Automation Engineer

Mantell Associates; Denmark; On-site; DKK 673,000 - 972,000; Full time

Job summary

Mantell Associates is partnered with an international engineering and consulting company to search for an experienced Automation Engineer for a large-scale greenfield pharmaceutical expansion in Denmark.

You will work across six production lines, from design through FAT/SAT and site installation, commissioning, and qualification, within an ABB 800xA DCS environment. Requires hands-on ABB experience and GMP compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Automation, Control Systems, Electrical, Chemical, or related engineering discipline.
• Hands-on ABB 800xA DCS experience including AC 800M configuration and Batch Management.
• Experience across design, FAT, installation, commissioning, and CQV in GMP-regulated environments.
• Familiarity with GAMP 5 validation principles and relevant documentation.
• Strong stakeholder coordination with vendors, construction teams, and QA.

Responsibilities

• Develop control philosophy and FDS/URS for lines in design.
• Configure and test ABB 800xA applications and AC 800M controllers.
• Lead FAT/SAT protocols across six parallel lines.
• Support on-site commissioning, loop checks, and I/O verification.
• Coordinate with process engineering, CQV, ABB, and construction teams.
• Ensure GMP, GAMP 5, and 21 CFR Part 11 compliance.

Skills

ABB 800xA

AC 800M

Control systems

GAMP 5

FAT/SAT

CQV

P&ID

GMP

Stakeholder coordination

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Automation/Control/Electrical/Chemical engineering

Tools

ABB 800xA DCS

Control Builder

System 800xA Batch

AC 800M configuration

Batch Management

Job description

Mantell Associates is partnered with an international engineering and consulting company, who are searching for an experienced Automation Engineer to join a large-scale greenfield pharmaceutical manufacturing expansion in Denmark.

The project spans six new production lines running in parallel, each at a different stage of the lifecycle, from early control system design through FAT/SAT to site installation, commissioning, and qualification. Working within the ABB 800xA Distributed Control System (DCS) environment, you will flex between design, execution, and commissioning activities depending on the needs of each line. This is a multi-year build-out, so strong prioritisation and the ability to context-switch between the following will be key:

• Control philosophy and functional design specification (FDS/URS) development for lines still in design


• Control system configuration, application software build, and testing (FAT) for lines in execution


• Site installation support, loop checking, and commissioning (SAT/CQV) for lines nearing start-up


• Support and troubleshooting for lines transitioning into operational qualification and handover


• Develop and review automation design documentation, including functional design specifications, control narratives, P&ID markups, and I/O lists for ABB 800xA-based control systems


• Configure and program ABB 800xA control applications, including AC 800M controllers, batch management, and operator graphics, in line with GAMP 5 and client automation standards


• Plan and execute Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) protocols across multiple production lines


• Lead or support on-site commissioning activities, including loop checks, I/O verification, interlock testing, and start-up troubleshooting


• Coordinate with process engineering, qualification (CQV), automation vendors (ABB), and construction teams to align automation deliverables with the project schedule for each line


• Ensure all automation work complies with GMP, GAMP 5, 21 CFR Part 11, and internal quality and validation requirements


• Manage and track deviations, punch lists, and change requests relating to control system scope through to closure


• Support integration between the ABB 800xA DCS and MES/historian and other plant IT/OT systems as required


• Contribute to risk assessments relevant to automation scope, including HAZOP follow-up actions and SIL/interlock reviews


• Provide clear status reporting to the Automation Project Lead across all six lines, flagging risks to schedule or quality early


• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Automation, Control Systems, Electrical, Chemical, or a related engineering discipline


• Proven hands-on experience with ABB 800xA DCS, including AC 800M configuration, Control Builder, and Batch Management (System 800xA Batch)


• Experience across the full automation project lifecycle: design, FAT, installation, commissioning, and qualification (CQV)


• Prior experience within a pharmaceutical, biotech, or other GMP-regulated manufacturing environment is highly desirable


• Familiarity with GAMP 5 computer system validation principles and documentation practices


• Working knowledge of P&IDs, cause and effect matrices, and control narratives


• Experience on greenfield or large capital expansion projects, ideally with multiple concurrent workstreams


• Strong stakeholder coordination skills, comfortable working with vendors (particularly ABB), construction contractors, and internal process and quality teams


• Proficiency in English is essential; Danish language skills are an advantage but not required


• Experience with safety instrumented systems (SIS) and functional safety standards (e.g. IEC 61511) preferred


• Knowledge of MES integration (e.g. PAS-X, Werum) or plant historian systems preferred


• Experience with electrical/instrumentation loop drawings and I/O checkout tools preferred