Automation Lead

European Tech Recruit; Sligo; On-site; EUR 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical manufacturing firm in Sligo is seeking an experienced Automation Lead to oversee control systems and guide a talented team. This leadership role focuses on driving automation excellence, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and supporting integration with manufacturing systems. The ideal candidate has over 6 years of experience in a GMP environment and strong technical expertise in automation systems.

Qualifications

• 6+ years’ experience in process automation within a GMP-regulated environment.
• Strong understanding of 21 CFR Part 11 and EU Annex 11 for automated systems.
• Expertise in configuring and troubleshooting PLC, SCADA, and HMI systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all control system activities within the pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of automation and control engineers.
• Provide technical support for control system issues, troubleshooting, and optimization.

Skills

Leadership

Control system management

Troubleshooting

Process automation

Compliance with GMP standards

Education

BSc / BEng / Postgraduate Diploma in a relevant engineering discipline

Tools

PLC

SCADA

HMI

OSI-PI

Windows system administration

Job description

Automation Lead – Sligo

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Automation Lead to join a growing pharmaceutical manufacturing site in Sligo. This role plays a key part in driving automation excellence and supporting the site’s long-term vision to become a Factory of the Future.

About the Role

Reporting to the Engineering Manager, the Automation Lead will provide technical leadership across all control system activities, managing a team of automation professionals and ensuring the reliability, compliance, and continuous improvement of site automation systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all control system activities within the pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of automation and control engineers.
• Provide technical support for control system issues, including troubleshooting, optimisation, and documentation control.
• Lead validation activities related to control systems during project start-up and commissioning phases.
• Oversee life cycle management of control systems in accordance with GAMP 5 and regulatory standards.
• Manage the automation elements of continuous improvement projects, collaborating with process engineers, technical support, and operations teams.
• Support future integrations between control systems, MES, and ERP platforms.
• Manage departmental budgets and contribute to long-term maintenance and improvement planning.
• Ensure full compliance with EHS and GMP standards.
• Represent the automation function during audits and inspections by regulatory authorities or customers.

Qualifications & Experience

• BSc / BEng / Postgraduate Diploma in a relevant engineering discipline.
• 6+ years’ experience in process automation within a GMP-regulated environment (pharmaceutical or related industry).
• Strong understanding of 21 CFR Part 11 and EU Annex 11 requirements for automated systems.
• Proven experience with plant start-ups, system commissioning, and new product introductions.
• Expertise in configuring and troubleshooting PLC, SCADA, and HMI systems.
• Solid understanding of control system networks, including Ethernet and network architecture models.
• Experience integrating systems with plant historians (e.g., OSI-PI) using OPC interfaces.
• Knowledge of automation system life cycle management – including backup, recovery, access control, configuration, and change management.
• Proficiency in Windows system administration within a regulated environment.

Why Apply?

This is a key leadership position within a dynamic and expanding pharmaceutical site, offering the opportunity to shape the automation strategy, lead a talented team, and deliver impactful projects in a world-class manufacturing environment.