Biopharma Utilities Automation Lead — Remote to Onsite

Kelly Services; North Carolina; Hybrid; USD 83,000 - 138,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced Benefits

Paid Holidays

PTO

Job summary

Kelly Engineering is seeking a Utilities Automation Lead for a major biopharmaceutical project in the Richmond, VA area. The role begins remotely with site visits and will transition onsite as the facility becomes operational.

You will lead automation for building utilities, collaborate with vendors, and ensure FAT/SAT and validation across drug substance and drug product environments. A complex, cross-functional project awaits with competitive compensation.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with utilities automation (DeltaV, Rockwell, PLC/DCS) in GMP-regulated biopharma or pharmaceutical facilities.
• Strong knowledge of clean utility systems—such as WFI, clean steam, process gases, and plant-wide utility integration.
• Demonstrated history of delivering automation solutions for both drug substance (API) and drug product environments.
• Experience overseeing vendor and system integrator deliverables, from design through FAT/SAT and qualification.
• Engineering and technical documentation skills—able to manage specs, test plans, and validation protocols in a regulated environment.
• Ability to operate in a high-profile, complex greenfield project involving multiple stakeholders and evolving requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead automation of building utilities (WFI, clean steam, process gases, HVAC, water systems).
• Oversee automation strategies for utility systems leveraging DeltaV and Rockwell platforms, supporting both drug substance and drug product suites.
• Review P&IDs, block flow diagrams, instrumentation lists, and prepare/approve functional and design specifications for utility equipment.
• Collaborate with equipment vendors and system integrators on code review, documentation, and commissioning/qualification activities - across both custom and packaged solutions.
• Act as the primary interface for cross-system integration and technical troubleshooting, supporting successful handover through the project lifecycle.
• Engage regularly with stakeholders, process leads, and area leads to align on schedules, priorities, scope, and technical queries.

Skills

Utilities automation

DeltaV

Rockwell

PLC/DCS

GMP biopharma experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

DeltaV

Rockwell Automation

PLC/DCS

Job description

Kelly Engineering is seeking a Utilities Automation Lead for a major biopharmaceutical project in the Richmond, VA area. The role begins remotely with site visits and will transition onsite as the facility becomes operational.

You will lead automation for building utilities, collaborate with vendors, and ensure FAT/SAT and validation across drug substance and drug product environments. A complex, cross-functional project awaits with competitive compensation.