Machinist

## Description

The PLM Administrator is the primary business owner and day-to-day steward of LightPath’s Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system. This role defines and maintains the system’s data models, workflows, lifecycle states, and permissions in partnership with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and IT, and serves as the resident expert for all PLM users. Configuration, integration, and data-migration work is delivered by IT and third-party implementers; the PLM Administrator owns the requirements, configuration standards, and acceptance testing that direct that work, and operates and governs the system once it is in production. Compliance controls are defined by the company’s designated Export/Cybersecurity Compliance owner; the PLM Administrator enforces those controls within the PLM and provides the system-side evidence they require.

**Responsibilities:**

**PLM Configuration & Standards**

• Define and maintain core PLM data structures: part master, document types, EBOM, change workflows, lifecycle states, quality records, and project templates.
• Own the configuration standards and business requirements for PLM; direct IT and third-party implementers on builds and changes, and perform acceptance testing of what they deliver.
• Define access-control and permission models that satisfy the compliance controls set by the Export/Cybersecurity Compliance owner and support role-based engineering workflows.
• Work with stakeholders to map existing processes (ERP, ECO process, stage-gate NPI) into PLM workflows.
• Own the data-migration plan, including the mapping, validation rules, and acceptance criteria for parts, assemblies, metadata, revision history, drawings, work instructions, material specs, and inspection plans. IT and contractors execute the load under the Administrator’s direction and sign-off.
• Define integration requirements and acceptance criteria, and validate delivered integrations built by third parties and IT, including:
• CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo)
• ERP
• Quality systems (AS9100 documentation)

**PLM Administration & Governance (Ongoing)**

• Serve as the system expert and first point of contact for PLM questions, issues, and enhancement requests; triage and route technical work to IT and implementers as needed.
• Support export-controlled and CUI data handling. Enforce the markings, access controls, and audit-trail requirements defined by the Compliance owner, and produce PLM-side evidence for CMMC/ITAR assessments on request.
• Support the System Security Plan (SSP). Provide the PLM-specific inputs (data-flow information, control-implementation details, evidence) that the Compliance and IT/Security owners incorporate into the company SSP. The Administrator supports this plan but does not own it.
• Maintain workflows, user accounts, permission roles, and audit logs in accordance with the defined CMMC/ITAR controls.
• Administer formal change-control processes that integrate PLM workflows with AS9100 requirements, including risk management, verification/validation, and traceability.
• Create and maintain dashboards, reports, and KPIs (ECO cycle time, BOM accuracy, NPI stage-gate compliance).
• Train new users (engineering, production engineering, quality, suppliers).
• Ensure continuous alignment with AS9100D and applicable cybersecurity requirements.
• Coordinate with IT on system upgrades, patches, and the health of CAD/ERP interfaces.
• Champion data quality: part-numbering rules, revision control, unit standards, and attribute consistency.
• Document procedures, work instructions, and system configuration for internal audits.
• Other duties as assigned.

**Process Improvement**

• Identify inefficiencies and propose structured improvements to workflows, NPI processes, and BOM release flows.
• Support digital-transformation initiatives such as model-based definition (MBD), paperless travelers, and metrology data capture.

## Qualifications
***Required***

• 3 to 6 years’ experience administering a PLM system.
• Working knowledge of CAD systems and ERP integrations.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and IT.

***Preferred***

• Familiarity with manufacturing processes for optics and precision assemblies (optics, opto-mechanical components, coatings, metrology data).
• Experience working in a CMMC Level 2 or ITAR-compliant environment.
• Experience administering Aras Innovator (managing methods, forms, workflows, and lifecycle configuration).
• Experience in AS9100-regulated, multi-site manufacturing.
• Familiarity with optical manufacturing workflows: lens molding, metrology, coating travelers, and assembly BOM structures.
• Experience supporting supplier portals and secure external collaboration.

**Knowledge, Ability and Skills**

• Experience configuring and maintaining PLM data schemas, workflows, lifecycle states, and permissions.
• Strong understanding of BOM management, revision control, part-numbering systems, and change management.
• Ability to write clear technical requirements and acceptance criteria and to validate work delivered by IT and third-party implementers.
• Strong documentation and training ability.