Job Summary
The Manager, Automation Engineering is a first-line technical leader responsible for leading a team of automation professionals while driving the reliable, efficient, and compliant operation of site automation and control systems. This role combines people leadership with hands-on engineering expertise, overseeing automation projects, system upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance manufacturing performance, data integrity, and operational reliability.
Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of automation engineers, controls specialists, and technicians.
- Establish performance goals, conduct evaluations, and support employee development plans.
- Allocate resources across projects, maintenance activities, and continuous improvement efforts.
- Promote automation standards, engineering best practices, and a culture of safety, accountability, and innovation.
Automation Engineering & Project Execution
- Serve as project lead and technical subject matter expert for automation projects, upgrades, and system integrations.
- Provide hands-on support for the design, programming, configuration, testing, and commissioning of PLC, HMI, SCADA, and DCS systems.
- Review and approve automation design documentation, control strategies, and change control records.
- Partner with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT, and Quality teams to deliver integrated automation solutions.
- Ensure automation systems meet operational, reliability, cybersecurity, and regulatory requirements.
Continuous Improvement & Strategy
- Lead site automation roadmap initiatives, including modernization, digital transformation, and process optimization projects.
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, product quality, and manufacturing reliability through automation and advanced controls.
- Manage relationships with external vendors and system integrators.
- Monitor automation performance metrics and reliability KPIs to drive continuous improvement.
Compliance & Documentation
- Ensure automation activities comply with GMP, GAMP 5, OSHA, and applicable regulatory standards.
- Oversee development and approval of functional specifications, testing protocols, validation documentation, and lifecycle records.
- Maintain effective change management and documentation practices for automation systems.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Chemical, Mechanical, Automation Engineering, or a related discipline; Master’s degree preferred.
- 7–10 years of engineering experience, including at least 2 years in a leadership or lead project role.
- Strong expertise in control system design and PLC/HMI programming (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens), SCADA/DCS platforms, and industrial networking.
- Experience in regulated manufacturing environments such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or chemical industries preferred.
- Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage multiple concurrent projects.