Senior Automation Engineer

UNAVAILABLE; Cork; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Hovione in Ireland Cork is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer to join our Automation team. This senior individual contributor role provides technical leadership across design, lifecycle management, validation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement in a GMP manufacturing environment.

You will design and implement DeltaV-based automation solutions, support system upgrades, and ensure compliance with GMP, 21 CFR Part 11, and internal quality standards.

Qualifications

• Degree in Automation Engineering or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years in industrial automation.
• Strong DeltaV programming and configuration experience.
• Experience with GMP and 21 CFR Part 11.
• Excellent problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.
• Fluent English, written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and optimize automation systems and process control.
• Design, develop, configure, and implement DeltaV solutions.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex automation issues in live production.
• Provide technical guidance to manufacturing, engineering and process teams.
• Develop and maintain standards for alarms, interlocks, and HMIs.
• Support commissioning, qualification, validation activities and lifecycle management.

Skills

DeltaV programming

System troubleshooting

Regulatory compliance

GMP knowledge

Project management

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Degree in Automation Engineering

Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Emerson DeltaV

Job description

Join a Market Leader

About Hovione

At Hovione, we help partners turn scientific innovation into medicines that reach patients around the world. For more than 65 years, we have connected science, technology, and manufacturing to scale complex ideas into high-quality and innovative solutions that truly make a difference.

As an international Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), we support the development and manufacture of drug substances, intermediates, and drug products across the full life cycle. We are globally recognized for our leadership in specialized technologies such as Spray Drying and Continuous Tableting. But what truly sets us apart is not just what we do — it is how we do it: with purpose, care, collaboration, and a deep commitment to doing the right things right.

Our people are the reason for our success. We are a global and diverse team of more than 2,600 team members across Europe, the USA, and Asia, bringing together different experiences and perspectives to help our partners to overcome complex challenges. We believe that an inclusive environment — where everyone, regardless of background, identity or ability, is respected, heard and empowered to contribute — is essential to drive innovation, ensure quality, and secure long‑term sustainable success.

And as we grow, so do the opportunities for our people to develop, broaden their perspectives, and build meaningful careers. Because at Hovione, better starts with those who choose to make a difference every day. Will you be one of them?

You will be responsible to:

We are looking for an experienced Senior Automation Engineer to join our Automation team. This is a senior individual contributor role with manager-level accountability, providing technical leadership across automation design, system lifecycle management, validation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement initiatives.

This position offers a unique opportunity to combine operational support, project delivery, digital innovation, and strategic influence within a highly regulated GMP manufacturing environment.

Automation Systems & Technical Leadership

• Maintain, support, and optimize existing automation and process control systems.
• Design, develop, configure, and implement automation solutions using DeltaV and associated technologies.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex automation issues affecting manufacturing operations.
• Provide technical guidance and recommendations to manufacturing, engineering, and process teams.
• Develop and maintain standards for process control, alarms, interlocks, and human-machine interfaces.
• Support system lifecycle management, including upgrades, enhancements, and obsolescence planning.

Validation, Compliance & Documentation

• Develop, review, and approve automation specifications, testing documentation, qualification protocols, and standard operating procedures.
• Execute and support commissioning, qualification, validation, and testing activities.
• Ensure compliance with GMP requirements, 21 CFR Part 11, and internal quality standards.
• Participate in internal and external audits, inspections, and regulatory activities.
• Support root cause investigations and implement corrective and preventive actions.

Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Define requirements, plan, and execute automation projects and system modifications.
• Manage automation project activities from concept through implementation and qualification.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external contractors to ensure successful project delivery.
• Support the development and implementation of new digital and automation technologies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across automation systems and manufacturing processes.
• Collaborate with automation teams across Hovione sites to share best practices and standardization opportunities.

Strategic Contribution

• Contribute to annual automation objectives, resource planning, and budgeting activities.
• Monitor and report automation system performance and project outcomes.
• Influence automation strategy and process design decisions through technical expertise.
• Support HSE initiatives and participate in risk assessments including PHA, FMEA, and HAZOP studies.

We are looking to recruit a Candidate:

• Degree in Automation Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in industrial automation within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong hands‑on DeltaV programming and configuration experience.
• Experience with automation system design, commissioning, qualification, and lifecycle management.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot and resolve automation issues in live production environments.
• Knowledge of GMP regulations and 21 CFR Part 11 requirements.
• Experience developing technical documentation, specifications, test protocols, and validation documents.
• Excellent problem‑solving and root cause analysis skills.
• Strong project management and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Fluent English, both written and spoken.

Preferred Experience

• Pharmaceutical manufacturing experience.
• Experience within medical devices, biotechnology, oil & gas, or distillery industries using DeltaV systems.
• Emerson DeltaV expertise.
• Exposure to digital transformation and industrial automation innovation initiatives.

Hovione is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer

Inclusion and diversity are key to us. We are committed to creating an inclusive recruitment experience and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. If you require any reasonable accommodation or support during the application or interview process, pleasecontact us,and we will be happy to assist.

Notice to Agencies and Search Firms Representatives

Hovione does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies or search firms for this job posting. Any resumes submitted to Hovione by a third-party agency or search firm without a valid written and signed search agreement will become the sole property of Hovione. No fees will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited referral.