DT&A - Lead Engineer, PLC​/DCS

DT&A - Lead Engineer, PLC/DCS

Location:

Boston, Massachusetts

Job
-056874

This is a full-time salaried position with Project Farma, a Perkin Elmer company. The successful candidate will reside in one of Project Farma's primary markets and be willing to travel domestically to meet client project requests.

Project Farma’s purpose is to improve patient lives by accelerating the delivery of life-changing therapies. We accomplish this through the successful execution of high-quality life sciences projects across the full project lifecycle. Project Farma (PF) team members collaborate with cross-functional teams to build trusted client relationships, deliver an exceptional customer experience, and contribute to business growth by identifying opportunities and applying data‑driven insights to support project planning, cost, schedule, and performance management.

All team members are expected to embody Project Farma’s values by being curious, personable, and unselfish, while maintaining a strong commitment to a patient‑focused and people‑first mindset.

The Lead Engineer is an advanced individual contributor with demonstrated depth in their technical discipline and a growing record of leading complex work streams. This role applies strong subject‑matter expertise to solve high‑impact technical and operational challenges, supports technical decision‑making, and contributes to the evolution of standards, methods, or best practices within their area.

• Provide subject matter expertise in the design, implementation, and lifecycle management of automation systems across biologics, pharmaceutical, and novel therapy manufacturing facilities.
• Develop full automation system architectures for biologics, pharmaceutical, and advanced therapy manufacturing facilities (DCS, PLC/SCADA, MES, historians, network layers, field instrumentation).
• Create ISA‑88/ISA‑95‑aligned architecture diagrams, I/O strategies, network topologies, and interface specifications.
• Ensure architecture supports scalability, cybersecurity, data integrity, and multi‑product flexibility.
• Lead the creation, review, and approval of URS, FRS, design specifications, functional & control narratives, recipe design documentation, and automation standards & engineering guidelines.
• Configure, program, and deploy DCS/PLC modules, phases, recipes, batch strategies, graphics, alarms.
• Support integration of OEM skids: bioreactors, chromatography systems, filtration skids, CIP/SIP, and fill finish equipment, HVAC, chillers, boilers, etc.
• Apply knowledge of FAT, SAT, IQ/OQ, and PQ protocols in alignment with GAMP 5 and 21 CFR Part 11.
• Ensure automation changes meet data integrity requirements, change control processes, and validation lifecycle rules.
• Lead deviation investigations, CAPAs, and risk assessments related to automation systems.
• Serve as SME for troubleshooting, system optimization, alarm tuning, batch failure analysis, and performance enhancements.
• Support 24/7 operations through structured root‑cause analysis and resolution of automation issues.
• Develop long‑term automation lifecycle plans for upgrades, patches, and system expansions.
• Collaborate with IT/OT, process engineering, quality, and capital project teams to deliver integrated automation solutions.
• Manage vendors, system integrators, and OEMs; review design packages and ensure alignment with internal standards.
• Mentor junior engineers and act as technical SME during audits and regulatory inspections.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s Degree in Life Science, Engineering, or related discipline (or equivalent work experience in capital project engineering, pharma cGMP facility start‑up, Cap Ex/OpEx project management and/or comparable military experience).
• Strong understanding of ISA‑88 batch control, ISA‑95 manufacturing hierarchy, BACnet, ISO 16484 and GAMP 5.
• PLC/DCS: 4+ years / 7+ years in automation engineering within GMP life sciences; expert‑level experience with DeltaV DCS and/or Rockwell/Allen Bradley PLC/SCADA platforms.
• BMS/EMS: 4+ years / 7+ years in automation engineering within GMP life sciences; expert‑level experience with common BMS and EMS platforms (Siemens Desigo CC, Rockwell…