Automation Project Manager

Horizon Controls Group; Swords; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Horizon Controls Group is seeking an Automation Project Manager for a leading Pharma client in Leinster, Ireland. You will lead end-to-end automation initiatives across scoping, design, build, testing, commissioning and handover to operations.

In this role you will build project plans, manage budgets, coordinate engineers and vendors, and ensure compliance with GMP, GAMP 5 and data integrity standards. Strong communication with site leadership is essential.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering or related technical discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience managing automation or engineering projects in regulated manufacturing.
• Knowledge of GMP, GAMP 5, ISA-88, and data integrity principles.
• Experience with commissioning, qualification and validation of automated equipment.

Responsibilities

• Lead automation projects end to end from scoping to handover to operations.
• Build and manage project plans, budgets, and resource forecasts with reporting to site stakeholders.
• Coordinate internal automation engineers, system integrators, and vendors to keep deliverables on scope, time and budget.
• Work with process engineering, IT/OT, quality and validation to support production and compliance goals.
• Oversee documentation such as user requirements, functional specifications, test protocols and handover packs.
• Manage interface between automation and site systems like MES, historians, and building management systems.
• Run project meetings, design reviews and lessons-learned sessions; record decisions and actions.
• Identify risks early and implement mitigation plans.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Budgeting

Planning

Communication

GMP/GAMP awareness

Education

Engineering degree (Electrical/Electronic/Chemical/Mechanical/Automation) or related field

Tools

Emerson DeltaV

Rockwell Allen-Bradley

Siemens

SCADA

HMI

OSIsoft PI

Job description

Horizon Controls Group are recruiting for an Automation Project Manager for a leading Pharma giant in Leinster, Ireland.

Key responsibilities

• Lead automation projects end to end, from scoping and estimating through design, build, testing, commissioning and handover to operations.
  
• Build and manage project plans, schedules, budgets and resource forecasts, and report progress, risks and issues to site stakeholders.
  
• Coordinate internal automation engineers, system integrators and equipment vendors, keeping deliverables on scope, time and budget.
  
• Work alongside process engineering, manufacturing, IT/OT, quality and validation teams so automation changes support production and compliance goals.
  
• Make sure projects follow GMP, GAMP 5 and data integrity requirements, including change control, documentation and computer system validation.
  
• Oversee the lifecycle documents for automation projects, such as user requirements, functional and design specifications, test protocols and handover packs.
  
• Manage the interface between automation and wider site systems, such as MES, historians and building management systems.
  
• Run project meetings, design reviews and lessons-learned sessions, and keep clear records of decisions and actions.
  
• Identify technical and schedule risks early and put mitigation plans in place
  
• Degree in engineering (electrical, electronic, chemical, mechanical or automation) or a related technical discipline, or equivalent experience.
  
• Proven experience managing automation or engineering projects, ideally in pharmaceutical, bio-pharmaceutical, medical device or another regulated manufacturing setting.
  

Good understanding of common industrial automation platforms, having worked with or alongside teams using them, such as:

• Distributed control systems (DCS), for example Emerson DeltaV or similar
  
• PLCs, for example Rockwell Allen-Bradley or Siemens
  
• SCADA and HMI systems
  
• MES and data historians, for example OSIsoft PI
  
• Familiarity with GMP, GAMP 5, ISA-88 batch control and data integrity principles.
  
• Strong planning, budgeting and stakeholder management skills, with confidence reporting to senior site leaders.
  
• Clear communicator who can bridge technical teams and business stakeholders.
  
• Hands-on automation experience, such as configuring, programming or troubleshooting DCS, PLC or SCADA systems.
  
• Experience with commissioning, qualification and validation (CQV) of automated equipment.
  
• Knowledge of OT networking and industrial cybersecurity.
  
• Formal project management training, such as PMP, PRINCE2 or Agile.
  
• Experience managing system integrators and third-party vendors.