Automation Lead

Moriah Engineering; Caguas (PR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Moriah Engineering seeks an experienced Automation Lead to provide technical leadership for a large-scale pharmaceutical project in Puerto Rico. The role focuses on overseeing equipment-level and enterprise automation, ensuring delivery against strict regulatory standards.

You will manage a team of 8–10 automation professionals, coordinate with engineering, manufacturing, validation and IT, and stay onsite in the Metro North area beginning mid-2027.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• Extensive automation experience in pharma, biotech, or life sciences.
• Strong expertise in equipment-level and enterprise automation.
• Proven experience leading technical automation teams.
• Oversee complex automation projects in regulated environments.
• Willingness to work onsite in the Metro North area of Puerto Rico from mid-2027.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 8–10 automation professionals through the project lifecycle.
• Oversee automation activities involving equipment-level and enterprise-level systems.
• Provide technical direction to ensure deliverables meet project specifications and quality requirements.
• Manage complex automation challenges, troubleshoot issues, and develop solutions.
• Coordinate automation activities across engineering, manufacturing, validation, IT and other disciplines.
• Ensure automation deliverables align with industry standards and project objectives.
• Monitor progress, identify risks, and support timely issue resolution.
• Collaborate with leadership to align with overall project objectives.

Skills

Automation leadership

Industrial automation

Team management

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

SCADA

PLC

MES

Job description

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Automation Lead to provide technical leadership and oversee automation activities for a large-scale pharmaceutical project in Puerto Rico.

The ideal candidate will possess a strong technical background in industrial automation, extensive experience with equipment-level and enterprise-level automation systems, and demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary technical teams in complex, highly regulated manufacturing environments.

This position offers a long-term opportunity to play a key leadership role in a major pharmaceutical initiative.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and provide technical oversight to a team of approximately 8–10 automation professionals throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee automation activities involving both equipment-level control systems and enterprise-level automation solutions.
• Provide technical direction and guidance to ensure successful execution of automation deliverables.
• Manage complex automation challenges, troubleshoot technical issues, and develop effective solutions.
• Coordinate automation activities across engineering, manufacturing, validation, IT, and other project disciplines.
• Ensure automation systems and deliverables align with project specifications, quality requirements, and applicable industry standards.
• Monitor project progress, identify technical risks, and support the timely resolution of critical issues.
• Collaborate with project leadership and key stakeholders to ensure alignment with overall project objectives.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Automation, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Extensive experience in industrial automation, preferably within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences industries.
• Strong technical expertise in equipment-level automation and enterprise-level automation systems.
• Proven experience leading and managing technical automation teams.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee complex automation projects and resolve sophisticated technical challenges.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary engineering teams in highly regulated environments.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to provide both strategic technical leadership and hands‑on technical support when required.
• Availability to work onsite in the Metro North area of Puerto Rico beginning mid-2027.

Project Details

• Duration: Long-term project with an anticipated duration of 3–5+ years.
• Start Date: Immediate, upon selection of a qualified candidate.
• Location: Metro North Area, Puerto Rico.
• Work Arrangement: Remote support may be available during the initial project phase. Onsite presence will be mandatory beginning mid-2027.