Automation Engineer – PLC/SCADA for Pharma (Fixed-Term)

Boehringer Ingelheim

Pirbright

On-site

GBP 50,000 - 75,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Boehringer Ingelheim in the United Kingdom seeks an Automation Engineer to maintain and improve site automation technologies, including production equipment and building controls. The role blends hands-on engineering with project support, covering design, programming, troubleshooting and lifecycle management of control systems at the Pirbright site.

You will work with operations, maintenance, validation and IT, ensure compliance with GMP and internal standards, support audits, and contribute to

Qualifications

Hands-on experience with industrial automation systems including PLCs, HMI/SCADA, building automation and control systems.
Strong knowledge of PLC programming (ladder, function block, structured text) and industrial control architectures.
Understanding of low-voltage control systems (relays, safety circuits, drives) and industrial devices and interfaces (sensors, I/O, fieldbus, networking).
Experience supporting the full system lifecycle (design, implementation, troubleshooting, upgrades and documentation).
Familiarity with HMI/SCADA platforms and building automation systems.
Experience working in a pharmaceutical environment or another highly regulated industry.
Knowledge of GAMP5 (Good Automated Manufacturing Practice) methodology.
Understanding of project delivery and ability to manage priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Awareness of operational technology cybersecurity principles.
Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

Maintain and troubleshoot automation systems (including production and building automation) to ensure system reliability and minimize production downtime, while managing documentation, backups and system records.
Deliver automation support for engineering and maintenance projects, including design, programming and implementation of control systems, while ensuring alignment with scope, timelines, budgets and global standards.
Lead or contribute to automation projects and continuous improvement initiatives, coordinating stakeholders, managing deliverables and supporting long‑term site automation strategy and roadmap.
Ensure systems operate in a compliant manner by adhering to internal procedures, industry standards and regulatory requirements, including supporting audits and implementing corrective and preventive actions.
Collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams (operations, maintenance, engineering, validation, IT) and external vendors to support system performance and project execution.
Evaluate and implement new technologies, build internal expertise and provide knowledge sharing and training within the team.