Automation Engineer

Virtue America; United States; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Virtue America in the United States is seeking an entry-level Automation Engineer to support automation and control-system activities within a regulated Pharmaceutical/Life Sciences environment. This role will assist with automated equipment, process control, system troubleshooting, testing, and documentation to ensure reliable and compliant manufacturing operations.

You'll help operate and monitor manufacturing and lab equipment, support PLC/HMI/SCADA/DCS configuration and testing, monitor

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related engineering field.
• Fundamental knowledge of PLC, HMI, SCADA and DCS systems.
• Familiarity with cGMP, GDP, SOPs and validation concepts.
• Excellent troubleshooting and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Support operation and maintenance of automated manufacturing and lab equipment.
• Assist with basic programming and testing of PLC and HMI systems.
• Monitor process controls and adjust parameters as needed.
• Support SCADA/DCS monitoring, alarm management, and testing.
• Assist with equipment integration and troubleshooting with cross-functional teams.
• Participate in FAT, SAT, IQ, OQ documentation as needed.
• Prepare and maintain automation specifications, test scripts, and SOPs.
• Support change control, deviations, and corrective actions.

Skills

Automation Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Instrumentation Engineering

Control Systems Engineering

Problem-solving

Technical writing

Education

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

Tools

PLC

HMI

SCADA

DCS

Instrumentation

Job description

We are seeking a motivated and technically focused Entry-Level Automation Engineer to support automation and control-system activities within a regulated Pharmaceutical/Life Sciences environment. This role will assist with automated equipment, process control, system troubleshooting, testing, and documentation while supporting reliable and compliant manufacturing operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Automation Systems Support: Assist with the operation, monitoring, and troubleshooting of automated manufacturing and laboratory equipment.
• PLC & HMI Support: Assist with basic programming, configuration, testing, and troubleshooting of PLC and HMI systems.
• Process Controls: Support monitoring and adjustment of process-control parameters such as temperature, pressure, flow, level, pH, and other critical variables.
• SCADA/DCS Activities: Assist with SCADA/DCS monitoring, alarm management, system testing, and basic configuration activities.
• Equipment Integration: Support the integration of automated equipment, instruments, sensors, and control devices with manufacturing systems.
• Troubleshooting: Investigate automation alarms, control-system issues, and equipment failures in collaboration with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Maintenance teams.
• Testing & Validation: Support automation testing activities, including FAT, SAT, IQ, OQ, and computerized system validation documentation.
• Technical Documentation: Prepare and maintain automation specifications, test scripts, SOPs, configuration documents, and technical reports.
• Change Control: Assist with automation-related change controls, impact assessments, deviations, and corrective actions.
• Data & System Monitoring: Review system trends, alarms, and process data to identify recurring issues and opportunities for improvement.
• Compliance Support: Ensure automation activities follow cGMP, GDP, data integrity, 21 CFR Part 11, and applicable site procedures.
• Continuous Improvement: Participate in automation improvement projects designed to increase equipment reliability, process efficiency, and manufacturing consistency.

Required Skills:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Automation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Engineering, or a related field.
• Basic knowledge of PLC, HMI, SCADA, DCS, industrial instrumentation, and process-control systems.
• Familiarity with pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes is preferred.
• Understanding of cGMP, GDP, SOPs, change control, deviations, and validation concepts.
• Basic understanding of 21 CFR Part 11 and computerized systems compliance is preferred.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Good technical writing and communication abilities.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work effectively in a regulated environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; exposure to automation or engineering software is a plus.