Automation Engineer

GxP Associates; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

GxP Associates in Pennsylvania is seeking an entry-level Automation Engineer to support automation, controls, and manufacturing systems in regulated environments such as pharma and biotech. You will collaborate with senior engineers to troubleshoot, maintain, test, and improve PLC, SCADA, HMI, and related systems on the production floor.

Responsibilities include programming and configuring PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA, supporting FAT/SAT, commissioning, field verifications, and change-control

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in a relevant engineering field.
• 0–3 years of experience in automation, controls, instrumentation, or related area.
• Basic understanding of PLC and control-system fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Support automation and controls engineering activities for manufacturing systems.
• Assist with PLC, HMI, and SCADA programming, configuration, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Support PLC platforms (Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, Siemens) and related control systems.
• Assist with development and modification of control logic and HMI screens.
• Support FAT, SAT, commissioning, startup, and system testing activities.
• Troubleshoot automation, instrumentation, and control-system issues.
• Maintain documentation including specifications, I/O lists, and test scripts.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Validation, and Maintenance teams.
• Participate in equipment walkdowns and field verifications.

Skills

PLC fundamentals

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Communication

Hands-on

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Automation, Controls, Instrumentation, Computer Engineering or related field

Tools

Rockwell/Allen-Bradley

Siemens

FactoryTalk View SE/ME

P&IDs

Job description

We are seeking an entry-level Automation Engineer to support automation, controls, and manufacturing systems within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and other regulated manufacturing environments.

The engineer will work with senior automation and controls professionals to troubleshoot, maintain, test, and improve PLC, SCADA, HMI, BMS, and manufacturing automation systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Support automation and controls engineering activities for manufacturing systems.
• Assist with PLC, HMI, and SCADA programming, configuration, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Support Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, or similar PLC platforms.
• Assist with development and modification of control logic and HMI screens.
• Support FAT, SAT, commissioning, startup, and system testing activities.
• Troubleshoot automation, instrumentation, and control-system issues.
• Assist with equipment integration and communication between control systems and manufacturing equipment.
• Support automation documentation, including functional specifications, control narratives, I/O lists, test scripts, and configuration documentation.
• Work with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Validation, and Maintenance teams.
• Participate in equipment/system walkdowns and field verification.
• Support automation changes while following applicable change-control and documentation procedures.
• Assist with investigation and resolution of automation-related deviations and equipment issues.
• Maintain documentation in accordance with GMP, safety, and data-integrity requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Automation, Controls, Instrumentation, Computer, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 0–3 years of experience in automation, controls, instrumentation, manufacturing engineering, or a related field.
• Basic understanding of PLC and control-system fundamentals.
• Familiarity with industrial automation concepts, sensors, instrumentation, and control loops.
• Basic troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to read electrical drawings, P&IDs, control diagrams, or system documentation.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.
• Willingness to work in a hands-on manufacturing/site environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to Rockwell Automation / Allen-Bradley ControlLogix or CompactLogix.
• Experience with FactoryTalk View SE/ME.
• Exposure to Siemens PLCs, WinCC, DeltaV, or other DCS/SCADA platforms.
• Familiarity with BMS, EMS, MES, or manufacturing control systems.