Job Overview
The Manager of Automation Engineering is a first-line technical leader responsible for overseeing the automation engineering team and ensuring reliable, efficient, and compliant operation of control systems across the site. This individual manages automation resources, develops team capability, and personally leads to high-impact automation projects or system upgrades. The role combines people leadership with hands-on engineering execution, driving continuous improvement in process automation, data systems, and manufacturing reliability.
Responsibilities
- Leadership & People Management
- Directly supervise and mentor a team of automation engineers, technicians, and/or controls specialists.
- Set performance goals, conduct reviews, and support individual development and training plans.
- Allocate team resources across projects, maintenance support, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Establish and enforce automation standards, engineering procedures, and best practices.
- Foster a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, and innovation within the team.
Project Ownership
- Serve as project lead or subject matter expert on select automation projects, upgrades, and system integrations.
- Provide hands-on design, programming, configuration, and commissioning support for PLC, HMI, SCADA, and DCS systems.
- Ensure automation systems meet operational, reliability, cybersecurity, and regulatory requirements.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (engineering, operations, IT, maintenance, quality) to deliver integrated system solutions.
- Review and approve automation design packages, control narratives, and change control documentation.
Strategic and Continuous Improvement
- Lead the automation roadmap for the site - including system modernization, digital transformation, and process optimization initiatives.
- Identify opportunities for automation or advanced control to improve efficiency, reduce risk, and enhance product quality.
- Oversee vendor and integrator relationships, including scope of definition, project execution, and performance management.
- Ensure alignment with corporate IT/OT cybersecurity standards.
- Track and report automation of KPIs and reliability metrics.
Compliance & Documentation
- Ensure all automation work adheres to GMP, GAMP 5, OSHA, and other relevant regulatory standards.
- Oversee and approve documentation such as functional design specs (FDS), test protocols, and validation records.
- Maintain system lifecycle documentation and ensure changes are properly controlled and recorded.
Reports To
- Reports to: Director or Associate Director, Engineering / Capital Projects
- Direct Reports: 3-8 Automation Engineers and/or Controls Technicians
- Role Type: First-line people manager with active technical and project responsibilities.
Qualifications/Skills
- Strong expertise in control system design, PLC/HMI programming (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.), and network communications.
- Experience in regulated manufacturing (pharmaceutical, biotech, or chemical) strongly preferred.
- Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage multiple concurrent projects.
- Strong communication, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.
Education, Experience & Licensing Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in electrical, Chemical, Mechanical, or Automation Engineering (master's preferred).
- Minimum 7-10 years of engineering experience, with at least 2 years in a leadership or lead project role.
- Ability lift and move 25 lb. weight
- Ability to climb stairs and/or ladders
- Exposure to chemicals, moving parts, vibration, noise, etc.
