Pharma Facility Startup: Senior Automation Project Lead

Automationtechies; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Automationtechies seeks a Senior Automation Project Manager to lead the automation workstream for a new facility startup, ensuring all control systems are delivered on schedule, GMP-compliant, and startup-ready.

The role requires leading cross-functional teams including process engineering, automation engineering, system integrators, and Site Quality; coordinating FAT/SAT and CSV activities; and managing risks to scope, schedule, and budget throughout project delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Electrical, Controls Engineering, or related discipline.
• 8+ years of automation engineering or automation project management experience.
• Experience leading automation workstreams for at least one new or greenfield facility startup in a pharmaceutical or regulated manufacturing environment.
• Strong background working with DCS/SCADA/MES vendors and system integrators.
• Solid understanding of ISA-88 batch standards, GMP, CSV, and data integrity principles.
• Demonstrated project management capability across scope, schedule, and budget.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead automation project management for a new facility startup, including scope, schedule, and punch-list oversight for all control system deliverables.
• Act as the primary liaison between process engineering, automation engineering, system integrators, construction teams, and Site Quality.
• Coordinate FAT/SAT execution and support CSV to ensure systems are ready for commissioning, qualification, and startup.
• Identify, track, and mitigate risks related to automation scope, schedule, and quality.
• Provide ongoing project status updates to site leadership and key stakeholders.
• Support development of automation staffing plans, standards, and procedures for a new site organization.
• Partner closely with Site Quality to integrate CSV, data integrity, and GMP compliance strategies into project execution.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Electrical, or Controls Engineering

Tools

DeltaV Batch DCS

Honeywell Experion

Rockwell PlantPAx

Kneat

Job description

Automationtechies seeks a Senior Automation Project Manager to lead the automation workstream for a new facility startup, ensuring all control systems are delivered on schedule, GMP-compliant, and startup-ready.

The role requires leading cross-functional teams including process engineering, automation engineering, system integrators, and Site Quality; coordinating FAT/SAT and CSV activities; and managing risks to scope, schedule, and budget throughout project delivery.