Controls & IIoT Engineer

Avantor; Phillipsburg (NJ); On-site; USD 98,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

Avantor is seeking a Controls & IIoT Engineer to lead automation, integration, and digital transformation across our Phillipsburg, NJ manufacturing operations in a cGMP setting. This role focuses on designing, implementing, and sustaining both traditional control systems and Industry 4.0 architectures with a move toward digital batch records and UNS-based data models.

You will work on integrating PLCs, SCADA, MES, and CMMS while enabling IIoT, edge computing, and secure data pipelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field is required.
• 4+ years in controls, automation, or integration.
• Experience in a cGMP/regulatory environment is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, test, and support PLC and HMI systems.
• Develop system requirements and validation documentation (IQ/OQ/PQ).
• Lead FAT and SAT activities.
• Troubleshoot and optimize equipment and systems.
• Maintain backups and version control.
• Integrate PLCs, SCADA, historians, MES, and CMMS.
• Configure MQTT architectures (EMQX).
• Support Ignition SCADA and migrate legacy systems.
• Develop UNS-based data models and scalable data flow.
• Create dashboards and KPIs to drive improvements.

Skills

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Ignition SCADA HMI

VFDs & instrumentation

Electrical schematics

UNS & MQTT

Edge computing

Data modeling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Canary Historian

HighByte Intelligence Hub

Tulip MES

eMaint CMMS

EMQX

Job description

The Opportunity

Avantor is seeking a Controls & IIoT Engineer to lead and support automation, integration, and digital transformation initiatives across manufacturing operations in a cGMP-regulated environment. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and sustaining both traditional control systems and modern Industry 4.0 architectures. As part of a site-wide digital transformation, this position will play a key role in transitioning from paper-based manufacturing processes to fully digital batch records, leveraging Unified Namespace (UNS) architecture, IIoT technologies, and enterprise system integration. This is a full-time position located at our Phillipsburg, NJ office.

How you will thrive and create an impact

Automation & Controls Engineering

• Design, program, test, and support PLC and HMI systems
• Develop system requirements and validation documentation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
• Lead FAT and SAT activities
• Troubleshoot and optimize equipment and systems
• Maintain backups and version control
• Specify instrumentation and controls hardware

Industry 4.0 & Digital Transformation

• Support transition to digital batch records (EBR)
• Develop Unified Namespace (UNS) architecture
• Integrate PLC, IIoT sensors, and edge devices
• Create scalable and contextualized data models
• Maintain OT data pipelines

Systems Integration & Data Architecture

• Integrate PLCs, SCADA, historians, MES, and CMMS
• Configure MQTT architectures (EMQX)
• Support Ignition SCADA and migrate Wonderware
• Integrate Canary, HighByte, Tulip, and eMaint
• Ensure secure and scalable data flow

Continuous Improvement & Data-Driven Operations

• Drive improvements using Lean Six Sigma and data
• Develop dashboards and KPIs
• Build business cases and ROI models

Compliance & Validation

• Ensure cGMP and FDA compliance
• Support 21 CFR Part 11
• Execute validation and change control

Additional Responsibilities

Oversees large-scale projects and manufacturing process enhancements, ensuring alignment with broader operational and engineering strategies. Guides the activities of project teams, providing direction and expertise to ensure successful implementation. Solves complex and multifaceted process engineering challenges through in-depth evaluation of variable factors, adapting existing approaches or innovating beyond established methods to create effective solutions. Regularly collaborates with and influences management, providing data-driven insights to support decision-making. Builds and strengthens relationships with internal stakeholders in R&D, production, and quality and external partners, such as equipment suppliers and regulatory bodies, leveraging persuasive communication to align on manufacturing and engineering objectives.

What we are looking for

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related fiedl (preferred)

Experience

• 4+ years in controls, automation, or integration

Additional Qualifications & Core Skills

• Allen-Bradley PLCs
• Ignition SCADA HMI and electrical schematics
• VFDs and instrumentation

Industry 4.0 Skills (Preferred)

• UNS and MQTT (EMQX)
• Canary Historian
• HighByte Intelligence Hub
• Tulip MES
• eMaint CMMS
• IIoT and edge computing

Work Environment

• Office and manufacturing floor
• Exposure to machinery and noise
• May require lifting up to 50 lbs

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor?

Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science. The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor. We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world.

Pay Transparency

The expected pre-tax pay for this position is $97,500.00 - $156,975.00 Actual pay may differ depending on relevant factors such as prior experience and geographic location.

EEO Statement

• We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
• We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law.
• If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.
• For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the Know Your Rights poster.

Privacy Policy

We will use the personal information that you have submitted to us in order to consider your application for the relevant role. Your privacy is important to us. Please click here for our Privacy Policy which explains the purposes for which we will use your personal information and the ways in which we will handle and retain your information. It also explains the rights you have in relation to your information, and how to contact us with any queries or requests.

3rd Party Non-Solicitation Policy

By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation. Avantor offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, wellness programs, health savings and flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with company match, and an employee stock purchase program. Employees also receive 11 paid holidays, accrue 18 PTO days annually, are eligible for volunteer time off and 6 weeks of 100% paid parental leave (except in states that offer paid family leave). These benefits may not apply to employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement or those subject to other eligibility rules.

Avantor, a Fortune 500 company

Avantor, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education & government, and advanced technologies & applied materials industries. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities in the industries we serve. One of our greatest strengths comes from having a global infrastructure that is strategically located to support the needs of our customers. Our global footprint enables us to serve more than 225,000 customer locations and gives us extensive access to research laboratories and scientists in more than 180 countries. We set science in motion to create a better world.