Specialist, Automation Engineer (Onsite)

Description

The Enabling Facilities group in the Chemical Engineering Research & Development department is hiring an Automation Engineer, Specialist level, based onsite in Rahway, New Jersey. The role reports to the Director of Engineering and the Automation Lead and sits on the Enabling Facilities team, which builds new technologies and capabilities, delivers capital and non-capital improvement projects, and manages automation systems across pilot plant production, utility systems and the IT-OT infrastructure behind them.

The main focus is the Protein Engineering Microbial Infrastructure project, a new non-GMP lab and pilot plant under construction in Rahway. You will be a team member for its design, startup and commissioning. The project uses an Ignition-based SCADA system to collect data and run flexible batches and experiments across Sartorius AMBR250 systems, Getinge fermenters and bioreactors, tangential flow filtration, two lyophilizers, containment isolators, homogenizers, mixing tanks and Raman PAT integrations.

Because the facility is still being built, you will help with automation scope, Ignition software design, system commissioning and the other work needed to reach startup and operational readiness. You will work closely with development engineers, chemists, compliance staff and other team members. The wider group also supports facility operations, process development, compliance investigations, change management and GMP documentation across its enabling facilities.

The position is a regular, full-time role with 10% travel, no visa sponsorship and a primary location in Rahway, New Jersey. The posting closes on 11/4/2026.

Responsibilities

• Find and fix automation and instrumentation faults, run root cause analyses, and put in corrective and preventive actions that improve reliability, safety and effectiveness.
• Handle system patches, firmware upgrades, backup and restore plans, and cybersecurity hardening in line with corporate IT policy.
• Keep data integrity and audit trails sound enough to meet operational needs.
• Support capital projects covering design, installation and commissioning of new equipment, including writing, reviewing and running test documents.
• Take part in the facility on-call rotation.
• Work with Operations, Maintenance and IT so that automation supports uptime, safety, sustainability and efficiency goals.
• Drive continuous improvement, such as standardizing code, building modular code libraries, rationalizing alarms, and improving diagnostics and monitoring for utility equipment.
• When current capital projects allow, support other areas: a GMP process chemistry and prep lab making clinical and research material, including ADC-related batches, where you may work on Siemens PLC-controlled lyophilizers, isolator HMIs and SCADA interfaces; the Small Scale Organics pilot plant, a GMP facility running an Emerson DeltaV DCS that makes small molecule clinical drug substance and trials first pilots of commercial processes; and the Hazardous Reactions Lab, which runs GE PLC 90-30 processors with Genius I/O, an Intellution iFix interface on redundant SCADAs and seven workstations, local and OSI PI historians, and hydrogenation systems in B801 with ten Class 1 Division 2, Group B high-pressure cells.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in automation, engineering, science, computer science or a related technical field, plus at least 3+ years of progressive automation or process control experience in a regulated GxP environment (biopharmaceuticals, pharmaceuticals or medical devices).
• Proven skill with industrial PLC, HMI and SCADA platforms such as Rockwell and/or Siemens.
• Experience with SCADA systems and with AVEVA PI System or a comparable historian.
• Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills.
• Ability to write and review SOPs and cGMP documentation.
• Experience with quality systems.
• Clear verbal and written communication, and strong technical writing and analytical thinking.
• Ability to organize several priorities at once, plan activities, and bring initiative and creativity to the work.
• Willingness to learn and grow, and to contribute to team goals.
• Working knowledge of wiring diagrams, electrical schematics and system integration.
• Ability to work independently and across cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and document management systems.
• Desirable: experience with Ignition, Intellution iFIX, shop-floor digital integrations, ERP interfaces or IoT smart sensors.
• Desirable: delivering automation projects under SDLC and GAMP 5, and working knowledge of ISA-88 and ISA-95.
• Desirable: familiarity with DCS platforms such as Emerson DeltaV.
• Desirable: knowledge of industrial networks, server virtualization and cybersecurity basics.
• Desirable: experience with data analytics and self-service BI platforms.
• Desirable: support for regulatory audits or health authority inspections such as HPRA or FDA.
• Desirable: business value or continuous improvement work, including Agile and JIRA workflows.
• Desirable: working knowledge of OPC and Modbus.
• Desirable: automation system design, startup, commissioning or qualification.
• Desirable: understanding of object-oriented programming languages.
• Desirable: strong IT background, especially integrating automation with enterprise IT.
• Desirable: enterprise and local control network experience.
• Desirable: coordinating maintenance around manufacturing or processing operations to keep facilities reliable and running.

Conditions

Onsite in Rahway, New Jersey, with about 10% travel.

Regular employment with no visa sponsorship.

The pay range for the primary location is $87,300.00 to $137,400.00. Placement within the range depends on education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, location, government requirements and business needs.

Equal opportunity applies; accommodation is available on request during hiring.

Search firms without a valid written agreement should not contact the company; unsolicited CVs become company property and no fees will be paid.

Benefits

• Eligibility for an annual bonus and long-term incentive, where applicable.
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental and vision for employees and families, other insurance, 401(k) retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation and compassionate and sick leave.
• Full benefit details are available on the company's careers site.