Associate Director, Controls Engineering

Homeland Talent Solutions; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 227,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

FSA/HSA

Life Insurance

Disability

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Homeland Talent Solutions partners with a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in Spokane, WA, seeking an Associate Director, Controls Engineering to lead the controls and automation program.

You will develop the automation philosophy, OT strategy, and lifecycle management while building a high-performing team. This role requires deep regulated manufacturing experience and a track record of delivering complex capital projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in an automation-related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of engineering experience in regulated manufacturing, pharma preferred.
• 5+ years designing/managing manufacturing controls systems and capital projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for the Controls Engineering function across manufacturing, facilities, maintenance, and capital projects.
• Develop and execute a long-term controls and automation strategy aligned with organizational growth, compliance, operational excellence, and digital transformation.
• Develop talent and succession plans while mentoring and building the capabilities of Controls Engineering personnel.
• Provide technical leadership across PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, historians, OT networks, and networked manufacturing control systems.
• Establish standards for recipe management, data historians, audit trails, user access, system integrity, and controls-system lifecycle management.
• Establish and maintain automation hardware, software, operational, and maintenance standards for manufacturing and facility equipment.
• Ensure controls systems comply with applicable regulatory requirements and industry standards, including 21 CFR Part 11, Annex 11, EU GMP, PIC/S PI-041, GAMP 5, and data integrity requirements.
• Partner with Quality Assurance and Validation to maintain robust, compliant controls and computerized-system programs.
• Provide technical guidance for diagnosing and resolving complex automation and controls issues.
• Lead controls-related capital and expense projects, including facility and equipment expansions, compliance upgrades, automation enhancements, and process improvements.
• Manage internal engineering resources and external partners, including A&E firms, equipment vendors, contractors, and technical service providers.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Industrial automation

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

PanelView HMIs

Rockwell/FactoryTalk

Wonderware

Historian systems

AutoCAD

Job description

Homeland Talent Solutions is partnering with a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing organization in Spokane, WA to identify an Associate Director, Controls Engineering. The Associate Director, Controls Engineering will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the site’s controls engineering and automation program. This role will lead the development and execution of the automation philosophy, Operational Technology (OT) strategy, controls standards, system lifecycle management, and engineering programs supporting manufacturing and facilities operations.

The Associate Director, Controls Engineering will oversee controls engineering activities across manufacturing, facilities, maintenance, and capital projects, ensuring systems are designed, implemented, and maintained in accordance with Good Engineering Practices (GEP), cGMP requirements, and applicable regulatory standards. The role will also lead and develop the Controls Engineering team, establish scalable automation standards, improve system reliability and manufacturing performance, and partner closely with Quality Assurance and Validation to maintain robust, compliant systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and technical oversight for the Controls Engineering function, fostering accountability, technical excellence, and strong internal customer support
• Develop and execute a long-term controls and automation strategy aligned with organizational growth, compliance, operational excellence, and digital transformation
• Develop talent and succession plans while mentoring and building the capabilities of Controls Engineering personnel
• Provide technical leadership across PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, historians, OT networks, and networked manufacturing control systems
• Establish standards for recipe management, data historians, audit trails, user access, system integrity, and controls-system lifecycle management
• Establish and maintain automation hardware, software, operational, and maintenance standards for manufacturing and facility equipment
• Ensure controls systems comply with applicable regulatory requirements and industry standards, including 21 CFR Part 11, Annex 11, EU GMP, PIC/S PI-041, GAMP 5, and data integrity requirements
• Partner with Quality Assurance and Validation to maintain robust, compliant controls and computerized-system programs
• Provide technical guidance for diagnosing and resolving complex automation and controls issues
• Lead controls-related capital and expense projects, including facility and equipment expansions, compliance upgrades, automation enhancements, and process improvements
• Manage internal engineering resources and external partners, including A&E firms, equipment vendors, contractors, and technical service providers
• Ensure projects are delivered on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with established engineering and project-management standards
• Partner with Manufacturing and Maintenance to improve equipment uptime, reliability, efficiency, and OEE performance
• Lead automation-focused continuous improvement and cost-reduction initiatives
• Support investigations, deviations, root cause analyses, and CAPA activities involving controls and automation systems
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Validation, MS&T, Maintenance, Engineering, and external stakeholders
• Support customer audits, regulatory inspections, and technical visits, including communication and defense of controls strategies and engineering practices
• Communicate project status, technical risks, priorities, and recommendations to senior leadership

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Automation, or a related technical discipline
• 10+ years of engineering experience within a regulated manufacturing environment; pharmaceutical manufacturing experience strongly preferred
• 5+ years of experience designing and/or managing manufacturing controls systems, automation programs, and capital project execution
• Demonstrated experience with automated manufacturing equipment and industrial controls systems
• Proven leadership experience managing engineering teams, technical programs, and cross-functional initiatives
• Strong understanding of regulated engineering practices, documentation, system lifecycle management, and compliance requirements
• Ability to operate effectively within manufacturing environments, including classified and aseptic areas
• Degree or advanced technical background in an automation-related discipline, preferred
• Pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical manufacturing experience, preferred
• Experience with Allen-Bradley PLCs, PanelView HMIs, and servo drives, preferred
• Experience with Rockwell/FactoryTalk, Wonderware, and historian systems, preferred
• Knowledge of GAMP 5, data integrity requirements, and validation lifecycle management, preferred
• Experience with TCP/IP networking and industrial/OT control systems, preferred
• Familiarity with 21 CFR Part 11, Annex 11, EU GMP, and applicable computerized-system requirements, preferred
• ISPE certifications, ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP), Automation/Data Analytics certification, or similar credentials, preferred
• AutoCAD experience preferred, preferred

The Associate Director, Controls Engineering role offers a competitive annual salary of $141,900–$227,000, along with a comprehensive benefits package that begins on day one. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage; Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options; life and AD&D insurance; short- and long-term disability coverage; and access to an Employee Assistance Program. Employees also have opportunities for career growth and advancement, as well as annual compensation reviews.

Summary

Join a growing pharmaceutical manufacturing operation during a period of significant investment and expansion. As the Associate Director, Controls Engineering, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the site’s controls and automation strategy, build technical capabilities, and help drive the next generation of highly automated manufacturing.

EEO Notice

Homeland LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Homeland LLC provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Homeland LLC complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Reasonable accommodation is available for qualified individuals with disabilities, upon request.