The Opportunity
The Senior Automation Engineer is responsible for the implementation, maintenance, support, and continuous improvement of manufacturing automation systems, including MES, PCS/DCS, and PLC platforms. This role owns process recipes and system configurations within the assigned manufacturing value stream, ensuring alignment with global standards, regulatory requirements, and manufacturing execution strategies while supporting both new and legacy systems.
As a technical subject matter expert, the Automation Engineer provides leadership and support across the lifecycle of capital and operational projects, including design, commissioning, validation, and ongoing operations. The role collaborates with cross-functional teams to deliver reliable and compliant automation solutions, drive process improvements, resolve system incidents, and provide on-call operational support to maximize manufacturing efficiency, system performance, and facility uptime.
The Role
- Responsible for the implementation and ownership of the Process Control Systems (PCS)/ Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) process recipes and systems related to the Bulk Manufacturing value stream
- Provide life cycle support for Manufacturing Execution and Automation Control Systems including technical support for projects, operational support (including after hours support), preventative maintenance and continual improvement initiatives
- Collaborate with respective Project Managers and stakeholders (including Quality, Facilities, Engineering, Manufacturing and Health & Safety) to ensure execution systems project deliverables are ready in time and of high quality for the different milestones throughout projects
- Ensure the overall automation design and implementation meets Engineering and Manufacturing requirements for the operation of the manufacturing facilities
- Ensure all work performed is of high quality and in compliance with pharmaceutical regulations and CSL procedures and provide a strong contribution to audit inspection activities
Required Skills and Experience
- At least 5 years or more working experience in industrial automation / MES design and support
- Direct experience designing, building, deploying and supporting Automation and MES Systems in a regulated large-scale process-based manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated capability to fault find and resolve complex MES / Control System issues
- Experience technically leading of complex DCS/PCS /Automation projects with integrated MES systems from initial development through validation
- Hands on experience in recipe and workflow authoring as well as experience in configuring master data and equipment in MES.
- Experience in process automation, MES and batch manufacturing industry standards (ISA S88 &S95)
- Degree in the discipline of Computer Science; Mechatronics; Computer Systems Engineering or a similar field.
- Pharmaceutical experience and a good knowledge of GMP principles is desirable.
- Experience in Siemens PCS 7, Siemens Opcenter or JAG control systems would be beneficial.
