Associate Director Automation Engineering

Meet Life Sciences; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading life sciences company is seeking an experienced Associate Director of Automation Engineering to lead and develop a team within a biologics manufacturing facility in Indianapolis. In this full-time role, you will shape automation strategies and support project delivery and compliance. Key responsibilities include overseeing automation systems, guiding team development, and managing financial performance. Qualified candidates should have over 10 years of experience in biopharma engineering and a strong background in GMP environments.

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ experience in biopharma engineering, automation, IT, operations, or manufacturing.
• Proven experience in automation engineering within a biologics or GMP manufacturing environment.
• Strong people leadership experience, including coaching, performance management, and team building.
• Experience delivering highly automated greenfield manufacturing sites.
• Hands-on knowledge of SCADA, DCS, and MES platforms (e.g. DeltaV, Rockwell, Syncade).
• Experience as part of a site or plant leadership team.
• Demonstrated success in recruiting, retaining, and developing high-performing technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of process control engineers.
• Ensure reliable, compliant automation systems supporting daily biologics manufacturing operations.
• Provide automation leadership during design and delivery of a greenfield facility.
• Ensure reliable, compliant automation systems supporting daily biologics manufacturing operations.
• Set and reinforce standards for automation engineering deliverables and technical rigor.
• Coordinate and prioritise process control activities across operations and projects.
• Provide automation leadership during design, delivery, commissioning, qualification, and start-up of a greenfield facility.
• Partner cross-functionally to implement systems, business processes, and site standards required for GMP manufacturing.
• Adapt leadership approach in a dynamic, fast-growing start-up environment.
• Ensure automation systems operate in a continuous state of compliance.
• Track, monitor, and report key functional performance indicators.
• Demonstrate strong commitment to environmental, health, and safety standards.
• Develop and deliver the Automation Engineering business plan.
• Review and manage budgets and financial performance against targets.

Skills

10+ years’ experience in biopharma engineering, automation, IT, operations, or manufacturing

Proven experience in automation engineering within a biologics or GMP manufacturing environment

Strong people leadership experience

Hands-on knowledge of SCADA, DCS, and MES platforms

Experience delivering highly automated greenfield manufacturing sites

Tools

DeltaV

Rockwell

Syncade

Job description

Associate Director Automation Engineering

We are seeking an experienced Associate Director – Automation Engineering to lead and develop a high-performing process control organization supporting a large-scale biologics manufacturing facility. This senior leadership role has significant influence across operations, project delivery, compliance, and site start-up.

During an exciting greenfield build and multi-year start-up phase (2025–2028), this role will be instrumental in shaping the automation strategy, building a new team, and implementing robust GMP-compliant control systems to support reliable and efficient biologics manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of process control engineers and consultants
• Own performance management, development planning, succession planning, and resourcing
• Build a strong, collaborative automation culture aligned with GMP expectations

Automation & Process Control Oversight

• Ensure reliable, compliant automation systems supporting daily biologics manufacturing operations
• Set and reinforce standards for automation engineering deliverables and technical rigor
• Coordinate and prioritise process control activities across operations and projects

Project Delivery & Site Start-Up

• Provide automation leadership during design, delivery, commissioning, qualification, and start-up of a greenfield facility
• Partner cross-functionally to implement systems, business processes, and site standards required for GMP manufacturing
• Adapt leadership approach in a dynamic, fast-growing start-up environment

Operational Excellence & Compliance

• Ensure automation systems operate in a continuous state of compliance
• Track, monitor, and report key functional performance indicators
• Demonstrate strong commitment to environmental, health, and safety standards

Business & Financial Management

• Develop and deliver the Automation Engineering business plan
• Review and manage budgets and financial performance against targets

Requirements

• 10+ years’ experience in biopharma engineering, automation, IT, operations, or manufacturing
• Proven experience in automation engineering within a biologics or GMP manufacturing environment
• Strong people leadership experience, including coaching, performance management, and team building
• Experience delivering highly automated greenfield manufacturing sites
• Hands‑on knowledge of SCADA, DCS, and MES platforms (e.g. DeltaV, Rockwell, Syncade)
• Experience as part of a site or plant leadership team
• Demonstrated success in recruiting, retaining, and developing high‑performing technical teams

Seniority Level: Director

Employment type: Full‑time

Industries: Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Biotechnology Research