Sr Engineer, Automation

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Canton, MA, US, 02021 Canton, MA, US, 02021

Preparedness today, safer tomorrow.

Emergent is a leading public health company that delivers protective and life‑saving solutions to communities around the world. Here, you will join passionate professionals where our culture is informed by our values and commitment to protecting and saving lives.

The Senior Automation Engineer is the site‑level technical authority and owner for all aspects of automation, control systems, and computerized systems at the Canton, MA GMP Vaccine Drug Substance manufacturing site. This role is accountable for ensuring the reliability, compliance, lifecycle management, and continuous improvement of process, utility, and facility automation systems supporting commercial and clinical vaccine manufacturing.

The position requires deep hands‑on expertise with GMP automation in biologics/vaccine environments and close collaboration with Manufacturing, MSAT, Quality, Validation, Facilities, and Capital Projects teams. The Senior Automation Engineer will lead automation strategy, support deviation investigations and CAPAs, enable process improvements, support technology transfer activities, and serve as the primary subject matter expert (SME) during internal and external regulatory inspections.

• Serve as the automation system owner for the Canton site, with end‑to‑end responsibility for process control, PLC/DCS, SCADA, HMI, Batch systems, Building Management Systems (BMS), historians, and associated infrastructure throughout their lifecycle (design through retirement).
• Ensure all automation systems remain in a validated state in compliance with GMP, GAMP 5, 21 CFR Parts 210, 211, and Part 11 requirements, including authoring, reviewing, and approving system lifecycle documentation (URS, FRS, DDS, risk assessments, commissioning and qualification protocols, reports).
• Provide technical leadership for troubleshooting complex automation, control, and integration issues impacting manufacturing operations, utilities, and facilities; support manufacturing in real‑time to minimize downtime and ensure product supply.
• Lead and support deviation investigations, root cause analysis, and CAPA implementation related to automation and computerized systems.
• Drive continuous improvement and process optimization initiatives through automation enhancements, risk reduction, standardization, and modernization of legacy systems.
• Actively support process improvement, MSAT, and technology transfer efforts by ensuring automation readiness, scalability, data integrity, and alignment with new or modified manufacturing processes.
• Manage and oversee automation activities for capital projects, including scope development, vendor selection, design review, integration, commissioning, qualification, and handover to operations.
• Develop and maintain site automation standards, procedures, SOPs, PMs, and engineering best practices; provide training to operations, engineering, and maintenance personnel as required.
• Coordinate and manage external system integrators, vendors, consultants, and contractors to ensure delivery meets safety, quality, schedule, and budget expectations.
• Serve as the site automation SME during audits, inspections, and regulatory interactions, including direct engagement with regulatory agencies as required.
• Partner closely with Quality, Validation, IT, and Engineering to support change control, data integrity, cybersecurity, and inspection readiness activities.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to other engineers and technicians, contributing to capability building and knowledge retention at the site.

The above statements are intended to describe the nature of work performed by those in this job and are not an exhaustive list of all duties. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time which reflects management’s assignment of essential functions.

• Due to the nature of this role and our manufacturing environment, employees are required to meet…