Automation Engineer

About the role

This position is responsible for providing automation expertise for small-to-medium projects, including continuous improvement, retrofit, and large capital investments to optimize manufacturing and supporting operations. The Automation Engineer will design, architect, troubleshoot, and deliver future enhancements for automation-related systems, with a focus on Digital 4.0 technologies such as automation systems, data historians, and IoT devices. The role involves maintaining and providing technical support to ensure the availability of automation systems across multiple manufacturing facilities.

Sanofi delivers 4.3 billion healthcare solutions annually, and this role contributes to that mission by ensuring flawless planning and execution in manufacturing and supply operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction to junior team members while embodying Sanofi’s Global Leadership Model.
• Lead automation-related projects and manage contractors for staff augmentation or project roles.
• Ensure timely issue escalation to senior management and cross-functional support teams.
• Partner with support teams (e.g., Manufacturing, Quality) to meet production schedules.
• Mentor junior automation engineers to ensure compliant and efficient project solutions.
• Design technical solutions for process automation challenges that are imaginative, thorough, and aligned with organizational objectives.
• Ensure process equipment automation supports operational schedule requirements.
• Manage medium-to-large departmental projects, including controls, approvals, and validation requirements.
• Integrate systems and data from skidded systems, analytical equipment, and process/building control systems.
• Develop robust automation solutions with minimal downtime and ensure data integrity.
• Lead the development of automation standards.
• Comply with Sanofi’s training requirements and ensure inspection readiness of assigned areas.
• Oversee completion of investigations and deviations, ensuring timely closure of CAPAs.
• Maintain compliant and inspection-ready automation documentation.
• Participate in inspections conducted by external regulators.
• Comply with Genzyme’s Safety Program, including Health and Safety regulations and OSHA requirements.
• Collaborate with inter-departmental and cross-functional teams to drive timely and productive changes.
• Partner with Manufacturing to troubleshoot and resolve process issues, proactively improving manufacturing processes.
• Work with Operational Excellence to drive process improvements through Kaizens, Kanban, 5S, and VSM.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, or a technological field with 5+ years of experience, or a Master’s degree with 3+ years of relevant experience.
• Hands-on programming experience with real-time manufacturing automation and control systems (e.g., DeltaV, PLCs, PI, Werum PAS-X).
• Technical experience with troubleshooting and root cause analysis for manufacturing control systems, specifically DeltaV.
• Experience supporting automated manufacturing operations, specifically DeltaV.
• Demonstrated knowledge of bus technologies and instrumentation.
• Understanding of validation requirements for control systems in CGMP and/or ASTM environments.
• Experience with multiple computerized systems (e.g., Ignition, Werum PAS-X, PI).
• Experience with SCADA/PLC systems such as Rockwell Factory Talk/RSLogix or Honeywell.
• Understanding of network infrastructure.
• Experience with systems/network/validation in the chemical, pharmaceutical, foods, or other process industries (preferred).
• Experience establishing safe practices in a cGMP environment.
• Proficiency with computer programs/applications such as Windows, VBA, and MS Office.
• Proven technical and analytical skills to resolve automation system issues quickly.
• Experience delivering solutions based on Digital 4.0.
• Experience with SaaS solutions and IoT/edge devices.

Special working conditions: Required manufacturing operations support on a rotating “on-call” 24/7 basis. Requires working in an industrial manufacturing environment, including gowning.

Benefits

• Supportive, future-focused team with opportunities for career growth through promotions or lateral moves, domestically or internationally.
• Comprehensive rewards package recognizing contributions and amplifying impact.
• High-quality healthcare, prevention, and wellness programs.
• At least 14 weeks of gender-neutral parental leave.
• Opportunities to shape the future of medicine and vaccine delivery using cutting-edge technology.
• Leverage digital, data, and AI-driven innovation to power industry-leading performance.
• Transform lives worldwide by delivering life-changing treatments globally.