Senior Automation Engineer

Posted 25 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Durham, NC, USA
In-Office
Senior level
Biotech
The Role
The Senior Automation Engineer manages automation systems, supports compliance, leads projects, and ensures systems are maintained according to engineering and quality standards.
Summary Generated by Built In

JOB SUMMARY:

The Facilities Engineering Department is responsible for all aspects of maintaining the site infrastructure in an active reliable state to support cGMP operations. Facilities Engineering oversees the architectural features of the buildings, Structural/Civil, Biotech process and laboratory equipment and systems, HVAC, Plant and Clean Utility Systems, Electrical Power and Lighting, and Automation for the facility. A Senior Automation Engineer is responsible for providing technical support for ongoing operations by serving as a system owner for Facilities automation systems, maintaining the site in a compliant state, and ensuring engineering and quality standards are maintained. Facilities Engineering is responsible for the generation and implementation of Change Controls, Corrective Actions Preventive Actions, Deviations, and other quality system records. As a part of project execution, a Senior Automation Engineer will support the design, implementation, commissioning, and validation of new systems or the modification of existing systems and serve as a project manager or lead project engineer for multiple concurrent projects. For larger, more complex projects, a Senior Automation Engineer will manage KBI engineering resources by assigning tasks, setting work priorities, and being responsible for project completion. A Senior Engineer will also manage outside contractors and trades. Project Management activities may include scope definition, scope adherence, stakeholder agreement, budgeting, scheduling, risk management, procurement, and installation support

Responsibilities:

Direct or support concurrent automation engineering projects on both technical and project management aspects for capital and operational projects while ensuring their success in meeting their respective objectives.

Support the maintenance oversight of site instrumentation, plant level automation hard and software, and oversight of the Manufacturing Execution Systems, Building Management System, and Data Historian.

Support Validation with the planning and execution of commissioning and validation protocols. Support CAPA, Change Control, Deviation, Risk Analysis, Root Cause Analysis, and other Quality Systems.

Develop and maintain standard operating procedures and other procedures for installed systems.

Support and comply with engineering standards, drawing controls, project controls and other procedures and standards necessary for the successful operation of the department as well as the creation and maintenance of the same.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science degree in an engineering discipline and a minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible instrumentation/automation development, implementation, and maintenance activities or;

• Bachelor of Science degree and a minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible instrumentation/automation development, implementation, and maintenance activities.

• Minimum 5 years hands on experience with instrumentation and controls equipment including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, and networking equipment

• Have strong automation engineering skills and ability.

• Have Fieldbus configuration and management experience with Profibus being preferred or be able to obtain the same.

• Experience with Unicorn, Wonderware, Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk, Rockwell Automation RSLogix, Siemens Apogee, Open Process Control (OPC) preferable.

• Experience with qualifiable MES systems, such as OSI Pi preferable.

• Must have experience with Windows Servers hardware and Microsoft Windows - applications.

• Experience with communication protocols including but not limited to RS-485, RS-232, Ethernet, Modbus & Profibus is preferable.

• Experience in Biopharmaceutical manufacturing preferable

• Must have experience with writing protocols, test scripts, user requirements, and system design documents.

• Must have strong organization, interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.

• Must be able to prioritize multiple commitments and technical problems.

• Must have the ability to shift priorities according to changes in department/facility needs and be open to different ideas/approaches.

Language Ability:

Ability to concisely write reports and to effectively communicate information to executive management, managers, technicians, government agencies and customers.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to apply engineering principles and problem-solving skills to everyday challenges.

Math Ability:

Strong math and analytical skills required. Ability to perform heat load calculations and size utility systems. Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, variance analysis, and determination of reliability and validity.

Physical Demands

Execution of assigned tasks will require the ability to access hard to reach areas of the facility to include confined spaces, cramped or low ceilings, interstitials, and mechanical rooms.

Computer Skills:

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project), AutoCAD 3.7

Equipment Use:

Standard hand tools, power tools, electrical multimeter, large format plotter, computer, telephone, copy and fax machine

KBI Biopharma, Inc. is an EEO/AA employer and actively seeks to diversify its work force. Therefore, all qualified applicants, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status, are strongly encouraged to apply.

I understand that neither the completion of this application nor any other part of my consideration for employment establishes any obligation for KBI Biopharma, Inc. to hire me. If I am hired, I understand that either KBI Biopharma, Inc. or I can terminate my employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause and without prior notice. I understand that no representative of KBI Biopharma, Inc. has the authority to make any assurance to the contrary.

I attest with my signature below that I have given to KBI Biopharma, Inc. true and complete information on this application. No requested information has been concealed. I authorize KBI Biopharma, Inc. to contact references provided for employment reference checks. If any information I have provided is untrue, or if I have concealed material information, I understand that this will constitute cause for the denial of employment or immediate dismissal.

Skills Required

  • Bachelor of Science degree in engineering discipline
  • 8 years of instrumentation/automation development or 12 years without a degree
  • 5 years hands-on experience with instrumentation and controls equipment
  • Experience with PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems and networking equipment
  • Fieldbus configuration and management experience
  • Experience with Unicorn, Wonderware, Rockwell Automation systems
  • Experience with qualifiable MES systems
  • Experience with communication protocols like RS-485, RS-232, Ethernet
  • Experience in Biopharmaceutical manufacturing
  • Ability to write protocols, test scripts, and system design documents

KBI Biopharma Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about KBI Biopharma and has not been reviewed or approved by KBI Biopharma.

  • Healthcare Strength Health coverage includes medical, dental, and vision with HSA/FSA options, alongside life and disability insurance. Employer-verified listings indicate solid foundational coverage across sites.
  • Leave & Time Off Breadth PTO and paid holidays are provided, with flexible or “unlimited” PTO available in some salaried roles and standard accrual with limited rollover elsewhere. This breadth supports time away options across job families.
  • Parental & Family Support Parental leave is available, with indications of 12 weeks for U.S. employees in recent materials. Maternity and paternity leave are included as part of the package.

KBI Biopharma Insights

Am I A Good Fit?
beta
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.

The Company
Boulder , CO
1,282 Employees
Year Founded: 1996

What We Do

KBI Biopharma is an award-winning biopharmaceutical contract services organization providing fully-integrated, accelerated drug development and biomanufacturing services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies globally. With each of our 500+ client partners, we have worked closely to personalize and rapidly accelerate their drug development programs. Built upon a foundation of world-class analytical capabilities, we deliver efficient process development and clinical and commercial cGMP manufacturing services for mammalian, microbial, and cell therapy programs. KBI is proud to be a JSR Life Sciences Company.

Similar Jobs

CrowdStrike Logo CrowdStrike

Senior Automation Engineer

Cloud • Computer Vision • Information Technology • Sales • Security • Cybersecurity
Remote or Hybrid
USA
10000 Employees
140K-215K Annually
In-Office or Remote
2 Locations
4820 Employees
160K-237K Annually

Xyntek, Inc. Logo Xyntek, Inc.

Senior Automation Engineer

Information Technology • Professional Services • Industrial • Automation
In-Office
Clayton, NC, USA
In-Office
Greensboro, NC, USA
300 Employees

Similar Companies Hiring

Formation Bio Thumbnail
Artificial Intelligence • Big Data • Healthtech • Biotech • Pharmaceutical
New York, NY
140 Employees
SOPHiA GENETICS Thumbnail
Software • Healthtech • Biotech • Big Data • Artificial Intelligence
Boston, MA
450 Employees
Pfizer Thumbnail
Artificial Intelligence • Healthtech • Machine Learning • Natural Language Processing • Biotech • Pharmaceutical
New York, NY
121990 Employees

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account