Automation Engineer

NES Fircroft; Breda; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive hourly rate

31% shift allowance for 3 shift

International biopharma environment

Job summary

NES Fircroft is seeking an Automation Engineer for a state-of-the-art biopharmaceutical facility in Breda. You’ll maintain PLC/SCADA/HMI systems, support upgrades, and act as the on-shift escalation point to ensure safe, efficient production.

The role requires a Bachelors in Automation or related field, 3+ years in GMP manufacturing, and strong PLC/SCADA/HMI expertise. Fluent English and rotating shifts are essential. Experience with Siemens or Rockwell is preferred.

Qualifications

• MBO+ or Bachelor's degree in Automation, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a GMP-regulated manufacturing, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food, or packaging environment.
• Strong experience troubleshooting and maintaining PLCs, SCADA, and HMI systems.
• Fluent English, both written and spoken.
• Understanding GMP requirements and computerized system compliance.

Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot and resolve automation-related issues across manufacturing and packaging equipment.
• Maintain and support automation systems including PLCs, SCADA, and HMI platforms.
• Perform routine automation maintenance activities, including backups, restores, system access administration, and audit trail reviews.
• Support automation projects, upgrades, and implementation activities.
• Act as the primary escalation point for automation-related incidents during shifts.
• Monitor system performance and identify opportunities for reliability and efficiency improvements.
• Support vendors and external specialists during investigations and troubleshooting activities.
• Create and maintain GMP-compliant technical documentation.
• Train and coach maintenance technicians on automation systems and best practices.
• Collaborate closely with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and IT teams to minimise downtime and improve equipment performance.

Skills

PLC troubleshooting

SCADA

HMI platforms

GMP knowledge

English

Shift work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Automation or related

Tools

Siemens PLC

Rockwell Automation

Job description

We're seeking an experienced Automation Engineer to support the maintenance, troubleshooting, and optimisation of highly automated manufacturing and packaging systems at a state-of-the-art biopharmaceutical facility in Breda.

This is an excellent opportunity for an automation professional who enjoys solving technical challenges, working with PLC and SCADA systems, and taking ownership of automation performance within a GMP-regulated production environment.

Working as part of a shift-based engineering team, you'll be the first point of contact for automation-related issues, ensuring production equipment operates safely, efficiently, and reliably.

Key Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot and resolve automation-related issues across manufacturing and packaging equipment.
• Maintain and support automation systems including PLCs, SCADA, and HMI platforms.
• Perform routine automation maintenance activities, including backups, restores, system access administration, and audit trail reviews.
• Support automation projects, upgrades, and implementation activities.
• Act as the primary escalation point for automation-related incidents during shifts.
• Monitor system performance and identify opportunities for reliability and efficiency improvements.
• Support vendors and external specialists during investigations and troubleshooting activities.
• Create and maintain GMP-compliant technical documentation.
• Train and coach maintenance technicians on automation systems and best practices.
• Collaborate closely with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and IT teams to minimise downtime and improve equipment performance.

What We're Looking For

• MBO+ or Bachelor's degree in Automation, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related discipline, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a GMP-regulated manufacturing, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food, or packaging environment.
• Strong experience troubleshooting and maintaining:
• PLC systems
• SCADA systems
• HMI platforms
• Understanding of GMP requirements and computerized system compliance.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.
• Fluent English, both written and spoken.
• Willingness to work within a rotating shift schedule.

Preferred

• Experience with Siemens and/or Rockwell automation platforms.
• Experience acting as an automation lead or specialist within a production environment.
• Continuous improvement or reliability engineering experience.
• Experience training and coaching technical teams.
• Relevant automation or maintenance certifications.

What's in it for You?

• Competitive hourly rate of €26.37 - €27.75
• 31% shift allowance for 3 shift pattern
• Opportunity to work within a leading international biopharmaceutical manufacturing environment
• Exposure to advanced automation technologies and modern production systems
• Technical ownership and autonomy within your specialist area
• Long-term project environment with opportunities for professional development