Instrumentation Designer

Blackfield Associates; United States; On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Blackfield Associates is seeking an experienced Instrumentation & Controls lead for a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. The role focuses on defining project standards, specifications, testing requirements, and installation practices across the project lifecycle.

You will develop and maintain I&C engineering documentation, coordinate with cross-functional teams, and manage vendor interfaces for long-lead equipment to ensure correct instrumentation integration and lifecycle management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of Instrumentation & Controls experience in regulated environments, pharma preferred.
• Experience specifying and integrating field instrumentation, I/O cabinets, control panels, valves, actuators and vendor equipment.
• Strong understanding of PLC/DCS architectures, industrial protocols, GMP, commissioning and lifecycle management.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical lead for I&C design across the project lifecycle.
• Define standards, specifications, testing requirements and installation practices.
• Develop I&C documentation including instrument specs, cable schedules, loop diagrams, I/O lists and calibration strategies.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to align with PCS architecture and commissioning strategy.
• Interface with equipment vendors for long-lead process equipment and ensure integration of instrumentation requirements.
• Drive standardization and continuous improvement in instrumentation technologies and practices.
• Ensure compliance with GMP and hazardous area classifications, delivering maintainable, fit-for-purpose solutions.
• Support design reviews, FATs, SATs, commissioning, loop testing, and system handover.

Skills

I&C design leadership

Project leadership

Pharma manufacturing

Vendor coordination

PLC/DCS architectures

GMP compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

• Serve as the technical lead for Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) design activities, defining project standards, specifications, testing requirements, and installation practices across the project lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain I&C engineering documentation including instrument specifications, cable schedules, loop diagrams, I/O lists, control panel designs, I/O cabinet configurations, calibration strategies, and testing protocols.
• Lead the selection and specification of field instrumentation, control valves, electrical valves, actuators, junction boxes, marshalling panels, and associated hardware, ensuring alignment with process, automation, and operational requirements.
• Collaborate with Automation, Process, Electrical, and Project Engineering teams to ensure all instrumentation and control system designs align with the overall PCS architecture, site automation roadmap, equipment layouts, and commissioning strategy.
• Act as the primary I&C interface for equipment vendors, particularly for long-lead process equipment such as bioreactors and skidded systems, ensuring instrumentation requirements, control philosophies, signal interfaces, hardwired I/O, and cabinet designs are clearly defined and integrated.
• Drive standardization and continuous improvement initiatives by evaluating emerging instrumentation technologies, communication protocols, and industry best practices, ensuring designs support both current operations and future site requirements.
• Ensure compliance with applicable engineering standards, GMP requirements, hazardous area classifications (ATEX), and pharmaceutical industry expectations, while delivering solutions that are maintainable, accessible, and fit for purpose.
• Support design reviews, FATs, SATs, commissioning, loop testing, calibration, and system handover activities, providing technical leadership throughout project execution within a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of Instrumentation & Controls experience within regulated manufacturing environments, with pharmaceutical or biologics manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Proven experience specifying and integrating field instrumentation, I/O cabinets, control panels, electrical valves, actuators, and vendor package equipment within large-scale capital projects.
• Strong understanding of PLC/DCS architectures, industrial communication protocols, GMP compliance, commissioning, and lifecycle management of automation and control systems.