Automation Engineer

About the Role

The Automation Engineer is a member of the Site Digital & Automation Team and is responsible for supporting automation operations, maintenance, and lifecycle activities for site automation and digital systems supporting manufacturing operations. This role provides hands-on technical support to ensure production continuity, system reliability, validated state, and regulatory compliance, working closely with Operations, Engineering, and Core Digital & Automation partners.

What You Will Achieve

• Support day-to-day operation and technical performance of production-critical automation and digital systems to maintain system reliability and production continuity.
• Troubleshoot automation system issues and support investigations, deviations, unplanned events, escalation, recovery, and root-cause data gathering.
• Maintain automation systems in a validated and compliant state by following established change management, validation, engineering, and documentation practices.
• Develop and maintain lifecycle documentation, including standard operating procedures, system specifications, change records, incident documentation, and resolution steps.
• Operate and support control systems and automation infrastructure, including DCS, PLC, SCADA, HMI, and PC-based production systems.
• Support the installation, testing, commissioning, and implementation of automation system and software changes using approved processes and coding standards.
• Participate in business continuity planning, system recovery testing, regulatory inspections, and audits to support operational resilience and compliance.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, and Digital and Automation partners on cross-functional problem-solving, standardization, and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance system reliability and performance.
• Execute Good Manufacturing Practices and verification protocols.
• Provide continuous 24x7x365 support for automation systems.
• Monitor and identify issues to develop preventative solutions.
• Support the development of Preventive Maintenance Procedures for process control systems.
• Adhere to safe work practices consistently.
• Contribute to project milestones, organize work to meet deadlines, and communicate progress and issues to peers.
• Learn and apply basic team effectiveness skills within the immediate Work Team.
• Make decisions to resolve basic problems with limited options and decision-making authority, under supervisor's direction.
• Work in a structured environment using established procedures, seeking guidance from colleagues, with regular reviews for technical judgment, completeness, and accuracy, relying on the supervisor's judgment.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Hands-on experience with engineering design and validation.
• Experience with automated systems and equipment.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Ability to provide 24x7x365 support for automation systems.
• DCS, PLC, SCADA, HMI.
• Preventive Maintenance Procedures.

Qualifications

• Applicant must have a bachelor's degree with 0+ years of experience; OR an associate's degree with 4 years of experience; OR a high school diploma (or equivalent) and 6 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated organizational skills to meet project task deadlines effectively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting automation control systems in pharmaceutical industry engineering.
• Familiarity with Preventive Maintenance Procedures for process control systems.
• Experience with manufacturing information systems.
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills.
• Experience using common AI tools, including generative technologies such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, to support problem solving and enhance productivity.
• Demonstrated curiosity for exploring how these tools can improve outcomes and understanding of responsible AI practices, including risk management and ethical use.