Senior Automation Engineer/Automation Engineer/Controls Engineer

Intellectt INC

Illinois City, IL

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
ABB (Asea Brown Boveri), Acceptance Testing, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API), Allen-Bradley, Application Programming Interface (API), Automation, Automation Engineering, Automation Systems, Biotech and Pharmaceutical, Brownfield Redevelopment, Budget Management, Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), Centrifuge, Change Control, Cloud Computing, Code of Federal Regulations, Commissioning, Control Engineering, Corrective and Preventative Action (CAPA) Systems, Cost Control, Cross-Functional, Data Quality, Delivery Management, DeltaV, Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Documentation, Drug Manufacturing, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Energy & Utilities, Energy Efficiency, Energy Management, Engineering, Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC/EPCC/EPCM), GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), Human Machine Interface (HMI), Identify Issues, Instrumentation, Instrumentation Engineering, Internet Security, Maintain Compliance, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Operations, Mentoring, Network Architecture/Engineering, OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), Predictive Modeling, Preventative Maintenance, Process Improvement, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), Project Control, Project Estimates, Project Execution, Project Lifecycle, Purchasing/Procurement, Regulations, Reliability Engineering, Requirements Management, Risk Analysis, Strategic Planning, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Systems Maintenance, Technical Leadership, Technical/Engineering Design, Vendor/Supplier Management
LOCATION
Illinois City, IL
POSTED
1 day ago

Job Title: Senior Automation Engineer

Experience: 10+ years

Location: Illinois

Job Summary:

We are seeking an experienced Senior Automation Engineer with over 10 years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, specifically in API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) facilities. The ideal candidate will lead automation initiatives, execute CAPEX projects, ensure regulatory compliance, and support digital transformation across manufacturing operations. The role requires expertise in industrial automation systems, project execution, process optimization, and cross-functional collaboration.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead automation engineering activities for API manufacturing plants.
  • Manage end-to-end automation scope for CAPEX projects, including concept design, engineering, procurement, installation, commissioning, qualification, and handover.
  • Design, develop, configure, and maintain PLC, SCADA, DCS, and HMI systems.
  • Execute automation upgrades, modernization, and lifecycle management projects.
  • Prepare and review User Requirement Specifications (URS), Functional Design Specifications (FDS), Design Qualification (DQ), Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), Site Acceptance Test (SAT), Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), and Performance Qualification (PQ) documentation.
  • Coordinate with EPC contractors, automation vendors, OEMs, consultants, and internal stakeholders during project execution.
  • Ensure compliance with GMP, GAMP 5, 21 CFR Part 11, Annex 11, and Data Integrity requirements.
  • Integrate process equipment with MES, ERP, historians, and reporting systems where applicable.
  • Troubleshoot automation and instrumentation issues to minimize production downtime.
  • Lead change control, deviation investigations, CAPA implementation, and risk assessments related to automation systems.
  • Support process optimization initiatives to improve equipment reliability, productivity, and energy efficiency.
  • Develop preventive maintenance strategies for automation systems.
  • Provide technical leadership and mentor junior automation engineers and technicians.
  • Support regulatory inspections and customer audits related to automation systems.

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Instrumentation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related discipline.
  • 10+ years of automation engineering experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
  • Strong experience in API manufacturing facilities.
  • Proven experience managing automation deliverables for CAPEX projects.
  • Experience in greenfield, brownfield, or plant expansion projects.
  • Knowledge of process automation standards and pharmaceutical validation practices.

Technical Skills:

  • PLC Programming (Siemens, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Schneider, Mitsubishi)
  • SCADA Systems (WinCC, Wonderware, FactoryTalk, Ignition)
  • DCS Platforms (Siemens PCS7, Emerson DeltaV, Yokogawa Centum, ABB 800xA)
  • HMI development and troubleshooting
  • Batch process automation
  • Alarm management
  • Historian systems
  • MES integration
  • Network architecture for industrial automation
  • Cybersecurity fundamentals for OT environments

Preferred Experience:

  • Automation of reactors, centrifuges, dryers, solvent recovery systems, utilities, and clean utilities in API plants.
  • Experience with serialization, digitalization, or Industry 4.0 initiatives.
  • Exposure to IIoT, cloud connectivity, predictive maintenance, and analytics platforms.
  • Experience with energy management and utility automation.
  • Vendor management and contract execution.
  • Budget planning and cost control for automation projects.

About the Company

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Intellectt INC