Warehouse Automation Area Lead – Allen-Bradley PLC

Role: Warehouse Automation Area Lead – Allen-Bradley PLC

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Work Arrangement: Hybrid during detailed design, with a minimum of one week per month onsite. Full-time onsite presence will be required during the commissioning phase.
Engagement Duration: 2+ years

About the Role

AMTSOL is seeking an experienced Warehouse Automation Area Lead to provide technical ownership of the control system solution for a pharmaceutical warehouse project.

The Area Lead will ensure that the automation solution is aligned with the overall program automation philosophy, technical standards, user requirements, and project delivery objectives.

The role will work closely with the Automation Project Manager, Automation Technical Lead, other Automation Area Leads, Process Engineers, Manufacturing Science representatives, Quality Engineers, Operations teams, equipment vendors, and the selected System Integrator.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical ownership of the automation and control system solution for the warehouse area.
• Define the ISA-88 software structure and required automation components for the assigned area.
• Develop initial functional design specifications and control system requirements.
• Work closely with the System Integrator to finalize functional specifications and control strategies.
• Participate in P&ID, process control, and automation strategy reviews.
• Review and approve functional requirements, specifications, control narratives, and automation deliverables.
• Ensure consistency across requirements, functional specifications, control strategies, and software deliverables.
• Coordinate with the System Integrator to deliver the automation scope in line with the agreed schedule and budget.
• Ensure the area automation solution is aligned with applicable program standards and automation philosophies.
• Respond to technical queries raised by the System Integrator and other project stakeholders.
• Support the implementation and review of the control system architecture.
• Identify software gaps, technical issues, and required remediation activities.
• Collaborate with the System Integrator to develop computer system validation deliverables.
• Obtain and review vendor documentation for packaged and skid-mounted equipment.
• Ensure vendor documentation is appropriately incorporated into integration and validation deliverables.
• Track technical issues identified following software acceptance and support their resolution.
• Identify technical risks associated with the warehouse automation scope and develop appropriate mitigation plans.
• Communicate project progress, technical issues, risks, and resource requirements to the Automation Technical Lead
• Maintain compliance with project training, documentation, GMP, and quality requirements

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Automation, Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, or an equivalent discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of automation engineering experience within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience with Allen-Bradley PLC systems.
• Experience delivering large pharmaceutical automation projects or programs.
• Strong experience developing and reviewing functional specifications, control strategies, and automation design documentation.
• Experience working with System Integrators throughout design, development, testing, commissioning, and qualification.
• Strong understanding of ISA-88 principles and automation software structures.
• Knowledge of GMP, regulatory requirements, change control, and computer system validation principles.
• Strong technical leadership, coordination, risk management, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across automation, process, quality, operations, validation, and vendor teams.

Preferred Experience

• Previous automation experience within a pharmaceutical warehouse or material-handling facility.
• Experience supporting API or bulk pharmaceutical manufacturing projects.
• Experience integrating packaged or skid-mounted equipment with plant automation systems.
• Experience supporting automation activities from detailed design through commissioning and qualification.