Senior Automation Projects Manager

SimoTech; Cork; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SimoTech in Cork, Ireland is seeking a Senior Automation Projects Manager to lead and oversee automation initiatives for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients. You will coordinate cross-functional teams from conception to validation, ensuring on-time delivery and regulatory compliance.

The role requires a strong technical background in PLC/SCADA/DCS, OT, and proven project management leadership. You will develop proposals, manage budgets, and collaborate with clients and vendors to drive

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience managing automation or controls projects in life sciences or regulated industries.
• Formal project management certification or PMP certification is an advantage.
• Strong understanding of GxP, GMP, and FDA requirements.
• Familiarity with automation platforms such as Rockwell, Siemens, DeltaV, SCADA applications and OT Infrastructure is required.
• Proven project management and team leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams in the execution of automation projects from conception through commissioning and validation.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, ensuring alignment on scope, deliverables, timelines, and budget.
• Manage project budgets, forecasts, cost control and change management to ensure strong commercial performance.
• Develop commercial proposals, project plans, resource allocations, schedules, and risk management strategies.
• Track progress and ensure timely delivery.
• Provide project governance, status reporting and escalation management for internal and client stakeholders.
• Support business development activities through client engagement, identification of new opportunities, and input to new business proposals.
• Collaborate with automation SME’s and solution architects to ensure technical feasibility and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Coordinate with internal teams, client stakeholders, and third-party vendors to ensure seamless execution.
• Ensure all documentation meets quality and regulatory requirements, including validation protocols and project lifecycle deliverables.
• Identify opportunities to improve project execution methodologies, and client delivery processes.
• Lead a team of Project Engineers and Project Managers, providing guidance, ensuring adherence to Project Management Standards and reviewing performance.

Skills

Project leadership

Communication

Negotiation

Client-facing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or related field

Tools

Rockwell

Siemens

DeltaV

SCADA

Job description

Why SimoTech

What is it like to work at SimoTech? With a strong collaborative teamwork culture based on respect, trust and excellence, we play a critical partnering role to our clients’ life-changing supply of products to patients. In return, there is excellent salary, benefits, career progression, educational support and much more.

Senior Automation Projects Manager

SimoTech is seeking an experienced Senior Automation Projects Manager to join our Engineering Services team to lead and oversee the delivery of automation projects within the life sciences sector. Reporting to the Engineering Services Director and working with the Engineering Services Manager, this role will be responsible for the planning, execution and control of automation initiatives for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients. The ideal candidate will have a good technical knowledge of process automation (PLC/SCADA/DCS) and Operational Technologies (OT), excellent project management skills, and a client-first mindset.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams in the execution of automation projects from conception through commissioning and validation


• Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, ensuring alignment on scope, deliverables, timelines, and budget


• Manage project budgets, forecasts, cost control and change management to ensure strong commercial performance


• Develop commercial proposals, project plans, resource allocations, schedules, and risk management strategies.


• Track progress and ensure timely delivery


• Provide project governance, status reporting and escalation management for internal and client stakeholders.


• Support business development activities through client engagement, identification of new opportunities, and input to new business proposals


• Collaborate with automation SME’s and solution architects to ensure technical feasibility and compliance with regulatory standards


• Coordinate with internal teams, client stakeholders, and third-party vendors to ensure seamless execution


• Ensure all documentation meets quality and regulatory requirements, including validation protocols and project lifecycle deliverables


• Identify opportunities to improve project execution methodologies, and client delivery processes


• Lead a team of Project Engineers and Project Managers, providing guidance, ensuring adherence to Project Management Standards and reviewing performance

Key Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field.


• 10+ years of experience managing automation or controls projects, in the life sciences or regulated industries


• Formal project management certification or PMP certification is an advantage


• Strong understanding of GxP, GMP, and FDA requirements


• Familiarity with automation platforms such as Rockwell, Siemens, DeltaV, SCADA applications and OT Infrastructure is required


• Proven project management and team leadership capabilities.


• Excellent communication, client-facing, and negotiation skills.


• Strong attention to detail


• Proven client relationship and business development skills


• Excellent commercial and an analytical mindset.


• Ability to work autonomously, with minimal oversight, to tight timelines.


• Proficiency in project management tools (MS Project, Smartsheet, etc.).


• Ability to travel as required to client sites

What SimoTech Can Offer

Role provides a high degree of autonomy to allow the successful candidate to reach their full potential.

Develop new skills and enhance technical ability by working with innovative technologies in a multi-disciplined environment.

Opportunity to work with large corporate clients on exciting capital projects.