External Automation Engineer

Crystal Equation Corporation; Thousand Oaks (CA); On-site; USD 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401K

Parental leave

Job summary

Crystal Equation Corporation in Thousand Oaks, CA is seeking an External Automation Engineer to augment the MCS F&E Automation team. The role focuses on updating, maintaining, and improving DeltaV automation systems while providing critical site support for controlled biopharma processes.

The candidate should demonstrate strong analytical thinking, effective communication, and collaboration in cross‑functional teams, with solid experience in process control design, testing, and commissioning.

Qualifications

• Doctorate, Masters with 2+ years, Bachelors with 4+ years, Associates with 8+ years, or high school with 10+ years of experience.
• Degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science, Chemical Engineering or Biotech Engineering.
• Experience with programming, design, installation and lifecycle management of manufacturing process controls.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support process control applications via DCS, HMI, SCADA and PLC.
• Collaborate with scientists and operations staff to translate requirements into automation design.
• Investigate and troubleshoot process control issues related to instrumentation and control systems.
• Design and test automated process equipment.
• Support new product introductions and technology deployments through automation changes.
• Assist capital projects with design, configuration, startup and commissioning of systems.
• Demonstrate understanding of project life cycles and handover to operations.
• Develop detailed specifications, engineering documents, SOPs and operating standards.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Collaboration

Operational excellence

Education

Doctorate degree

Master's degree

Bachelor's degree

Associate degree

High school diploma / GED

Tools

DeltaV DCS

HMI

SCADA

PLC

OPC

Foundation Fieldbus

Profibus

DeviceNet

Job description

External Automation Engineer Onsite Top Must Have Skill Sets: DeltaV Batch Experience Knowledge of standard biopharma manufacturing processes Background in design, installation, programming, and validation of automated processes.

Red Flags: No DeltaV Batch Experience No biopharma experience

Summary: We are seeking an External Automation Engineer based in Thousand Oaks, California to augment our MCS F&E Automation team. This role will support ongoing biological processes by updating, maintaining, and improving DeltaV automation systems, and providing critical site support. The successful candidate must exhibit sound analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, exemplary communication and collaboration, and operational excellence. A proven ability to work in cross-functional teams is critical for this role.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support process control applications via Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems (SCADA), and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC).
• Collaborate with scientific and operational staff to help translate process requirements into automation and engineering design.
• Participate in technical root cause analysis, incident investigations, and troubleshooting on process control issues related to instrumentation and control systems.
• Design and test of automated process equipment.
• Support new product and technology introductions by performing engineering assessments, implementing automation system configuration changes, and supporting engineering runs.
• Support capital projects by applying advanced automation engineering principles in the design, specification, configuration, startup, and commissioning of process equipment and systems for capital projects of significant scope and complexity.
• Demonstrated understanding of project life cycles is preferred.
• Candidate should be familiar with engineering processes from initial conceptualization through project turnover to operations.
• Development of detailed specification, engineering documents, SOPs, and operating standards.

Basic Qualifications

• Doctorate degree OR Masters degree and 2 years of experience OR Bachelors degree and 4 years of experience OR Associates degree and 8 years of experience OR High school diploma / GED and 10 years of experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science, Chemical Engineering or Biotech Engineering.
• Extensive understanding and background in programming, design, installation and lifecycle management of manufacturing process controls, automation and field instrumentation technologies.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience in developing process control strategies for New Product Introduction and New Technology Deployment for Clinical and Commercial Drug Substance Plant Operations.
• Direct knowledge of Automation design, experience in process control engineering and troubleshooting with GMP biopharmaceutical production facility equipment/systems such as media, harvest, bioreactors, chromatography, vial filtration, and ultrafiltration/diafiltration, and integrating various OEM automation software.
• Demonstrated experience with continuous improvements resulting in enhanced safety, system reliability, and productivity (e.g. cycle times, and reduced plant utilities usage etc.) related to Drug Substance Plant Operations.
• 5+ years’ combined experience with the following: Emerson Delta-V DCS system Rockwell Automation SCADA and PLC Platform Electronic Batch Reporting Systems Design and implementation experience Process Control Network design including network segregation Process Control Systems: Virtual Infrastructure design and implementation and ability to perform advanced troubleshooting activities System Integration using OPC, Foundation Fieldbus, Profibus, and DeviceNet technologies Compliance and regulatory requirements such as 21 CFR Part 11, ASTM 2500, S88, S95 and GAMP

Pay

• Pay range is $42 - $47 per hour with full benefits available, including paid time off, medical/dental/vision/life insurance, 401K, parental leave, and more.
• Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets.
• Pay is based on several factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

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