Senior/Junior Automation Engineer

About the role

We are seeking a highly motivated Automation Engineer to support and enhance automation systems within a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. This individual will be responsible for the design, implementation, troubleshooting, maintenance, and continuous improvement of manufacturing control systems, ensuring reliable operation while maintaining compliance with cGMP and regulatory requirements. The ideal candidate will have experience with PLCs, SCADA/DCS platforms, process automation, and validation activities within a regulated life sciences environment.

Responsibilities

• Support manufacturing operations by troubleshooting and resolving automation, controls, and process system issues.
• Design, configure, program, and maintain automation systems including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and DCS platforms.
• Lead and support automation projects from design through commissioning, qualification, and startup.
• Develop and modify control strategies, logic, alarms, recipes, and batch processes.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Validation, Quality, and Engineering teams to improve system performance and reliability.
• Support commissioning, qualification, and validation activities, including IQ/OQ/PQ documentation and execution.
• Manage automation-related change controls, deviations, investigations, and CAPA activities.
• Maintain compliance with FDA, cGMP, and data integrity requirements including 21 CFR Part 11.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation including functional specifications, P&IDs, SOPs, and automation standards.
• Support manufacturing execution systems (MES), historians, and data collection platforms.
• Participate in root cause investigations and implement corrective actions to minimize downtime and improve productivity.
• Provide after-hours support for critical manufacturing systems as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Automation, Controls Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 3+ years of automation experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience with PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, or equivalent.
• Experience with SCADA, HMI, or DCS systems such as FactoryTalk, Ignition, iFix, DeltaV, or Siemens PCS7.
• Knowledge of manufacturing process control systems and instrumentation.
• Experience supporting validation and qualification activities in a cGMP environment.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.

Qualifications

• Experience with DeltaV, PAS-X, PI Historian, OSIsoft PI, or other manufacturing systems.
• Experience supporting sterile, API, biologics, cell therapy, gene therapy, or aseptic manufacturing operations.
• Knowledge of ISA-88, ISA-95, GAMP 5, and ASTM E2500 standards.
• Experience with SQL databases, reporting tools, or industrial networking.
• Experience supporting facility utilities such as WFI, clean steam, HVAC, purified water, and process gases.
• Greenfield startup, commissioning, or expansion project experience.

Skills

• PLC Programming
• SCADA / HMI Systems
• DeltaV DCS
• Process Automation
• Batch Control
• Instrumentation & Controls
• MES Integration
• Data Historians
• Change Control & CAPA
• Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
• Root Cause Analysis
• cGMP & FDA Compliance

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $65.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision; Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital; 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available; Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents); Short and long-term disability; Health Spending Account (HSA); Transportation benefits; Employee Assistance Program; Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave).

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Durham, NC. This is a fully onsite position in Durham, NC.