Engineering Automation Specialist

Septodont; Cambridge; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Engineering Automation Specialist to enhance automation solutions for production equipment. This role focuses on optimizing industrial control systems and ensuring seamless integration with IT and engineering teams. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in PLC programming, HMI development, and project management within regulated environments. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to innovative automation projects while enjoying a supportive work culture that values employee development and work-life balance. Join a dynamic team dedicated to excellence and quality in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.

Benefits

Excellent compensation/benefits package

Bonus and reward programs

Discounted gym memberships

Work-life balance programs

Employee recognition program

Professional development programs

Social events and spirit days

Qualifications

• 5+ years in industrial automation and control systems.
• Experience with PLC programming and HMI development required.

Responsibilities

• Lead integration and optimization of automation solutions.
• Oversee real-time process control and data collection.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI development

SCADA systems

Industrial automation

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor degree in Engineering

Diploma in Automation or Industrial Technology

Tools

Siemens PLC

Allen-Bradley PLC

Profinet

Modbus

OPC

Job description

Novocol Pharma is a growing contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), specialized in sterile injectable cartridges and combination product manufacturing. We strive for excellence and customer-centricity to deliver value to global pharmaceutical clients through contract services for drug development and commercial manufacturing. With over 40 years in operation, our team of 600 employees and modern facilities, located in Cambridge, Ontario provide a personalized and responsive experience for our customers. We are focused on serving our strategic partners and patients with quality, integrity, and value.

Our employees are our number one asset! We offer developmental opportunities, excellent compensation and benefit programs, discounted gym memberships, work/life balance programs, employee recognition, social events and spirit days.

We are a proud member of the Septodont group of companies. Septodont is a pharmaceutical and medical device company with a global leadership position in dental pain management. The group counts over 2000+ employees worldwide and has remained a 100% family owned company for over 90 years. Our Cambridge facility serves as a significant manufacturing site within the Septodont group with high volume dental anesthetic production for a global customer base.

We have an opportunity for an Engineering Automation Specialist.

Job Summary

The Engineering Automation Specialist is responsible for leading the integration and optimization of automation solutions for production equipment. This role is Operational Technology (OT) focused requiring expertise in industrial control systems, real-time data acquisition, and process automation. In addition, the individual is responsible for standardizing the site’s production control system management program with seamless integration with IT, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality and Production.

Responsibilities

• Subject matter expert (SME) for site-based industrial automation systems, including PLCs, HMIs, line level automation devices and OT network topology.
• Propose, create and implement new automation projects (including compliance, continuous improvement and obsolescence) in order to improve company technologies.
• Establish local rules and methodology to ensure secure, reliable and efficient management of industrial control systems (i.e. governance, cybersecurity, system integration, backup, lifecycle management, and compliance).
• Oversee real-time process control, data collection and automation reliability.
• Implement and maintain regular cadence with key stakeholders to build strong relationships, align priorities, gaps, and plans.
• Manage and optimize industrial networks (Profinet, modbus, ethernet/IP) with IT to ensure secure and efficient communication.
• Ensure seamless integration of OT systems with IT-managed platforms like ERP, eBR, SCADA, Active Directory and Historian.
• Work closely with IT, Maintenance and Engineering to align and implement cybersecurity and disaster recovery plan (DRP) for production automation systems.
• Support maintenance on the resolution of production automation-related issues to minimize production disruptions.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of automation control logic, configurations, manuals, specifications, training and best practices.
• Assist in cross-training of departmental reps to support overall compliance to site’s OT and automation best practices.
• Participate and lead in cross functional settings on various automation topics; design specification, risk assessment, system review, data integrity, safety and regulatory compliance for new and existing production equipment.
• Maintain compliance and support implementation with corporate standards for Automation and Control Systems engineering, maintenance and validation processes.
• Key automation SME in support of Site’s equipment risk registry by ensuring accurate status of the automation risk evaluation for all production equipment.
• Maintain inventory of all active industrial control systems, including HMIs and PLCs for each production equipment.
• Observes and supports all safety guidelines and regulations.
• Follows GMP and regulatory requirements, and ensures quality standards are met.
• Models the Company Mission, Vision and Values Statements, policies, and current standard business practices.
• Performs other related duties and or special projects as assigned by the manager.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor degree or diploma in Engineering, Automation, Industrial Technology, or a related field

Experience

• 5+ years of similar and relevant experience in industrial automation, control systems or OT environments in a regulated industries such as pharmaceutical industry standards (GMP, ICH, validation process, etc).
• Proven ability to read and interpret electrical and control system drawings.
• Hands on experience with PLC programming (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, etc), HMI development and SCADA systems.
• Knowledge of industrial control systems’ best practices and IT/OT convergence.
• Proficiency in industrial communication protocols (e.g. Profinet, Modbus, OPC).
• Demonstrated ability to identify and mitigate risks associated with assigned projects by developing mitigation plans, following set escalation plans as necessary and proactively monitoring risks throughout the project.
• Management of medium to large projects that involve complicated control systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to work in a team environment.
• Proven analytical, troubleshooting and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fast paced environment.
• Effective organizational, time management and detail-orientation skills.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision, taking initiative and prioritizing work.
• English business fluency. French and Portuguese are an asset.

What we offer:

• Excellent compensation/benefits package.
• Bonus and reward programs.
• Discounted gym memberships.
• Programs supporting work life balance.
• Employee recognition program.
• Professional and personal development programs.
• Social events and spirit days.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion, and thank all applicants in advance; however, we will be corresponding only with those selected for an interview.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, we are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free recruitment and selection process.

Recruitment Fraud – please be aware of recruitment fraud. Novocol Pharmaceutical of Canada Inc. will never ask for banking information, money or any personal information up front. We will only respond to official applications submitted through our careers site. In addition, we will only use official corporate e-mail addresses (septodont.com or novocolpharma.com) to communicate with applicants. Should you be contacted without submitting an application, please delete the message and advise your e-mail provider.

Internal Job Posting Grade 10. The due date for internal applicants to apply for this role is March 31, 2025.