senior automation engineer

Morgan McKinley; Athlone; On-site; EUR 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan McKinley in Ireland seeks a Senior Automation Engineer (IT/OT) to lead the planning and delivery of complex IT/OT projects spanning enterprise IT systems, PLC/SCADA, and plant networks. You will own work packages, drive alignment across engineering, operations, and vendors, and ensure safe, compliant outcomes.

The role emphasizes strong delivery leadership, risk and change management, and the ability to mentor junior engineers while balancing security, quality, cost, and schedule.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading IT/OT delivery projects.
• Experience with governance, reporting, risk management.
• Ability to engage senior stakeholders across functions.
• Strong documentation, facilitation and leadership skills.
• Pharma lifecycle, FDA-regulated environments, GAMP knowledge.
• Detail-oriented, self-motivated, independent worker.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end IT/OT projects from initiation to handover.
• Coordinate with engineering, operations, IT security, and vendors.
• Define requirements and design OT systems (PLC/SCADA/DCS, historian, MES).
• Ensure safety, cybersecurity, and compliance throughout delivery.
• Manage procurement, SOWs, milestones, and change control.
• Lead FAT/SAT, UAT, training, and handover to support teams.
• Run governance routines and drive continuous improvement.
• Mentor automation engineers and support knowledge transfer.

Skills

IT/OT delivery

Project governance

Stakeholder management

Documentation & reporting

Team mentoring

Cybersecurity compliance

Tools

Siemens PLC

Schneider PLC/SCADA

Ignition

Aveva PI

Job description

JOB TITLE : Senior Automation Engineer (IT/OT) JOB HOLDER : Multiple REPORTING TO Director, Information Technology DEPARTMENT Information Technology Introduction to Role: The Senior Automation Engineer (IT/OT) is responsible for leading the planning and delivery of complex projects that span enterprise IT systems and Operational Technology (OT) environments, including industrial control systems and plant networks. This role is focused on strong Work Package Ownership and technical delivery leadership, with responsibility for driving alignment across cross-functional teams and external partners. The role delivers safe, compliant, and reliable outcomes while balancing cybersecurity, quality, cost, schedule, risk, and operational readiness.

KEYAREAS OF JOB ACCOUNTABILITY:(list of key objectives and quantifying standards)

• Lead Work Package Ownership for end-to-end delivery of significant IT/OT projects from initiation through handover, including scope, schedule, budget, resources, risks, dependencies, and benefits realization.
• Drive coordination with engineering, operations, maintenance, IT security and infrastructure, vendors, and system integrators to align objectives, resolve delivery issues, and maintain clear execution plans.
• Lead requirements gathering and provide solution design oversight for OT systems such as PLC/SCADA/DCS, historian, MES, OT networking, and related IT integrations including enterprise applications, cloud/edge, and data platforms.
• Ensure safety, compliance, cybersecurity, and quality requirements are embedded throughout delivery, including change control, permit-to-work, site access, commissioning, cutover, and operational readiness.
• Manage procurement and vendor performance, including statements of work, acceptance criteria, delivery milestones, technical review, commercial change control, and escalation of delivery risks.
• Lead testing and commissioning activities such as FAT/SAT, user acceptance testing, documentation generation, review and approval, training, and structured handover to support teams.
• Run governance routines where required, including steering committee inputs, daily or weekly execution cadences, risk and issue reviews, and continuous improvement through lessons learned.
• Mentor other Automation and Junior Automation engineers and provide technical guidance to project teams to improve delivery quality, documentation standards, and knowledge transfer.

Required qualifications:

• Proven experience independently delivering projects in IT and/or OT environments, ideally involving complex interfaces such as plant networking, SCADA installations or upgrades, FMS/BMS deployments, data integration, process equipment deployment, and system integration.
• Strong understanding of project delivery methodologies and proven practical application of governance, controls, reporting, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience leading stakeholder management across technical, quality, operational, vendor, and leadership groups, including clear communication to senior leadership.
• Strong experience of Pharma lifecycle processes, FDA regulated environments, GAMP, change management, commissioning, cutover, and operational readiness.
• Excellent documentation, facilitation, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Must be detail oriented, self-motivating, able to work independently, and capable of influencing across functions.

Preferred qualifications:

• Hardware/Software:Strong experience with PLC and SCADA systems such as Siemens or Schneider, Computerised Equipment, Ignition, ThinManager, Aveva PI, and similar Manufacturing Solution Applications.
• Experience with MES solutions such as PAS-X is an advantage.
• Working knowledge of Active Directory application design, implementation, and integration with manufacturing or OT systems.
• Knowledge of ITIL processes relating to Project and Service Delivery, including ServiceNow, with experience applying these processes in a project environment.
• Minimum 58 years relevant experience.

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