Senior Controls & Automation Engineer

About this opportunity :

The Senior Controls & Automation Engineer serves as a key technical leader for automation systems supporting GMP manufacturing operations. This position will primarily provide hands-on, on-floor support for troubleshooting, reliability, and lifecycle management of automated equipment and process control systems. The role works directly with manufacturing, maintenance, and quality teams to diagnose issues in real time, implement sustainable corrective actions, and maintain compliant, reliable operation of critical automation assets. The engineer plays an important role in new automation projects, improvements to automated process control systems, and site digitization initiatives. This is an opportunity for an experienced automation professional to make a visible impact on equipment uptime, process robustness, data visibility, and operational excellence in a regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. 

Responsibilities and Qualifications

Key Responsibilities:  

• Serve as a senior technical resource for on-floor, in-person troubleshooting and root cause analysis of automated equipment, PLC/HMI/SCADA systems, field instrumentation, and industrial network infrastructure including managed switches and control network issues impacting GMP operations. 
• Partner closely with manufacturing, maintenance, engineering, validation, and quality teams to improve equipment reliability, reduce downtime, and resolve recurring automation issues in a compliant and sustainable manner. 
• Lead or support automation investigations associated with deviations, CAPAs, audit observations, and nonconformances, ensuring appropriate technical assessment, documentation, and follow-through. 
• Lead or support automation projects for new equipment, system expansions, and process improvements, including development of user requirements, functional specifications, software design documentation, testing, and startup activities. 
• Drive improvements to automated process control systems to enhance process capability, operator effectiveness, data integrity, and production performance. 
• Contribute to site digitization initiatives through improved equipment connectivity, data collection, system integration, and visibility of manufacturing performance. 
• Support validation and computerized system lifecycle activities for automation systems in alignment with GMP requirements, internal procedures, and data integrity expectations. 
• Generate and maintain technical documentation such as functional specifications, network architecture diagrams, test protocols, SOPs, and maintenance procedures. 

Required Skills/Abilities: 

• B.S. degree in Engineering, Automation, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field. 
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in automation engineering, process control, and support of automated manufacturing equipment, preferably in pharmaceutical, biotech, or other GMP-regulated environments. 
• Strong knowledge of industrial automation platforms including PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems, with required hands-on experience using Allen-Bradley CompactLogix PLCs, FactoryTalk, and Inductive Automation Ignition. 
• Demonstrated success providing direct shop-floor support, troubleshooting control systems, field instrumentation, and industrial network components, and restoring automated equipment to reliable operation in a manufacturing environment. 
• Experience supporting the lifecycle of automation systems, including commissioning, qualification support, change control, backup and recovery, upgrades, and technical documentation. 
• Working knowledge of industrial communication protocols and interfaces such as OPC, Modbus, and Ethernet/IP. 
• Experience with SQL databases, historians, and scripting languages. 
• Ability to work effectively across engineering, operations, maintenance, IT, validation, and quality functions, with the judgment and communication skills expected of a senior-level technical contributor. 

Preferred Skills and Certifications: 

• Experience with validation and computerized system lifecycle practices in a GMP pharmaceutical or biotech environment. 
• Knowledge of process control strategies, batch processes, alarm management, and data integrity principles. 
• Experience contributing to digital transformation, Industry 4.0, or Pharma 4.0 initiatives in a manufacturing setting. 
• Relevant certification or advanced training in PLC, SCADA, HMI, industrial networking, or automation system design is a plus. 
• Tha annualized salary range for this position is between $122,600 – $165,100.