Automation & Digital Manufacturing Leader

AstraZeneca plc; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca plc in Dublin seeks a senior leader to set the automation, OT and digital manufacturing agenda for a biologics site. You will lead a multidisciplinary team, shaping multi-year roadmaps and partnering across Manufacturing, Quality, IT and Engineering to ensure safety, compliance and resilience.

You will champion Industry 4.0, AI-enabled tools, data backbone and cyber-security while enabling a flexible, multi-product facility and rapid NPIs for both BDS and packaging operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Automation, Electrical, Electronic, Computer, Software or Control Engineering; advanced degree desirable.
• Typically 10+ years in GMP pharma or similarly regulated manufacturing with large automation teams.
• Experience delivering automation roadmaps, lifecycle, budgets, vendors and multi-stakeholder programmes.
• Broad knowledge of PLC, MCS, MES, HMI, historian, industrial networks and OT infrastructure.
• Strong understanding of automation architecture, security, data integrity and validation readiness.
• Ability to apply data, analytics and AI to engineering opportunities in a compliant way.
• Strong project/programme management and cross-functional leadership.
• Lean mindset with capability to drive improvements and value delivery.

Responsibilities

• Own and execute site Automation, OT and Digital Manufacturing strategy with multi-year roadmaps.
• Provide strategic and technical leadership for PLC, HMI, historian, MCS, MES interfaces and OT networks.
• Establish and govern standards for automation architecture, configuration, ownership and documentation.
• Ensure systems are available, secure, validated and inspection-ready with 24-7 support.
• Develop flexible OT systems for multi-product manufacturing and NPIs.
• Lead systemic issue resolution through risk assessment, root cause analysis and CAPAs.
• Drive OT cybersecurity improvements with IT and global teams, including monitoring and recovery.
• Identify opportunities to use AI, analytics, digital twins and manufacturing intelligence.
• Ensure validation, data integrity and ethical compliance for digital/AI solutions.
• Lead automation workstreams for capital projects and technology transfers.
• Approve lifecycle governance, vendor designs and testing approaches.
• Manage supplier/OEM relationships and long-term support strategies.
• Develop budgets, workforce plans and KPIs for safety, quality and reliability.
• Mentor and develop leaders and teams; foster cross-functional collaboration.
• Build partnerships and escalate critical events to senior stakeholders.
• Champion lean, sustainability and safe working practices.

Skills

Automation

Industrial networks

Cybersecurity

Digital analytics

AI awareness

Leadership

GMP experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Automation/Engineering

Tools

DeltaV

MES interfaces

HMI

SCADA

MCS

Windows OT infra

PLC

Job description

AstraZeneca plc in Dublin seeks a senior leader to set the automation, OT and digital manufacturing agenda for a biologics site. You will lead a multidisciplinary team, shaping multi-year roadmaps and partnering across Manufacturing, Quality, IT and Engineering to ensure safety, compliance and resilience.

You will champion Industry 4.0, AI-enabled tools, data backbone and cyber-security while enabling a flexible, multi-product facility and rapid NPIs for both BDS and packaging operations.