Senior Automation Engineer

Sire Search; Breda; On-site; EUR 53,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A Senior Automation Engineer is sought to join the Equipment Engineering team in Breda, Netherlands. You will own automation for new and upgraded manufacturing equipment, from design and testing through installation, qualification and handover, in a regulated GMP environment.

Collaborating with Engineering, Manufacturing, Maintenance and IT, you will ensure reliable, secure and compliant production systems and provide hands-on support during implementation and qualification.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of automation/process control experience in pharma/biotech.
• Experience with labeling/packaging equipment.
• Proven PLC, HMI, SCADA, and vision system knowledge.
• GMP/regulatory manufacturing experience.
• Experience delivering automation projects in cross-functional/international teams.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management.
• Fluent English, written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Lead automation activities for new and upgraded equipment.
• Review automation design docs (URS, FDS, HDS, SDS).
• Support FAT, commissioning, tests and qualification.
• Work with PLC, HMI, SCADA, and vision systems.
• Ensure compliance with automation, cybersecurity and data integrity.
• Train maintenance and operations teams.
• Report progress and risks to management.
• Support New Product Introduction at site.

Skills

Automation engineering

Process control

Information systems

GMP experience

Cross-functional teams

English fluency

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Automation Engineering

Tools

PLC

HMI

SCADA

Cognex Vision

Job description

Job Vacancy — Senior Automation Engineer | Breda

About our client

Our client is a global biotechnology company developing and manufacturing innovative medicines for patients worldwide. The Breda site is a large-scale manufacturing operation focused on the assembly, inspection, labeling and packaging of pharmaceutical products.

The site operates in a highly regulated GMP environment, where reliable equipment, automation and data integrity are essential to maintaining safe, compliant and efficient production.

About the position

We are looking for a Senior Automation Engineer to join the Equipment Engineering team in Breda.

In this role, you will take ownership of the automation side of new and upgraded manufacturing equipment — from design and vendor testing through installation, qualification and operational handover.

You will work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Maintenance, IT and external equipment suppliers to make sure automation systems are reliable, secure, compliant and ready for production.

This is a hands‑on role for someone who enjoys combining automation engineering, project execution and troubleshooting in a regulated manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the automation activities for new and upgraded manufacturing equipment.
• Review and develop automation design documentation, including URS, FDS, HDS and SDS.
• Support FAT, commissioning, testing and qualification activities.
• Work with PLC, HMI, SCADA, industrial PC and vision systems.
• Ensure equipment meets required automation, cybersecurity and data integrity standards.
• Support equipment integration with site systems, including the PI data historian.
• Develop and maintain backup/restore, parameter and audit‑trail procedures.
• Support automation troubleshooting and provide on‑floor hypercare during implementation.
• Assess preventive maintenance requirements and automation spare parts.
• Maintain equipment documentation and asset parameter lists.
• Train Maintenance, Engineering and relevant Operations teams.
• Report project progress and technical risks to project management.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities at the site.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Automation Engineering, Industrial Automation, Industrial Information Systems or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience with automation/process control and information systems in pharmaceutical or biotechnology manufacturing.
• Proven experience with labeling and/or packaging equipment.
• Practical knowledge of PLC, HMI, SCADA, industrial PCs and vision systems such as Cognex.
• Experience working in a GMP/regulatory manufacturing environment.
• Experience delivering automation projects in cross‑functional or international teams.
• Strong understanding of equipment implementation, testing and commissioning.
• Able to troubleshoot technical issues and translate them into practical solutions.
• Strong communication and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Fluent English, written and spoken.

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