Automation Technical Lead

Simotechnology; Cork; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SimoTech in Cork, Ireland, seeks an Automation Technical Lead to drive projects from discovery through commissioning and handover. The role combines hands-on automation engineering with project delivery, covering GMP/GAMP5, data integrity, cybersecurity and client engagement.

The successful candidate will lead automation projects for biotech, pharmaceutical and life sciences clients, developing schedules, budgets and client relationships while mentoring junior engineers.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years’ experience implementing and supporting automation systems in biotechnology/pharmaceutical/life sciences.
• Degree qualification in Engineering, Automation, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience delivering automation projects through multiple project lifecycle phases.
• Strong experience in Rockwell Automation (ControlLogix, FactoryTalk, PlantPAx) and/or Siemens (TIA Portal, S7, WinCC).
• Experience with SCADA, HMI, PLC and industrial networking technologies.
• Exposure to project planning, scheduling, cost estimation and budget management.
• Experience supporting Commissioning, Qualification and Validation activities.
• Knowledge of GMP, GAMP5, Data Integrity, Cybersecurity and Safety requirements.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Excellent communication and client-facing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead small to medium automation projects and workstreams from initial client engagement through detailed design, implementation, commissioning and qualification.
• Assist in development of project execution plans, schedules and resource plans.
• Support project budgeting, cost estimation and change management activities.
• Contribute to project reporting, risk management and progress tracking.
• Interface directly with clients to coordinate deliverables and resolve technical issues.
• Coordinate and manage equipment vendors, system integrators and client stakeholders to achieve successful project delivery.
• Identify project risks and proactively develop mitigation plans.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to junior engineers and share knowledge across teams.

Skills

Automation engineering

Project leadership

Client-facing communication

Independent work

Education

Engineering degree in Automation/Electrical/Computer Science

Tools

Rockwell Automation

Siemens

SCADA

HMI

PLC

Job description

SimoTech are looking for an AutomationTechnical Lead, based in our headquarters in Cork. The ideal candidate willpossess strong hands-on automation engineering expertise combined with projectengineering and project delivery capabilities. This role is suited to anexperienced self-starter who can independently drive projects from earlydiscovery and concept phases through design, implementation, commissioning,qualification, and operational handover.

The successful candidate will haveextensive experience with Rockwell Automation and/or Siemens automationplatforms and will play a key role in delivering automation projects forclients in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and life sciencessectors. The role also offers an opportunity to develop project managementcompetencies including schedule development, project planning, cost estimation,budget management, and client engagement.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

Automation EngineeringResponsibilities

• Develop automation solutions for greenfield and brownfieldmanufacturing projects.
• Support projects through the complete lifecycle from discovery,conceptual design and FEED studies through detailed design, implementation,commissioning, qualification and startup support.
• Generate and review URS, Functional Specifications, DesignSpecifications, Control Narratives, Test Protocols and QualificationDocumentation.
• Participate in FAT, SAT, Commissioning and Qualificationactivities.
• Troubleshoot complex automation and integration issues.
• Support control system architecture development and technologyselection activities.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, GAMP5, Data Integrity, Cybersecurityand regulatory requirements.

Front-End Engineering & TechnicalConsultancy

• Participate in discovery workshops and client strategy sessions.
• Develop Front End Studies and Basis of Design documentation.
• Support equipment integration strategies and system architecturedevelopment.
• Review vendor proposals and participate in technical bidevaluations.
• Provide technical consultancy services on automation and digitalmanufacturing initiatives.

Project Delivery Responsibilities

• Lead small to medium automation projects and workstreams frominitial client engagement and scope definition through detailed design,implementation, commissioning and qualification.
• Assist in the development of project execution plans, schedulesand resource plans.
• Support project budgeting, cost estimation and change managementactivities.
• Contribute to project reporting, risk management and progresstracking.
• Interface directly with clients to coordinate deliverables andresolve technical issues.
• Coordinate and manage equipment vendors, system integrators andclient stakeholders to achieve successful project delivery.
• Identify project risks and proactively develop mitigation plans.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to junior andintermediate engineers.
• Share knowledge and lessons learned across project teams.

Qualifications and Experiences:

• 8-1 0 years’ experience implementing and supporting automation systems formanufacturing organizations in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical or lifesciences industries.
• Degreequalification in Engineering, Automation, Electrical Engineering, ComputerScience or related discipline.
• Demonstratedexperience delivering automation projects through multiple project lifecyclephases.
• Strongexperience in one or more of the following platforms: Rockwell Automation(ControlLogix, FactoryTalk, PlantPAx) and/or Siemens (TIA Portal, S7, WinCC).
• Experiencewith SCADA, HMI, PLC and industrial networking technologies.
• Exposure toproject planning, scheduling, cost estimation and budget management.
• Experiencesupporting Commissioning, Qualification and Validation activities.
• KnowledgeofGMP, GAMP5, Data Integrity, Cybersecurity and Safety requirements.
• Ability towork independently with minimal supervision.
• Excellentcommunication and client-facing skills.

What SimoTech Can Offer

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