Automation Project Manager- Life Sciences

barrywehmiller; Oak Brook (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

First Year Experience program

Individual Development Plans

Career Path resources

Job summary

Design Group in the United States is seeking an Automation Project Manager with 10 to 15 years of experience to lead end-to-end automation on life sciences capital projects. You will partner with system owners, CQV, IT, and manufacturing to ensure compliant, on-time, and on-budget delivery across DCS, PLCs, MES interfaces and data historians.

You’ll own governance, risk, and inspection readiness, coordinate with vendors and internal teams, and drive right-first-time qualification and handover to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related discipline and relevant GMP automation experience.
• Experience leading automation execution on major capital projects with system ownership models.
• Certification in project management (PMP/PgMP) is preferred.
• Ability to balance technical authority with project accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end automation execution across design, implementation, qualification, startup, and handover.
• Collaborate with system owners, CQV, IT, Manufacturing, Quality, and external partners.
• Define automation scope, interfaces, and risk management across multiple systems.
• Ensure compliance with cGMP, data integrity, and automation standards; drive inspection readiness.

Skills

Automation leadership

GMP automation

Data integrity

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/related

PMP/PgMP certification

Tools

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Project

Job description

About Us:

BW Design Group is a fully integrated architecture, engineering, construction, system integration, and consulting firm committed to helping our clients realize their most critical goals from Strategy to Commercialization. As the only firm born from a manufacturing technology company to become an independent and fully integrated firm, we combine deep domain expertise in the manufacturing environment with an approach that is built to serve the dynamic needs of our clients. Rooted in our distinct culture of Truly Human Leadership, we cultivate the leaders who will define tomorrow and partner with our clients in the food & beverage, life sciences, industrial, and advanced technology industries to build the future of manufacturing and technology.Barry-Wehmiller is a diversified global supplier of engineering consulting and manufacturing technology for the packaging, corrugating, sheeting and paper-converting industries. By blending people-centric leadership with disciplined operational strategies and purpose-driven growth, Barry-Wehmiller has become a $3 billion organization with nearly 12,000 team members united by a common belief: to use the power of business to build a better world.

You will join one of our 45 offices in the US, be part of a committed team of over 1 600 professionals, and work in teams and directly with our clients doing work that is shaping the world around us. You will be welcomed into a rapidly growing business and team and empowered to make an impact. You will be valued, cared for, and challenged on your path to becoming a world-class professional consultant and surrounded by leaders who are committed to creating an environment that enables you to realize your own success and fulfillment.

When you join Design Group as an Automation Project Manager, you are joining a team that will challenge you and position you for growth. In this role, you will work with a team of industry experts to help the world’s leading companies solve their most difficult problems. You will partner with seasoned leaders, technical specialists, and subject matter experts to deliver the highest quality solutions to our clients with consistency and accuracy.

What You’ll Do

Design Group is looking for Automation Project Managers with 10 to 15 years’ experience in delivering end-to-end automation scope for a life sciences capital expansion project.

The Automation Project Manager role will operate through close partnership with designated automation and process system owners who retain technical and lifecycle responsibility for their respective systems. While system owners are accountable for technical decisions, standards compliance, and system performance, this role retains overall accountability for integrated execution, schedule, cost, risk management, and delivery outcomes across the automation scope.

Operating with a high degree of autonomy and judgment, the Automation Project Manager role coordinates across Engineering, CQV, Manufacturing, Quality, IT, system owners, and external partners to ensure the automation solution is compliant, robust, and aligned with project schedule and cost commitments. The role is inspection-sensitive and critical to achieving safe startup, licensure, and sustained GMP operations.

In addition to working on these project lifecycle phases, you will be expected and responsible for performing technical activities, which would include supporting:

Automation Project Leadership & Execution Accountability

• Serve as the single point of accountability for integrated automation execution for the project, spanning multiple process and utility systems.
• Lead end‑to‑end delivery of the automation scope from design through implementation, qualification, startup, and handover.
• Maintain clear separation of accountabilities: system owners retain technical authority, while the automation project manager owns delivery, integration, and performance against schedule and cost.
• Drive execution across multiple vendors, system integrators, system owners, and internal teams without direct authority.

