Automation Manufacturing Engineer

United Pharma; Kentucky; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

United Pharma seeks an Automation Manufacturing Engineer to support commercial packaging lines on the production floor of a final drug product facility. This hands-on role requires diagnosing and repairing PLC-driven equipment while collaborating with maintenance and operations teams in a GMP environment.

You will troubleshoot vision systems, assist with line changeovers, and participate in continuous improvement for serialization and packaging equipment from multiple suppliers.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years in industrial automation, pharma or regulated manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with Allen Bradley controls and vision systems.
• Comfort working on the manufacturing floor in a GMP environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide floor-based automation support for active packaging lines during production.
• Troubleshoot and resolve automation, controls, and vision issues in real time.
• Diagnose and repair PLC-driven equipment faults, prioritizing AB platforms.
• Support line changeovers, trials, and minor automation changes in live GMP production.
• Document troubleshooting, repairs, and equipment changes per GMP/change control.
• Collaborate with engineering and maintenance to identify recurring issues.

Skills

Allen Bradley PLCs

On-floor troubleshooting

GMP experience

Cross-functional teamwork

Documentation & change control

Tools

Allen-Bradley ControlLogix

CompactLogix

RSLogix/Studio 5000

PanelView HMIs

Cognex vision systems

Keyence vision systems

Dividella packaging equipment

IMA packaging equipment

Pester packaging equipment

Siemens controls (secondary)

Job description

Our client is seeking an Automation Manufacturing Engineer to support commercial packaging lines within a final drug product facility focused on secondary and tertiary packaging. This is a floor-based, hands‑on role in which the contractor will work directly on the packaging lines alongside the maintenance crew, providing high‑level automation and vision system support during live commercial operations. The ideal candidate is comfortable being on the manufacturing floor, troubleshooting equipment in real time, and responding quickly to line‑down and changeover issues in a GMP environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide floor‑based automation support for commercial secondary and tertiary packaging lines during active production
• Partner with maintenance and operations teams to troubleshoot and resolve automation, controls, and vision system issues in real time
• Diagnose and repair PLC‑driven equipment faults, with strong emphasis on Allen Bradley platforms including ControlLogix, CompactLogix, and PanelView HMIs
• Support and troubleshoot vision inspection systems integrated into packaging lines
• Work on and around commercial packaging equipment; experience with Dividella, IMA, Pester, or similar cartoning, case packing, or serialization equipment is a strong plus
• Support changeovers, line trials, and minor automation modifications in a live GMP production environment
• Document troubleshooting, repairs, and equipment changes in accordance with GMP and change control requirements
• Collaborate with engineering and maintenance to identify recurring automation issues and support root cause investigations
• Respond promptly to line escalations to minimize downtime on commercial production schedules

Required Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience in industrial automation, ideally within pharmaceutical or other regulated manufacturing environments
• Strong, hands‑on Allen Bradley controls experience including ControlLogix, CompactLogix, RSLogix/Studio 5000, and PanelView HMIs
• Comfortable working directly on the manufacturing floor and physically interfacing with production equipment, not just in an office or support capacity
• Experience troubleshooting automation and controls issues in real time during live production
• Familiarity with GMP equipment and GMP manufacturing processes
• Vision system troubleshooting experience with Cognex, Keyence, or similar systems
• Strong communication skills and ability to work cross‑functionally with maintenance crews, operations, and engineering

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with commercial packaging equipment such as Dividella, IMA, Pester, or comparable cartoning, case packing, or serialization/aggregation equipment
• Some exposure to Siemens controls as a secondary skillset
• Experience in a final drug product or secondary/tertiary packaging environment specifically
• Familiarity with serialization and track‑and‑trace systems as they relate to packaging lines

Technical Focus

• Primary focus: Allen Bradley controls (heavy emphasis)
• Secondary focus: vision systems and packaging line controls
• Nice to have: light exposure to Siemens and B&R
• Equipment exposure preferred but not required: Dividella, IMA, Pester, or similar commercial packaging machinery