Lead Automation Engineer - Process

AstraZeneca GmbH; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 108,000 - 162,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Short-term incentive bonuses

Equity-based awards

Health, dental, vision insurance

Job summary

AstraZeneca GmbH in Rockville, MD seeks a Senior Automation Engineer – Cell Therapy to lead automation and OT strategy for a groundbreaking robotic manufacturing cluster. You will own key platforms, drive cross‑functional collaboration across Manufacturing, Quality, IT, and suppliers, and ensure GMP‑compliant operation.

The role emphasizes problem solving with AI, lifecycle stewardship, and scalable automation architecture to enable reliable cell-therapy manufacturing.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Five+ years of experience implementing and sustaining process automation or OT systems in manufacturing or similar environments.
• Hands-on experience integrating robotic systems with third-party equipment; AI for process control is valued.
• Capability across the system lifecycle including design, FAT/SAT, qualification, validation, and GMP‑regulated support.
• Knowledge of automation architecture, data flows, alarms, remote notifications, and industrial integration standards such as OPC, Modbus, Ethernet.

Responsibilities

• Lead Automation and OT strategy for the site’s robotic manufacturing cluster and act as the technical authority.
• Own and administer critical automation platforms including monitoring systems and process orchestration layers.
• Solve complex automation and OT challenges, restore performance, and maintain GMP‑validated state.
• Guide equipment lifecycle decisions from concept to replacement and qualification.
• Design startup logic, data flows, alarms, interfaces for facility and manufacturing assets.
• Leverage AI and data to identify root causes, reduce risk, and improve real-time control.
• Develop capital and operating cost estimates for strategic investments.
• Advance energy-management automation and other continuous-improvement opportunities.
• Share expertise and mentor colleagues to build enduring capability.

Skills

Automation experience

GMP experience

Robotics integration

Cross-functional leadership

Structured troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Rockwell

Siemens

COPA-DATA Zenon

Process orchestration

Job description

Build the future of cell therapy manufacturing

The opportunity

Rockville, MD

Imagine creatingthe intelligentautomation that helps bring advanced cell therapies to patients with greater reliability, speed, and precision. As Senior AutomationEngineer– Cell Therapy, you will be a trustedtechnicalleader forhigh-impact projectsanddailymanufacturing operationsacrossourCell Therapynetwork.You will combine automation, operational technology, robotics, data, and GMPexpertiseto turn pioneering concepts into dependable manufacturing capability.

Your impact

Why thisrolematters

Basedatour Rockville, Maryland site, you will join Facilities and Engineering at a defining moment: the first-of-its-kind implementation of a robotic manufacturing cluster. You will shape the network infrastructure, software and hardware integrations, operating strategy, and lifecycle support that make this platform reliable, compliant, secure, and ready to scale.Leanways of working and standardized methods will help you simplify complexity, improve performance, and focus effort where it creates the greatest value. Because these capabilities support continuous manufacturing operations, the roleparticipatesin a shared 24/7 on-call support model.

What youwill do

• Lead Automation and Operational TechnologyOTstrategy for the site’s first-of-its-kind robotic manufacturing cluster, serving as the primary technical authority and a trusted partner to Manufacturing, Quality, IT, Engineering, and external suppliers.

• Own and administer critical Automation/OT platforms, including Environmental and Equipment Monitoring Systems, the Process Orchestration Layer, the robotics cluster, and integrated process equipment.

• Solve complex automation, OT, and robotics challenges, restore performance quickly, andmaintainsystems in a secure, reliable, and GMP-validated state.

• Guid eequipment lifecycle decisions—from concept, design, and integration through FAT, SAT, commissioning, qualification, validation, maintenance, upgrades, and replacement.

• Design and continuously improve equipment startup logic, sequences of operation, system architecture, data flows, alarms, notifications, and interfaces for facility and manufacturing assets.

• LeverageartificialintelligenceAI,system and equipment data toidentifyroot causes,anticipaterisk, improve reliability, and advance real-time process control.

• Develop sound capital and operating cost estimates that help leaders prioritize strategic investments.

• Advanceenergy-managementautomation and othercontinuous-improvementopportunities that strengthen operational and environmental performance.

• Shareexpertise, mentor colleagues, and help build enduring automation and robotics capability across the organization.

What you bring

Essential Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

• Five or more years of experience implementing and sustainingprocessautomation or OT systems in manufacturing, laboratory,energy-management, or similarly complex environments.

• Hands-on experience integrating robotic systems with third-party manufacturing equipment; experience applying artificial intelligence to process execution or real-time control is highly valued.

• Demonstrated capability across the system lifecycle, including ideation, design, implementation, FAT/SAT, commissioning, qualification, validation, and ongoing support in a GMP-regulated environment.

• Working knowledge of automation architecture, data flows, configuration, alarm management, remote notifications, and industrial integration standards such as OPC, Modbus, BACnet, Ethernet, hardwired interfaces, and parsers.

• Experience with relevant platforms and equipment such as Rockwell, Siemens, COPA-DATAZenon, process orchestration, historians, electronic batch records, or cell therapy manufacturing systems.

• Familiarity with system integration, data integrity, and zero-trust cybersecurity principles in a regulated environment.

• A structured, curious approach to troubleshooting and the judgment to balance operational urgency with GMP requirements.

• Clear communication and collaborative leadership across multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.

Additionalexperience that will help you thrive

• Experience with maintenance-management platforms such as SAP in cell therapy, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical manufacturing.

• Relevant certifications in process automation, robotics, Rockwell, Siemens, COPA-DATA, industrial networking, cybersecurity, or related disciplines.

Bring your whole perspective

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $108,194.40 - $162,291.60. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.

Date Posted

04-Sep-2026

Closing Date

24-Sep-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.