Senior Rockwell PLC / Automation Engineer

Horizon Controls Group; Leiden; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Horizon Controls Group is seeking a Senior Rockwell PLC / Automation Engineer in Leiden, Netherlands. This role involves leading the design and development of automation solutions for pharmaceutical manufacturing systems. Candidates should have strong design-level expertise, particularly in Rockwell PLC platforms, and experience within regulated manufacturing environments. Responsibilities include supporting automation lifecycle activities and collaboration across teams to ensure compliance with operational standards. The position emphasizes mentorship and technical leadership.

Qualifications

• Strong experience as a PLC / Automation Engineer in regulated manufacturing industries.
• Advanced hands-on expertise with Rockwell PLC platforms.
• Proven design-level experience developing automation architectures.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of Rockwell PLC-based automation solutions.
• Support automation system lifecycle activities including testing and troubleshooting.
• Collaborate with teams to align automation solutions with operational requirements.

Skills

Design-level automation expertise

Rockwell PLC platforms expertise

Problem-solving skills

Analytical skills in complex environments

Understanding of industrial automation networks

Education

Degree in Automation, Electrical, Electronic, Mechatronic, Software

Tools

Rockwell ControlLogix

Rockwell CompactLogix

Studio 5000

FactoryTalk

Job description

Senior Rockwell PLC / Automation Engineer

Leiden, Netherlands | Posted on 05/12/2026

Horizon Controls Group is seeking experienced Senior Rockwell PLC / Automation Engineers to support the design, development, and delivery of advanced manufacturing automation systems within a highly regulated pharmaceutical environment.

This position is focused on engineers with strong design-level automation expertise, rather than execution-only experience. The successful candidate will play a key role in architecting and developing automation solutions for complex manufacturing systems, working within Lilly’s proprietary automation environment rather than traditional off-the-shelf SCADA platforms such as Ignition, PlantPAx, or DeltaV.

The role requires a highly technical and adaptable automation professional capable of working closely with global engineering, process, manufacturing, CQV, and digital teams to deliver scalable, compliant, and high‑performing automation solutions supporting next‑generation pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of Rockwell PLC‑based automation solutions for pharmaceutical manufacturing systems and equipment.
• Develop and modify PLC logic, control strategies, functional specifications, and automation architectures within Lilly’s proprietary automation framework.
• Support automation system lifecycle activities, including design reviews, testing, commissioning support, troubleshooting, and operational readiness.
• Collaborate with process engineers, manufacturing teams, CQV, MES, and digital engineering functions to ensure automation solutions align with operational and compliance requirements.
• Work within a non‑standard Lilly automation architecture, requiring flexibility and the ability to quickly understand custom‑built manufacturing control systems.
• Participate in automation design workshops, risk assessments, and technical reviews to ensure robust and scalable system designs.
• Support integration activities between PLC systems, MES platforms, historians, databases, and enterprise systems.
• Develop and review technical documentation including URS, FDS, SDS, IO lists, network architecture diagrams, test documentation, and change controls.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, GAMP5, data integrity, and cybersecurity standards throughout the automation lifecycle.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers and project teams.
• Support FAT, SAT, commissioning, IQ/OQ activities, and startup support where required.
• Troubleshoot complex automation and controls issues within live manufacturing environments.

Requirements

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Degree in Automation, Electrical, Electronic, Mechatronic, Software, or related Engineering discipline.
• Strong experience as a PLC / Automation Engineer within pharmaceutical, biotech, or regulated manufacturing industries.
• Advanced hands‑on expertise with Rockwell PLC platforms including ControlLogix, CompactLogix, Studio 5000, FactoryTalk, and related technologies.
• Proven design‑level experience developing automation architectures, PLC code, and control strategies — not solely commissioning or execution support.
• Comfortable working within custom or proprietary automation architectures rather than relying exclusively on standard SCADA platforms such as Ignition, PlantPAx, or DeltaV.
• Strong understanding of industrial automation networks, field instrumentation, and system integration principles.
• Experience supporting manufacturing process equipment and automated production systems.
• Familiarity with GMP environments, GAMP5, ISA-88, ISA-95, and pharmaceutical validation requirements.
• Experience with automation testing, commissioning, and qualification activities.
• Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills in complex operational environments.

Preferred Experience

• Experience within API, biologics, or advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing environments.
• Exposure to MES integration, digital manufacturing, or Industry 4.0 initiatives.
• Knowledge of serialization, batch systems, or data historians.
• Experience working on large‑scale greenfield pharmaceutical projects.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity and OT network standards.
• Automation system design and architecture expertise.
• Strong technical leadership and ownership mindset.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills.
• Adaptability within custom engineering environments.
• High attention to quality, compliance, and detail.
• Strong troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis capabilities.