Automation Engineer

1. Req Prep (Hypothesis Story)

Novenesis is executing a long-term 800xA upgrade program and needs to secure a small, high-impact controls team in a tight market. Because true 800xA talent is scarce, the strategy is to intentionally hire Delta V junior and mid-level engineers who can transition quickly due to platform similarities, supported by senior technical leadership onsite.

The engagement is fully onsite, margin-sensitive, and phased, making local availability, coachability, and Delta V fundamentals more important than niche 800xA pedigree. Success on this project creates a reusable talent pool that can flex into Johnson & Johnson MES/Delta V work and future NNE Delta V Live upgrades, increasing long-term delivery leverage.

2. Req Story / Context

Primary Project: Novenesis 800xA Upgrade

• Location: Franklinton (local required)

• Start: April (initial hire)

• Duration: ~2 years

• Total Scope: ~14,000 hours

Staffing Plan (Validated)

• April: 1 Junior Delta V Engineer

• June-August: 2 Mid-Level Delta V Engineers

• Senior onsite leadership already in place to support onboarding

Scope of Work

• Convert SAT line templates into 800xA frameworks

• Build 8 new fermentation cores

• ~8,000 hours of recovery and operational support

• Pharma-adjacent environment (lighter regulatory constraints)

Interview Process

1. No-name resume submitted to customer

1. Panel interview with Caleb Gibson + Dan Brammer

1. Customer meet-and-greet (final confirmation)

3. NEED TO VALIDATE Gaps (Updated)

Role Definition • (Validated)

• Hiring mix: 1 Junior / 2 Mid-Level

• Minimum Delta V experience: 3 years hands-on

Logistics • (Validated)

• Work Model: Fully onsite; occasional hybrid exceptions only

• Relocation / Travel: None

• Weekly Hours: 40 hours expected

Technical ❗ (Still NEED TO VALIDATE)

• Which 800xA modules/tools are mission-critical vs trainable

• SAT line system expectations on day one (read-only vs configuration)

• Validation exposure for juniors (required vs nice-to-have)

Commercial ❗ (Still NEED TO VALIDATE)

• Rate flexibility for exceptional local candidates

• Overtime rules and billing multipliers

• Confirmation that 20-30% margin applies consistently per client

Process ❗ (Still NEED TO VALIDATE)

• Resume review SLA

• Interview turnaround timing

• Offer decision window

4. Technical Source (TS) Relationship

Key Stakeholders

• Caleb Gibson - Delivery lead, technical and commercial owner

• Dan Brammer - Site lead, deep 800xA / Delta V expertise

• Vendor Team - Pipeline ownership and execution

Operating Style

• Quality over volume

• Transparent skill representation

• Fast movement once the right candidate is identified

• Expectation of tight communication to avoid duplication

5. Experience - Three Must-Haves

Must-Have #1: Delta V Experience

• Minimum 3 years hands-on

• Batch, configuration, or commissioning experience

Must-Have #2: Controls Adaptability

• Demonstrated ability to learn new platforms

• Upgrade or migration experience preferred

Must-Have #3: Regulated / Industrial Exposure

• Pharma preferred

• Chemical, biotech, or pulp & paper acceptable

Nice-to-Haves

• Any 800xA exposure

• Fermentation or SAT line familiarity

• Validation documentation exposure

6. Logistics

• Location: Franklinton (local only)

• Onsite Requirement: Yes

• Hours: 40/week

• Duration: ~24 months

• Start Dates:

• Junior: April

• Mid-levels: June-August

• Rates (Targets):

• Junior: ~$120/hr

• Mid-level: ~$140-160/hr

• Senior/Specialist (if needed): Up to ~$180/hr

7. Req Pitch (Candidate-Facing)

"This is a long-term, fully onsite automation engagement where Novenesis is intentionally bringing in Delta V engineers to transition into 800xA. You'll work on real system modernization - not maintenance - in a pharma-adjacent environment with less red tape and strong technical leadership onsite. If you're looking for stability, growth, and deep controls work over the next two years, this project is built for that."

8. Sourcing Strategy

Target Profiles

• Local Delta V engineers (3-6 years)

• Engineers finishing short-term pharma or biotech projects

• Candidates open to long-term onsite work

Execution Strategy

• Screen hard on commute tolerance

• Lead with Delta V 12 800xA growth story

• Submit early to secure candidate interest

• Maintain bench for cross-project deployment (Novenesis / J&J)

Risk Controls

• Avoid non-local candidates

• Keep backup profiles warm due to competitive market

• Do not over-index on volatile clients (e.g., Fujifilm)

Skills and Requirements - add details here