IT & Field Network Specialist

About Us:

Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (OPT) provides intelligent maritime solutions and services that enable safer, cleaner, and more productive ocean operations for the defense and security, oil and gas, science and research, and offshore wind markets, including Merrows™, which provides AI-capable seamless integration of Maritime Domain Awareness Systems across platforms. Our PowerBuoy® platforms provide clean and reliable electric power and real-time data communications for remote maritime and subsea applications. We also provide WAM-V® unmanned surface vehicles (USV’s) and marine robotics services. The Company’s headquarters is located in Monroe Township, New Jersey and has an additional office in Richmond, California.

Title: IT and Field Network Specialist

Location: Full-time, onsite in Monroe Township, New Jersey. (On-site when not traveling)

Travel: ~25% to support field operations

Role Overview

We are seeking an IT and Field Network Specialist to serve as the primary internal IT lead for our organization. Reporting to the Vice President of Technology and Innovation, this individual will act as the interface between our company and our outsourced Managed Service Provider (MSP), ensuring smooth operations, accountability, and forward progress toward Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). In addition, the role requires supporting global field operations, including networking, systems integration, and equipment interfacing.  Support of operations will be combination of remote and field work which may include both domestic and international travel.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the internal point of contact with the MSP for IT and cybersecurity needs.
• Lead the company’s CMMC certification effort by coordinating documentation, compliance activities, and policy development.
• Manage IT infrastructure standards (networking, devices, applications, security tools) across the company.
• Provide field IT support: networking, machine-to-machine interfacing, and troubleshooting at customer or field sites.
• Conduct periodic audits and compliance checks in coordination with MSP and leadership.
• Support the onboarding and training of staff on IT security practices and compliance.
• Maintain IT asset inventory and ensure systems are updated, patched, and compliant.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5 years of experience in IT systems administration or cybersecurity.
• Familiarity with DoD cybersecurity requirements and frameworks (CMMC, NIST 800-171).
• Hands-on experience with networking, firewalls, and secure communications.
• Strong troubleshooting and field operations support experience.
• Excellent communication skills to interface with both technical vendors and non-technical staff.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize multiple initiatives.
• Ability to travel internationally and/or provide remote support to international teams
• Must be a US Citizen
• Ability to obtain U.S. government security clearance is required.

Additional Qualifications

• Experience with maritime, offshore, or remote field operations networking environments.
• Familiarity with industrial control systems (ICS), operational technology (OT), and IoT device security.
• Hands-on experience with cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or similar) and secure hybrid integrations.
• Background in satellite communications, wireless mesh networking, or field-deployed network systems.
• Experience with automation tools (e.g., Ansible, Terraform, scripting for IT operations).
• Advanced certifications such as CISSP, CCSP, CISM, CCNA/CCNP Security, or equivalent.
• Knowledge of Zero Trust architecture, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and advanced threat monitoring.
• Familiarity with the Tailscale/OpenVPN services and EdgeRouter/Cradlepoint products.
• Prior involvement in achieving or maintaining compliance frameworks beyond CMMC (ISO 27001, SOC 2, FedRAMP).
• Ability to thrive in dynamic environments with limited infrastructure and rapidly evolving requirements.

This role is primarily On Site and the ability to come to our Monroe Township Office is necessary.   

Ocean Power Technologies provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, genetic information, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.

Salary range is $110,000 - $130,000 per year and includes the following:

• Bonus potential
• Restricted Stock Awards 

Benefits include:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• 401(k)