Controls Engineer

United Pharma; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

United Pharma in New York is seeking an experienced Controls Engineer to support the design, development, integration, commissioning, and troubleshooting of automation and control systems for Life Sciences and pharmaceutical projects.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on controls experience, a solid understanding of GMP-regulated manufacturing, and proven expertise with PLC, HMI, SCADA, and DCS platforms to translate process requirements into effective automation solutions.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Controls/Automation Engineering.
• Hands-on experience with PLC, HMI, SCADA, and/or DCS platforms.
• Experience in Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical, Biotech, or other regulated manufacturing projects.
• Knowledge of GMP-regulated environments, validation principles, and data integrity.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, program, and implement industrial control systems for Life Sciences and pharmaceutical projects.
• Develop and modify PLC, HMI, SCADA, and DCS control systems based on project requirements.
• Translate process and user requirements into effective controls and automation solutions.
• Prepare and maintain design specifications, test scripts, configuration documentation, and as-built records.
• Participate in FAT, SAT, commissioning, startup, and system integration.
• Troubleshoot PLC, HMI, SCADA, instrumentation, communication, and control-system issues during commissioning and operations.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI development

SCADA

DCS systems

Automation engineering

GMP compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

PLC/HMI/SCADA/DCS platforms

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Controls Engineer to support the design, development, integration, commissioning, and troubleshooting of automation and control systems for Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical projects. The ideal candidate will have strong hands‑on controls experience and a solid understanding of GMP-regulated manufacturing environments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, program, and implement industrial control systems for Life Sciences and pharmaceutical manufacturing projects.
• Develop and modify PLC, HMI, SCADA, and DCS control systems based on project and process requirements.
• Translate process and user requirements into effective controls and automation solutions.
• Develop and review control narratives, functional specifications, I/O lists, sequence logic, alarm strategies, and control documentation.
• Perform PLC/HMI programming, system configuration, troubleshooting, and controls integration.
• Participate in FAT, SAT, commissioning, startup, and system integration activities.
• Troubleshoot PLC, HMI, SCADA, instrumentation, communication, and control-system issues during commissioning and plant operations.
• Ensure automation systems meet applicable GMP, GAMP 5, 21 CFR Part 11, data integrity, and CSV requirements.
• Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including design specifications, test scripts, configuration documentation, and as-built records.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Controls, Automation, Instrumentation, or related Engineering preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in Controls/Automation Engineering.
• Strong experience supporting Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical, Biotech, or other regulated manufacturing projects.
• Hands‑on experience with PLC, HMI, SCADA, and/or DCS platforms.
• Experience with controls system design, programming, integration, commissioning, and troubleshooting.
• Experience working with process equipment and automated manufacturing systems.
• Understanding of GMP-regulated environments and pharmaceutical automation requirements.
• Knowledge of GAMP 5, 21 CFR Part 11, CSV, data integrity, and validation principles.
• Experience with FAT, SAT, commissioning, startup, and qualification activities.