Senior Automation/Controls Engineer

Meissner; Camarillo (CA); On-site; USD 137,900 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full Medical, Dental and Vision coverage

Onsite Full Gym

Free EV Charging Stations

Employee Discounts

401k and Profit Sharing

Paid Time Off

Job summary

An innovative engineering firm based in Camarillo, CA, is seeking a Senior Automation / Controls Engineer. This on-site role will involve leading high-complexity automation projects, ensuring safety and compliance in cleanroom environments. Candidates should have over 7 years of experience in controls and automation, demonstrating leadership in project management and system integration. The firm offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental coverage, and a supportive work environment focused on professional growth.

Qualifications

• 7+ years related controls/automation experience with strong prior industry exposure.
• Advanced proficiency with NEC, UL, CE; hazardous-area design compliance.
• Expert ladder logic and HMI development; architectural and modular code design.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-complexity projects as single owner of controls engineering scope.
• Define build strategies and oversee panel/field installation.
• Support cGMP validation and ensure full requirements traceability.

Skills

Controls and automation experience

Project leadership

HMI development

SCADA architecture

Networking design for secure industrial networks

Advanced Python

Advanced SQL

Multi-axis servo motion control

Technical mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

Overview

Are you a highly skilled Senior Automation / Controls Engineer with a passion for designing and developing innovative automated systems that improve manufacturing processes? Our industry-leading company is seeking a motivated and experienced Senior Automation / Controls Engineer to join our team and help us maintain and improve our automated systems.

Who is Meissner? The goal at Meissner is to be more than simply good; it is to be extraordinary. Extraordinary performance comes from extraordinary people. Meissner as a group is passionate about helping our clients manufacture lifesaving and life enhancing drugs, therapies, and vaccines. We develop, manufacture, supply and service advanced microfiltration products and single-use systems worldwide. We know that when you are passionate about what you do, it’s more than just a job. Meissner is focused on the development of the whole individual, and we have programs and tools in place to help us stay at our best mentally and physically. In alignment with our commitment to support the growth and development of the whole individual, Meissner has inaugurated a Learning and Development department to solely focus on cultivating our team. When you grow, we grow.

How You Will Make An Impact

The Senior Automation / Controls Engineer leads high-complexity, high-priority projects as the single owner of the controls engineering scope, architecting solutions that maximize safety, reliability, throughput, and maintainability in Class 7 cleanroom, cGMP environments; operates with strong platform-agnostic capability; delegates work to technicians and junior engineers; provides initial first-line support at startup and transitions first-line support to Manufacturing Engineering and Maintenance; cross-trains interdepartmental engineers transitioning second-line support (remaining as final-line support).

• Program leadership: scope ambiguous projects; build detailed execution plans in the company-standard project/task management system; manage budget, schedule, and risk; communicate effectively with stakeholders, suppliers, and customers.
• Architecture and design: author, review, and approve comprehensive documentation (P&IDs; electrical schematics; pneumatic diagrams; panel/device layouts; BOMs; process flow diagrams); establish maintainable design patterns and standards.
• Build oversight: define build strategies; oversee panel/field installation by technicians; ensure compliance with NEC, UL, CE and hazardous-area requirements.
• Integration:
• Engineer safety systems to required performance levels; implement complex multi-axis servo motion control including robotic systems (Cartesian, SCARA, collaborative robots/cobots)
• Networking: configure segmented, secure local networks and manage routing/remote connectivity.
• PLC/HMI: deliver maintainable architectures with modular code, robust fault handling, and advanced PID/motion coordination across multiple subsystems; demonstrate cross-platform adaptability.
• SCADA: architect scalable SCADA solutions including role-based security, distributed alarming, data models, scripting, reporting, web services and integrations with enterprise systems.
• Test/debug: define verification strategies; lead complex troubleshooting; implement corrective and preventive actions; document lessons learned for reuse.
• Validation/documentation: support formal cGMP validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) led by Process Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and Quality; ensure full requirements traceability, test coverage, and release documentation.
• Support and continuous improvement: provide initial first-line support after equipment goes into service to achieve reliable operation; transition first-line support to Manufacturing Engineering and Maintenance and remain second-line support; lead support and modernization of legacy controls systems equal or below experience level; plan lifecycle updates and obsolescence mitigation; ensure smooth handover to operations; drive standards, templates, and best practices; mentor engineers and technicians.

This is an on-site role based out of our headquarters in Camarillo, CA.

The Skills And Experience You’ll Need

• Education: Bachelor’s degree (or similar) in a relevant discipline; equivalent experience considered.
• Experience: 7+ years related controls/automation experience with strong prior industry exposure.
• Codes/standards: advanced proficiency with NEC, UL, CE; hazardous-area design/compliance (Class I Div 1/Div 2, intrinsically safe circuits, explosion-proof enclosures); leads audits/reviews.
• CAD: advanced AutoCAD proficiency; enforces drawing and revision-control standards.
• PLC/HMI: expert ladder logic and HMI development; architectural and modular code design; cross-platform adaptability; demonstrated capability to support legacy systems equal or below experience level.
• Motion: advanced multi-axis servo motion control. Robotics: demonstrated experience integrating Cartesian, SCARA, and collaborative robots/cobots with appropriate safety practices.
• Networking: design secure industrial networks; managed switch configuration; routing and remote access patterns.
• SCADA: strong SCADA architecture and integration in regulated environments.
• Scripting/data: advanced Python and SQL; database table design; data integrity and reporting strategies.
• Demonstrated: commissioning of numerous unique systems of high complexity (large IO counts, tightly coupled PID loops, motion/robotics coordination, distributed systems); documented improvements in reliability, throughput, and robustness; exemplary safety and cGMP record.
• Soft skills: leadership presence; strategic communication; cross-functional influence; project governance; mentoring capability.
• Proficient in 2D CAD and drafting software, AutoCAD Mechanical or Electrical preferred.
• Proficient with MS Office software including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and a working knowledge of a wide variety of software packages, operating systems, and equipment.

Occasional work may be done in an ISO Class 7 cleanroom environment. Powder free gloves, face masks, hairnets, gowns and shoe covers must be worn. Because smokers continue to shed thousands of smoke particles even hours after smoking a cigarette and these particles will damage our products, only non-smokers are permitted to enter or work in the cleanroom.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Apply anyway.

What We Can Offer You

• Full Medical, Dental and Vision coverage with HSA Employer Contributions for eligible plans
• Additional Perks- HQ Onsite Full Gym, Ultramodern Coffee Bars, Free EV Charging Stations, Employee Discounts
• 401k, Profit Sharing, 401k Advisory Services
• Company Sponsored Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Anniversary Holiday

Ready to make an impact? Let’s talk.

This position may require you to access information that is subject to U.S. export regulations. You may only access such information if you are a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. government.

Meissner is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

US BASE PAY SCALE $137,900 - $183,00

The base pay scale for this role is what Meissner reasonably expects to pay for the position although actual pay may vary from this scale depending on an applicant's experience.