Automation Engineer

Biopharma Careers; Maryland; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie is seeking an Automation Engineer to design, implement, and qualify automation and control IO for GMP facilities and labs. You will develop I&C design packages and support FAT/SFAT/SAT with CSV expectations.

Responsibilities include providing 24x7 on-site support, commissioning, change control, and ensuring 21 CFR Part11 compliance while driving continuous improvement across plant engineering and manufacturing networks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, science or closely related discipline preferred or equivalent technical experience with demonstrated competence.
• Working technical knowledge and application of concepts, practices, and procedures; able to work on problems of moderate scope.
• Interacts well with diverse groups within engineering and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external collaborators.

Responsibilities

• Support a Safe working environment by aligning with environmental health, safety & maintenance program practices, rules, and regulations.
• Provide day-to-day operations support for Upstream and Downstream Drug Substance manufacturing.
• Experience in change control, nonconformance, corrective & preventive actions, and Commissioning & Qualification activities.
• Configure, review and test DCS/PLC I/O layer and relevant applications; often DeltaV with ISA 88 batch (CM/EM classes, recipes, graphics), including SFAT/FAT.
• Plan and execute SAT and support OQ/commissioning: loop checks, calibration coordination, punch-list closure, turnover documentation.
• Execute in a GxP manner with full traceability and change control (e.g., VCAT/audit trail), in alignment with CSV practices and 21 CFR Part11 expectations.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, science or closely related discipline

Tools

DeltaV

Rockwell PLC

Foxboro DCS

ISA 88

Job description

Company Description

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com . Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook , Instagram , X and YouTube.

Job Description

Purpose

The Automation Engineer supports design, implementation, and qualification of automation and controls IO layer for GMP facilities and labs, bridging process, IT/OT, and quality to deliver compliant, reliable operations. They develop I&C design packages, configure DCS/PLC systems IO (often DeltaV, FoxBoro, AB), and support FAT/SFAT/SAT through turnover in line with CSV expectations. The Automation Engineer will design, develop, and deliver innovative solutions enabling the advancement of AbbVie’s Clinical and Commercial Drug Substance manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Support a Safe working environment by aligning with all pertinent environmental health, safety & maintenance program practices, rules, and regulations.
• Provide support for day-to-day operations for Upstream and Downstream Drug Substance manufacturing.
• Experience in change control, nonconformance, corrective & preventive actions, and Commissioning & Qualification activities.
• Experience in various instrumentation with the following product platforms.- Rockwell PLC Platform, Emerson DeltaV, Foxboro DCS
• Provide 24 x 7 rotating, onsite/on call support as needed
• Troubleshooting support for manufacturing
• Supports FEED and detailed design for I&C scope; define I/O allocations, network topologies, and panel architectures aligned to process and facility constraints.
• Produce complete I&C design packages (enclosure details, panel layout/BOM, terminal block details, power distribution/grounding, I/O wiring, network integration details).
• Specify/oversee fabrication of control panels and field integration and manage vendor E&I scope.
• Configure, review and test DCS/PLC I/O layer and relevant applications; often DeltaV with ISA 88 batch (CM/EM classes, recipes, graphics), including SFAT/FAT.
• Troubleshoot instrumentation and control system issues, optimizing control strategies for safety, reliability and efficiency.
• Plan and execute SAT and support OQ/commissioning: loop checks, calibration coordination, punch-list closure, turnover documentation.
• Execute in a GxP manner with full traceability and change control (e.g., VCAT/audit trail), in alignment with CSV practices and 21 CFR Part11 expectations.
• Being responsible for driving continuous improvement in partnership with Plant Engineering, Maintenance, Manufacturing, Process engineering and OPex to drive operational efficiencies.
• Responsible for collaborating within the AbbVie network to learn, implement and share Continuous improvement opportunities within the Drug Product manufacturing AbbVie Global network.
• Demonstrated understanding of project life cycles is preferred.
• Candidate should be familiar with engineering processes from initial conceptualization through project turnover to operations.
• Responsible for developing & maintaining Engineering Specifications, documents, drawings, and Standard Operational Procedures (SOP) including Administrative SOPs and Job Aids.

Qualifications

• A Bachelors Degree in Engineering, science or closely related discipline is desired, or equivalent technical experience plus demonstrated competence, with a desired 2+ years of significant engineering and/or operational experience. Additional post-graduate education may contribute towards the desired years of experience.
• Has demonstrated competency within a discipline.
• Possesses a working technical knowledge and application of concepts, practices, and procedures. Ability to work on problems of moderate scope where analysis of situations or data requires a review of identifiable factors. Demonstrates judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action.
• Interacts well with diverse groups within engineering and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external collaborators.
• Listens to and understands others' points of view and articulates tactfully and respectfully one's own perspective orally, in writing, and in presentations.
• Works well with other engineers in a collaborative, fast-paced goal-driven environment.
• Possesses interpersonal skills to negotiate and reconcile differences.
• Has a technical background in health care, medical devices, pharmaceutical, biologics, or similar industries (preferred).

Additional Information

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:

The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.

This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html