Sr. Manager, Automation Engineer

A Brief Overview

The Sr. Manager, Automation Engineering leads the automation engineering function supporting manufacturing, utilities, facilities, and capital projects within a regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. This role provides leadership and technical direction for the automation team and is responsible for automation strategy, engineering standards, project execution, system compliance, and continuous improvement of automation and digital manufacturing technologies. In partnership with Manufacturing, Engineering, Facilities, Quality, Validation, Maintenance, IT/OT, and Global Automation teams, the incumbent ensures automation systems are reliable, compliant, scalable, and aligned with business objectives.

This role also oversees resources, budgets, vendors, and project priorities to support safety, quality, operational efficiency, reliability, and long-term site performance.

The Sr. Manager, Automation Engineering leads the automation engineering function supporting manufacturing, utilities, facilities, and capital projects within a regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. This role provides leadership and technical direction for the automation team and is responsible for automation strategy, engineering standards, project execution, system compliance, and continuous improvement of automation and digital manufacturing technologies. In partnership with Manufacturing, Engineering, Facilities, Quality, Validation, Maintenance, IT/OT, and Global Automation teams, the incumbent ensures automation systems are reliable, compliant, scalable, and aligned with business objectives.

This role also oversees resources, budgets, vendors, and project priorities to support safety, quality, operational efficiency, reliability, and long-term site performance.

• Lead and manage the automation engineering team responsible for automation systems supporting batch processing tanks, solvent recovery systems, filter dryers, HPLCs, filtration systems, lyophilizers, ultra-low freezers, HVAC, solvent distribution and recovery systems, compressed air, purified water, wastewater systems, BMS, SCADA, PLC, historian, and related manufacturing and utility systems.
• Provide leadership and technical oversight for automation scope within strategic investment projects, capital projects, process improvements, equipment installations, upgrades, and system expansions from concept through design, implementation, commissioning, qualification, validation, and turnover to operations.
• Develop, own, and execute the site automation strategy, including automation standards, system lifecycle management, technology roadmaps, obsolescence planning, platform harmonization, and alignment with Global Automation and Center of Excellence strategies.
• Ensure compliant design, implementation, qualification, change control, documentation, and lifecycle support of automation systems in accordance with company policies, cGMP expectations, FDA requirements, data integrity principles, cybersecurity requirements, and applicable industry standards.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Facilities, Maintenance, Validation, Quality, IT/OT, and external vendors to troubleshoot automation issues, improve system reliability, reduce downtime, optimize process performance, and support production needs.
• Develop team capability through coaching, mentoring, performance management, succession planning, training, and creation of procedures, job aids, standards, SOPs, and technical guidance for automation systems and practices.
• Manage automation department planning, resource allocation, vendor coordination, project priorities, budget inputs, schedules, risks, and stakeholder communication to ensure business objectives and project milestones are met.

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field; or equivalent years of qualified work experience in lieu of degree
• Master’s degree in relevant field preferred
• 10+ years of qualified automation, controls, engineering, or manufacturing systems experience
• 3+ years of experience leading engineers, technical teams, project teams, or automation programs
• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, life sciences, or other regulated manufacturing environments
• Experience with SCADA/HMI platforms such as Ignition, Factory Talk View ME/SE, WinCC, Copadata Zenon, PlantPAX, iFIX, or similar systems
• Experience with PLC, DCS, BMS, process control systems, batch control, recipe management, instrumentation, and industrial automation architecture
• Experience with industrial communication protocols and network topology, including Ethernet/IP, Profinet, BACnet/IP, BACnet MSTP, serial communications, and related OT network technologies
• Experience with OSI PI, MSSQL, historian systems, reporting systems, and manufacturing data integration
• Experience with cGMP, commissioning, qualification, validation, change control, data integrity, 21 CFR Part 11, and validated computer systems
• Working…