Senior IT OT Automation Engineer

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

Job summary

SimoTech seeks multiple experienced Senior Automation Engineers (IT/OT) to support a major greenfield expansion at a pharmaceutical OS D site in Ireland. You will own key automation and digital technology areas across PLC/SCADA, eSCADA (Ignition), ThinManager, AVEVA PI, and related systems.

As part of a multidisciplinary team, you will design, implement, integrate, Commission, and ensure operational readiness while aligning with GMP, cybersecurity, and project objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Automation, Control Systems, Computer Science, IT, Engineering, or related discipline.
• Minimum 5–8 years of relevant IT/OT automation project delivery.
• Proven track record of delivering end-to-end IT/OT projects in regulated manufacturing environments.
• Expertise in PLC and SCADA systems (Siemens or Schneider), plus experience with ThinManager, Ignition, and Aveva PI.
• Strong understanding of project delivery methodologies, governance, and risk controls, with practical application in pharma or similar environments.
• In-depth knowledge of GMP practices, GAMP principles, and computer system lifecycle management.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to communicate to senior leadership and influence decision-making.
• Excellent leadership, problem-solving, and documentation skills.
• Knowledge of ActiveDirectory, ITIL frameworks (including ServiceNow), and enterprise integration principles is desirable.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity controls, OT networking, and cloud/edge integration technologies is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of major IT/OT work packages from project initiation through handover, managing scope, schedule, budget, risks, and resource planning.
• Lead technical and delivery alignment across multiple stakeholders, including engineering, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, QA, vendors, and system integrators.
• Define and review technical requirements and oversee solution design for OT systems such as PLC/SCADA/DCS, historians, MES, OT networks, and integration with IT systems and cloud platforms.
• Embed GMP, cybersecurity, and quality standards throughout delivery with compliance to GAMP and change control processes.
• Manage vendor performance including drafting/approving statements of work, setting acceptance criteria, and overseeing milestone delivery.
• Direct testing and commissioning activities, such as FAT/SAT, UAT, documentation review, and structured operational handover.
• Prepare governance reporting and support steering committees, risk reviews, and cadence meetings for project alignment.
• Mentor and guide junior and intermediate automation engineers to ensure consistent standards of delivery and knowledge transfer.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Problem-solving

Documentation

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Automation or related field

Tools

Siemens PLC/SCADA

Ignition (eSCADA)

ThinManager

AVEVA PI

Job description

SimoTech provides manufacturing automation andIT systems engineering, project management and validation services. We partnerwith life sciences companies to design, build, operate and optimise criticalprocess automation systems that deliver fast track project delivery,operational efficiency, improve manufacturing agility and achieve regulatorycompliance.

Why SimoTech

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

SimoTech is seeking multipleexperienced Senior Automation Engineers (IT/OT) to support the ramp-up of amajor greenfield expansion within a pharmaceutical Oral Solid Dose (OSD)manufacturing site. Each engineer will take technical ownership of a key automationand digital technology area, across PLC/SCADA, (Siemens), eSCADA (Ignition), ThinManager, AVEVA PI,VPE-managed equipment, and associated automation systems.

Working as part of amultidisciplinary project team, the successful candidates will lead the design,implementation, integration, commissioning, and operational readiness of theirassigned technology domain. The role involves close collaboration with manufacturing,engineering, validation, quality, cybersecurity, and global IT teams to ensuresystems are delivered safely, compliantly, and in alignment with project andbusiness objectives.

Responsibilities include end-to-endtechnical delivery, system integration, vendor coordination, risk management,troubleshooting, and lifecycle support across both Operational Technology (OT)and enterprise IT environments. Candidates will play a critical role inestablishing scalable, reliable, and cybersecure automation infrastructure thatwill underpin future manufacturing capacity and operational excellence at thesite.

Requirements

KeyResponsibilities

• Take ownership of major IT/OTwork packages from project initiation through handover, managing scope,schedule, budget, risks, and resource planning.
  
• Lead technical and deliveryalignment across multiple stakeholders, including engineering, ITinfrastructure, cybersecurity, QA, vendors, and system integrators.
  
• Define and review technicalrequirements and oversee solution design for OT systems such as PLC/SCADA/DCS,historians, MES, OT networks, and integration with IT systems and cloudplatforms.
  
• Embed GMP, cybersecurity, andquality standards throughout delivery with compliance to GAMP and changecontrol processes.
  
• Manage vendor performanceincluding drafting/approving statements of work, setting acceptance criteria,and overseeing milestone delivery.
  
• Direct testing andcommissioning activities, such as FAT/SAT, UAT, documentation review, andstructured operational handover.
  
• Prepare governance reportingand support steering committees, risk reviews, and cadence meetings for projectalignment.
  
• Mentor and guide junior andintermediate automation engineers to ensure consistent standards of deliveryand knowledge transfer.
  

Key Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree inAutomation, Control Systems, Computer Science, IT, Engineering, or relateddiscipline.
  
• Minimum 5–8 years of relevantexperience within IT/OT automation project delivery.
  
• Proven track record ofsuccessfully delivering end-to-end IT/OT projects in regulated manufacturingenvironments.
  
• Expertise in PLC and SCADAsystems (Siemens or Schneider), plus experience with one of ThinManager,Ignition, and Aveva PI.
  
• Strong understanding ofproject delivery methodologies, governance, and risk controls, with practicalapplication in pharma or similar environments.
  
• In-depth knowledge of GMPpractices, GAMP principles, and computer system lifecycle management.
  
• Exceptional stakeholderengagement skills with the ability to communicate to senior leadership andinfluence decision-making.
  
• Excellent leadership,problem-solving, and documentation skills.
  
• Knowledge of ActiveDirectory, ITIL frameworks (including ServiceNow), and enterprise integrationprinciples is considered desirable
  
• Knowledge ofcybersecurity controls, OT networking, and cloud/edge integration technologiesis considered desirable.
  

What SimoTech CanOffer

• 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 exciting capitalprojects.