Automation Engineer Manager

Job Summary

The Manager, Automation Engineering is a first-line technical leader responsible for leading a team of automation professionals while driving the reliable, efficient, and compliant operation of site automation and control systems. This role combines people leadership with hands-on engineering expertise, overseeing automation projects, system upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance manufacturing performance, data integrity, and operational reliability.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of automation engineers, controls specialists, and technicians.
• Establish performance goals, conduct evaluations, and support employee development plans.
• Allocate resources across projects, maintenance activities, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Promote automation standards, engineering best practices, and a culture of safety, accountability, and innovation.

Automation Engineering & Project Execution

• Serve as project lead and technical subject matter expert for automation projects, upgrades, and system integrations.
• Provide hands-on support for the design, programming, configuration, testing, and commissioning of PLC, HMI, SCADA, and DCS systems.
• Review and approve automation design documentation, control strategies, and change control records.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, IT, and Quality teams to deliver integrated automation solutions.
• Ensure automation systems meet operational, reliability, cybersecurity, and regulatory requirements.

Continuous Improvement & Strategy

• Lead site automation roadmap initiatives, including modernization, digital transformation, and process optimization projects.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, product quality, and manufacturing reliability through automation and advanced controls.
• Manage relationships with external vendors and system integrators.
• Monitor automation performance metrics and reliability KPIs to drive continuous improvement.

Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure automation activities comply with GMP, GAMP 5, OSHA, and applicable regulatory standards.
• Oversee development and approval of functional specifications, testing protocols, validation documentation, and lifecycle records.
• Maintain effective change management and documentation practices for automation systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Chemical, Mechanical, Automation Engineering, or a related discipline; Master’s degree preferred.
• 7–10 years of engineering experience, including at least 2 years in a leadership or lead project role.
• Strong expertise in control system design and PLC/HMI programming (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens), SCADA/DCS platforms, and industrial networking.
• Experience in regulated manufacturing environments such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or chemical industries preferred.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage multiple concurrent projects.