Automation Engineer

SimoTech; Dublin; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

SimoTech is seeking an Automation Sustaining Engineer to join our client’s Digital & Automation Team in Ireland. The role focuses on sustaining run-state operations, lifecycle maintenance, and continuous improvement of automation and digital systems across multiple manufacturing suites.

You will collaborate with Operations and Engineering, lead trouble-shooting, change control, and system enhancements while ensuring regulatory compliance and validated state throughout the lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Automation, Electrical, Electronic, Mechatronic, Chemical, or Computer Engineering.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing automation systems (DCS, PLCs, SCADA).
• Hands-on experience with Siemens S7 and/or Rockwell CompactLogix/SLC PLCs.
• Experience with GMP-regulated pharmaceutical/biotech environments.
• Proven troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day technical support for production-critical automation and digital systems.
• Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis to minimise downtime.
• Maintain and update lifecycle documentation, SOPs, and validation records.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, GAMP, and change-control processes.
• Support audits and incident response, including recovery actions.
• Participate in continuous improvement using Lean and Six Sigma methods.

Skills

Automation systems

PLC expertise

GMP compliance

Root cause troubleshooting

Cross-functional collaboration

Documentation & lifecycle

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Automation/Engineering

Tools

Siemens S7

Rockwell CompactLogix

DeltaV DCS

iFIX/SCADA

Job description

What is it like to work at SimoTech? With a strong collaborative teamwork culture based on respect, trust and excellence, we play a critical partnering role to our clients’ life-changing supply of products to patients. In return, there is excellent salary, benefits, career progression, educational support and much more.

Automation Engineer

SimoTech is seeking an Automation Sustaining Engineer to join our client’s Digital & Automation Team. This is a hands-on technical role responsible for supporting the run-state operations, lifecycle maintenance, and continuous improvement of automation and digital systems across multiple manufacturing suites.

The position requires strong problem-solving skills to ensure production continuity, regulatory compliance, and validated system state. The role involves close collaboration with Operations, Engineering, and Automation teams, providing technical leadership across troubleshooting, change control, and system enhancement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Automation Operations & Production Continuity
• Provide day-to-day technical support for production-critical automation and digital systems.
• Act as a key technical contact for Operations and site Engineering teams on run-state systems.
• Investigate and resolve automation-related deviations and unplanned events through root-cause analysis.
• Support new equipment introduction and transition from project delivery into sustained operations.
• Maintenance & Lifecycle Support
• Maintain automation and digital systems in a validated, compliant state in line with GMP, GAMP, and change-control processes.
• Develop, review, and update lifecycle documentation including specifications, SOPs, and periodic reviews.
• Ensure compliance with regulations and support internal and external audits.
• Incident, Crisis & Business Continuity
• Respond to automation system incidents and faults, including diagnosis, escalation, and recovery support.
• Collaborate with digital and automation teams to restore system availability and minimize downtime.
• Support execution and testing of Business Continuity Plans (BCP).
• Document incidents, root causes, and implemented corrective actions.
• Control System & Infrastructure Management
• Provide hands-on technical support for PLC (Siemens/Rockwell), SCADA (iFIX), HMI, and PC-based control systems.
• Execute software changes and upgrades through formal change-control and validation processes.
• Design, test, and commission automation software updates in line with coding standards.
• Support specification, procurement, and integration of automation upgrades.
• Process Automation & Continuous Improvement
• Participate in continuous improvement activities using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Apply advanced troubleshooting techniques to enhance system reliability, data integrity, and efficiency.
• Contribute to cross-functional problem-solving and standardisation initiatives.
• Perform system compliance activities such as audit trail reviews and backup and restore testing.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Automation, Electrical, Electronic, Mechatronic, Chemical, or Computer Engineering.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing automation systems, including DCS (DeltaV preferred), PLCs, SCADA, and PC-based platforms.
• Hands-on experience with Siemens S7 and/or Rockwell CompactLogix/SLC PLCs.
• Working knowledge of automation lifecycle management in regulated GMP environments.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot and resolve automation issues for operational systems.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the flexibility to work independently.
• Significant experience in GMP-regulated pharmaceutical or biotechnology manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of GAMP and validated automation systems.
• Experience with vendor coordination, commissioning activities, and lifecycle documentation.

What SimoTech Can Offer

• Role provides a high degree of autonomy to allow the successful candidate to reach their full potential.
• Develop new skills and enhance technical ability by working with innovative technologies in a multi-disciplined environment.
• Opportunity to work with large corporate clients on exciting capital projects.