Automation Engineer

Shoolin Inc; North Carolina; On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Shoolin Inc. is seeking an Automation Engineer to support a greenfield pharmaceutical manufacturing facility focused on API production.

You will oversee end-to-end automation activities from design through startup, coordinating with engineering, QA, IT and external vendors. The role requires 2–5 years in pharma automation, strong GMP experience, and hands-on exposure to MES, BMS, historian systems, and PLC/DCS platforms such as Emerson DeltaV or Rockwell.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years pharma automation experience preferred.
• Strong experience in GMP manufacturing environments.
• Familiar with CSV/GAMP concepts and regulated systems validation.
• Hands-on exposure to MES, BMS and historian systems.
• Experience with PLC/DCS platforms such as Emerson DeltaV or Rockwell/AB.
• Involvement in capital projects, preferably greenfield pharma facilities.
• Experience supporting FAT, SAT, commissioning, and startup activities.
• Strong documentation of automation design deliverables (I/O lists, system architecture, specs).
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams including engineering, QA, IT and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Support automation design activities including strategies, narratives, system architecture, and I/O definitions.
• Assist in automation project execution across design, build, commissioning, and startup phases.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external vendors for system design and implementation.
• Support validation planning and execution for GMP compliance.
• Participate in FAT, SAT, commissioning, and startup readiness activities.
• Track project milestones, risks, and dependencies and escalate issues as needed.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, data integrity, safety, and cybersecurity standards.
• Prepare project updates, dashboards, and leadership presentations.

Skills

GMP environments

CSV / GAMP concepts

MES / BMS / Historian systems

PLC / DCS platforms

Tools

Emerson DeltaV

Rockwell/AB

MES

BMS

Historian systems

Job description

Automation Engineer needed to support a greenfield pharmaceutical manufacturing facility focused on API production (biologics and small molecule OSD). The role supports end-to-end automation activities across design, build, commissioning, validation, and startup phases while coordinating with cross-functional engineering, QA, IT, and external vendors.

Required Experience:

• 2-5 years of pharmaceutical automation experience preferred
• Strong experience with GMP manufacturing environments and regulated system validation (CSV / GAMP concepts)
• Hands-on exposure to MES, BMS, and historian systems
• Experience with PLC/DCS platforms such as Emerson DeltaV or Rockwell/Allen-Bradley
• Proven involvement in capital projects (preferably greenfield pharma facilities)
• Experience supporting FAT, SAT, commissioning, and startup activities
• Strong technical documentation skills including automation design deliverables (I/O lists, system architecture, specifications)
• Ability to work in cross-functional teams including engineering, QA, IT, and vendors

Key Responsibilities:

• Support automation design activities including strategies, narratives, system architecture, and I/O definitions
• Assist in automation project execution across design, build, commissioning, and startup phases
• Coordinate with internal teams and external vendors for system design and implementation
• Support validation planning and execution for GMP compliance
• Participate in FAT, SAT, commissioning, and startup readiness activities
• Track project milestones, risks, and dependencies and escalated issues as needed
• Ensure compliance with GMP, data integrity, safety, and cybersecurity standards
• Support preparation of project updates, dashboards, and leadership presentations