Automation Area Lead – Upstream

QCS Staffing; North Carolina; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Our client, a world-leading pharmaceutical powerhouse, seeks an Automation Area Lead for Upstream in North Carolina on a 12-month contract. You will own the automation scope for Upstream manufacturing and serve as the primary contact for engineering, CQV, validation, and system integrators.

The role requires strong Emerson DeltaV experience within pharma/biotech, hands-on upstream bioprocessing knowledge, and demonstrated leadership of automation execution across projects including FAT, SAT,

Qualifications

• Strong automation leadership experience in pharmaceutical/biotech environments.
• Ability to coordinate between process engineering, CQV, validation, operations, OEMs, and system integrators.
• Experience leading automation execution for a process area and overseeing deliverables.
• FAT, SAT, commissioning, qualification, and startup on capital projects.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the automation lead and primary contact for the Upstream manufacturing area.
• Drive execution of automation scope within established automation standards and system architecture.
• Coordinate activities between process engineering, CQV, validation, operations, OEMs, and system integrators.
• Review and approve automation deliverables, testing documentation, and design packages.

Skills

Automation leadership

Cross-functional coordination

Regulatory compliance (GxP)

Qualification/validation coordination

Tools

Emerson DeltaV

Job description

Automation Area Lead – Upstream – US, North Carolina – Initial 12-Month Contract – Life Sciences

Our client is a world‑leading pharmaceutical powerhouse, operating across more than 60 countries and driving innovation at every stage of the drug development lifecycle. This progressive, future‑focused organisation is now searching for an experienced Automation Area Lead to support the delivery of a high‑impact project based in North Carolina.

What You’ll Deliver

• Serve as the automation lead and primary point of contact for the Upstream manufacturing area.
• Drive execution of automation scope within established automation standards and system architecture.
• Coordinate activities between process engineering, CQV, validation, operations, OEMs, and system integrators.
• Review and approve automation deliverables, testing documentation, and design packages.

Experience required:

• Strong Emerson DeltaV experience in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology manufacturing environment.
• Upstream bioprocessing experience with systems such as bioreactors, seed train, cell culture, and media/buffer preparation.
• Experience leading automation execution for a process area, including coordination with engineering, CQV, validation, vendors, and system integrators.
• FAT, SAT, commissioning, qualification, and startup experience on greenfield and/or large brownfield capital projects.