders and technical teams.
Responsibilities:
Elicit, analyze, and document functional and non-functional requirements for IT/OT data platforms and pipelines.
Translate business needs into functional specifications, user stories, data flows, and acceptance criteria.
Define a Unified Namespace (UNS) data model, including naming conventions and hierarchical topic structures aligned with ISA-88/95.
Define data products, data contracts, and message payload structures for broker-based architectures.
Act as the primary interface between business stakeholders and development teams to ensure shared understanding.
Support target architecture definition in close collaboration with technical architects and engineers.
Prepare test plans, execute functional testing, and facilitate user acceptance testing.
Produce user documentation, system manuals, and provide training to end users.
Support post-implementation activities, including monitoring, issue analysis, and functional support.
What are we looking for?
You hold a Master's degree in computer science, engineering, automation, or a related technical field.
You have a minimum of 5 years of experience in functional analysis or similar roles within complex IT or OT environments.
You bring a deep understanding of Unified Namespace (UNS) concepts and event-driven data architectures.
You have experience working with DataOps platforms used to extract, enrich, and publish industrial data.
You are familiar with message brokers, caching systems, and relational and non-relational databases.
You possess basic knowledge of network topologies and their impact on system design.
You have experience working in a manufacturing environment.
You are fluent in Dutch and English.
Nice to Haves
Experience in pharmaceutical or other highly regulated industries.
Hands-on exposure to industrial data platforms such as HighByte, Apache NiFi, Litmus, or similar tools.
Experience collaborating on AI, analytics, or advanced reporting initiatives.
What do we offer?
Work regime: Full-time
Location: Willebroek
Working model: Hybrid (up to 2 days remote)
Contract: open to both permanent employees and freelancers
Duration: start ASAP - 31/12/2026
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Business Development and Sales
Industries
Staffing and Recruiting