Automation Area Lead

We are supporting a major pharmaceutical manufacturing expansion project and are looking for an experienced Automation Area Lead to oversee automation design across critical site utilities.

This role will act as the owner’s representative for utilities automation, ensuring the design, integration, and delivery of robust, compliant automation solutions across key GMP utility systems. The successful consultant will work closely with engineering, IT/OT, equipment vendors, system integrators, and site stakeholders to ensure utility systems are fully aligned with the wider site automation architecture.

• Lead automation design for critical site utilities, acting as the area automation lead.
• Own and drive the automation design lifecycle from concept through detailed design, delivery, commissioning, and integration.
• Provide automation oversight across utility systems including compressed air, WFI, glycol, cooling systems, and other GMP utilities.
• Manage equipment vendors and system integrators, ensuring timely delivery of automation documentation, specifications, and design packages.
• Review and challenge vendor deliverables, including functional specifications, control narratives, I/O lists, and integration documentation.
• Ensure utilities systems are effectively integrated into the site-wide control architecture.
• Coordinate integration with IT/OT systems, historian platforms such as OSI PI, and MES platforms such as Opcenter where applicable.
• Ensure automation designs meet GMP, regulatory, data integrity, and operational requirements.
• Support site-based commissioning, startup, troubleshooting, and system integration activities.

• Strong utilities automation experience within pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences manufacturing.
• Proven background supporting automation design for GMP utility systems such as WFI, clean utilities, compressed air, HVAC, glycol, and cooling systems.
• Experience working across multiple PLC and control system platforms.
• Strong understanding of IT/OT environments, system integration, and site automation architecture.
• Previous experience managing equipment vendors, OEMs, or system integrators.
• Ability to review automation documentation and drive technical alignment across multiple stakeholders.
• Experience working on site-based capital projects, manufacturing expansions, or greenfield/brownfield pharmaceutical programs.
• Comfortable acting as a technical lead and owner’s representative.

This is an excellent opportunity to play a key role in a high-profile pharmaceutical expansion project, helping shape the automation design for critical infrastructure that will support long-term manufacturing operations.