Automation Engineer

Hyper Recruitment Solutions Ltd; Waterford; On-site; EUR 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Hyper Recruitment Solutions Ltd is recruiting an Automation Engineer to join a leading pharmaceutical company in Co Waterford on a 12-month contract. The role focuses on day-to-day automation support, ensuring regulatory compliance and system reliability, with responsibility across Fill Finish, Packaging, Projects, and Maintenance.

The ideal candidate holds an engineering degree and 3–5 years pharma automation experience, with PLC/SCADA expertise and a proactive, collaborative approach.

Qualifications

• Degree or higher in Engineering or related field.
• 3–5 years in pharma automation or related roles.
• Experience with PLC/SCADA and vision systems.
• Knowledge of validation protocols and GAMP lifecycle.
• Strong collaborative and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day automation support to operations.
• Act as automation point of contact for multiple departments.
• Identify and implement PLC/SCADA optimization opportunities.
• Provide guidance to engineers on automation issues.
• Ensure compliance and participate in validation/change controls.
• Contribute to cross-functional projects.

Skills

Automation engineering

PLC

SCADA

GAMP

Validation

Change control

Cross-functional

Communication

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Siemens PLC

Elau PLC

iFix

Wonderware

Antares

Systech

Job description

We are currently recruiting an Automation Engineer to join a leading Pharmaceutical company based in Co Waterford, supporting day-to-day automation functions. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled automation professional to become a key contributor to the reliable operation and continuous improvement of automation systems across various departments. The role is based on a day shift, offering a dynamic environment where technical expertise will be essential to maintain compliance and enhance system performance. In this position, you will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality automation support, ensuring systems meet regulatory standards and operational needs. If you’re passionate about automation technology and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative setting, this is an excellent chance to advance your career within a globally recognized organization. This is an initial 12 month contract with likely extension.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide day-to-day automation support to operational teams, ensuring systems remain compliant, reliable, and aligned with regulatory expectations.
• Serve as the automation point of contact for departments including Fill Finish, Packaging, Projects, Maintenance, and Facilities.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement opportunities to optimize PLC and SCADA systems, applications, and workflows for continuous improvement.
• Offer technical guidance and expertise to Process, Maintenance, and Facilities Engineers on automation-related issues.
• Ensure automation systems are maintained in a compliant state, including adherence to GAMP lifecycle validation requirements.
• Generate, review, and execute automation change controls and validation protocols.
• As the Automation Engineer, you will contribute actively to cross-functional projects, supporting system integrity and operational excellence.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• A Degree or higher level in Engineering, Automation, Control Systems, or a related field.
• Proven experience (3-5 years) in pharmaceutical automation, control systems, or project engineering roles.
• Strong proficiency with PLC systems (e.g., Siemens, Elau), SCADA systems (e.g., iFix, Wonderware), and vision systems such as Antares or Systech.
• Demonstrable experience with validation protocols, change control, and GAMP lifecycle practices.
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset, capable of working effectively across multidisciplinary teams.

Hyper Recruitment Solutions Ltd (HRS) is an Equal Opportunities employer. We welcome applications from anyone who meets the role requirements.