Senior automation engineer (IT - OT)

Morgan McKinley; Athlone; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan McKinley is resourcing a Senior Automation Engineer (IT/OT) for a leading global healthcare company in Athlone, Ireland. The role leads complex IT/OT projects spanning enterprise IT and OT networks, coordinating across engineering, operations, IT security and external partners to deliver safe and compliant outcomes.

The position emphasizes work package ownership, strong delivery leadership, and hands-on guidance on PLC/SCADA/DCS, historian, MES and related integrations.

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering IT/OT projects with cross-functional teams.
• Experience managing stakeholders from technical to leadership levels.
• Strong documentation, governance and risk reporting skills.
• Knowledge of OT systems: PLC/SCADA/DCS, MES, OT networking.
• Background in GMP/pharma environments and ITIL concepts is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end IT/OT projects including scope, schedule and budget.
• Coordinate with engineering, operations, IT security and vendors.
• Provide design oversight for OT systems and IT integrations.
• Ensure safety, cybersecurity, quality, change control and readiness.
• Mentor automation engineers and drive knowledge transfer.

Skills

IT/OT project delivery

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Requirements gathering

Documentation & reporting

Cybersecurity awareness

Mentoring

Risk management

Tools

Siemens PLC

Schneider PLC

Ignition

Aveva PI

MES PAS-X (adv)

Job description

JOB TITLE :

Senior Automation Engineer (IT/OT)

JOB HOLDER :

Multiple

REPORTING TO

Director, Information Technology

DEPARTMENT

Information Technology

Introduction to Role:

Our client, a leading global healthcare company, based in Monksland, Athlone, is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer, to start as soon as possible.

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.

KEY AREAS 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 5-8 years' relevant experience.