System Owner Integration & Collaboration

• Partner closely with automation system owners and process system owners to integrate technical system requirements into the overall project execution plan.
• Ensure system owner inputs are incorporated into design, build, test, and handover activities without fragmenting execution accountability.
• Facilitate timely technical decision‑making by system owners to support project milestones and risk mitigation.
• Resolve conflicts between system‑level optimization and overall project delivery objectives.

Automation Scope Definition & Integration

• Define and manage automation execution scope, sequencing, and interfaces across multiple cross-functions.
• Ensure alignment between automation design, process intent, system owner standards, CQV strategy, and operational readiness.
• Coordinate system integration across DCS, PLCs, MES interfaces, batch records, data historians, and site infrastructure.
• Manage dependencies between automation, equipment procurement, installation, and construction readiness.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Establish and operate automation governance aligned with overall project governance and system ownership models.
• Identify, assess, and proactively mitigate automation execution risks impacting schedule, quality, or regulatory compliance.
• Ensure compliance with cGMP, data integrity (ALCOA+), cybersecurity, and company automation standards through collaboration with system owners.
• Support inspection readiness through disciplined documentation, traceability, and defensible execution narratives that clearly articulate roles and accountabilities.

CQV & Lifecycle Readiness

• Partner with CQV and system owners to define automation validation strategies, leveraging risk‑based commissioning and qualification where appropriate.
• Ensure automation execution supports efficient testing, deviation resolution, and right‑first‑time qualification.
• Drive successful automation handover to Operations and system owners, including documentation completeness, training support, and sustainment readiness.

Senior Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Act as the primary automation execution interface to project leadership, Technical Operations, Quality, Manufacturing, and system owner communities.
• Provide clear, concise, executive‑level communication on automation status, risks, decisions, and trade‑offs.
• Influence alignment across system owners and functions on priorities, sequencing, and resourcing to protect overall project delivery.

Financial & Resource Stewardship

• Manage automation‑related budgets, forecasts, and vendor commitments within the project.
• Support investment decisions, scope trade‑offs, and schedule recovery strategies related to automation execution.
• Optimize the use of internal resources and external system integrators to achieve compliant, sustainable outcomes.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Automation, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline (advanced degree preferred).
• Demonstrated experience leading automation execution on large capital projects with clearly defined system ownership models.
• Strong understanding of GMP automation, data integrity, validation, and inspection expectations.
• Direct experience working with automation and process system owners in regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience delivering automation for aseptic filling, visual inspection, and GMP utilities (WFI, clean utilities, CIP/SIP, HVAC).
• Prior accountability for automation execution on major capital programs.
• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent project management certification.
• Excellent communication skills, written and oral, interpersonal skills and ability to interact with our valued team members and clients.
• Computer skills including AutoCAD (basic), Microsoft Office, and Microsoft Project (basic).
• Willing and able to travel as necessary for project requirements to include but not be limited to: project installation and start-up activities, client meetings, company sponsored meetings, trainings, industry related seminars, forums, or conventions, etc.
• Strong execution leadership with clear ownership of delivery outcomes.
• Ability to balance system‑level technical authority with project‑level accountability.
• Advanced cross‑functional influencing and conflict‑resolution skills.
• Sustained focus on compliance, risk management, and inspection‑ready delivery.

Our culture and commitment to our people is what sets us apart. We foster an environment of mutual respect, integrity, and unconditional interest in the individual and collective success of our professionals. Our model and entrepreneurial mindset offer a rewarding, challenging, and highly flexible path. As an Automation Project Manager, you will build a meaningful and fulfilling career with the support of professional development resources and mentorships including our First Year Experience program, Individual Development Plans, and Career Path resources and tools. You will be surrounded by exceptional talent who will support your development as both a world-class engineer and a highly effective leader.

The approximate pay range for this position is $120,000 - $180,000 per year. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting.In addition to base compensation, this position is eligible for variable compensation based on individual and/or company performance, in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to background, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as geographic location of the position.

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At Barry-Wehmiller we recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying. We know that our differences often can bring about innovation, excellence and meaningful work—therefore, people from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply to our positions. Please let us know if you require reasonable accommodations during the interview process.

Barry-Wehmiller is an equal opportunity employer. M/F/D/V This organization uses E-Verify.Applicants may be subject to pre-employment screening which may include drug screening, reference checks, employment verifications, background screening and/or skills assessments.

Company:

Design Group