Senior Automation Engineer

Pfizer; Andover (MA); Hybrid; USD 99,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Competitive benefits

Job summary

Pfizer seeks a senior automation engineer in its Global Supply division to lead upgrade projects for manufacturing automation, ensuring reliable and compliant processes. You will design, implement, and qualify automation systems across biopharma production, including cell culture, harvest, and purification.

Role requires strong automation experience with Allen-Bradley PLCs, GE iFIX SCADA, cGMP knowledge, and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical, mechanical, electrical engineering or related field with at least 4 years of experience; or higher degrees with adjusted experience.
• Minimum automation experience with BS 4 years or MS 3 years.
• Working knowledge of cGMP systems and practices.
• Ability to work across operations, maintenance, validation, and project management.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience with production equipment and utility automation systems.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley PLCs and HMIs and GE iFix SCADA.

Responsibilities

• Provide lead engineering for automation upgrade capital projects.
• Support delivery of new automation and software technologies; set minimum standards for computer systems and control hardware/software.
• Perform reliability analyses for critical automation systems.
• Direct and support commissioning, testing, and qualification of automation systems.
• Write and review change controls and project documentation.
• Support project budgeting and equipment specifications.
• Provide instrumentation support including I/O troubleshooting and loop checks.
• Design automation systems compliant with ALCOA data integrity principles.
• Assist with maintenance, meetings, and training requirements.

Skills

Automation experience

Allen-Bradley PLCs

HMIs

GE iFIX SCADA

cGMP knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Troubleshooting

Process equipment

Qualification documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's degree in engineering

PhD

Associate degree + 8 years experience

High school diploma + 10 years experience

Tools

Emerson DeltaV

OSI PI

SQL

Oracle

Job description

Use Your Power for Purpose

At Pfizer, we believe that every role is crucial in our mission to improve patients' lives. Within our Global Supply division, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that our manufacturing processes are efficient, reliable, and innovative. Whether you are involved in the design and development of manufacturing processes for products or supporting maintenance and reliability, engineering is vital to making sure customers and patients have the medicines they need when they need them. Working with our innovative engineering team, you'll help bring medicines to the world even faster by imagining what’s possible and taking action. Your contributions will directly impact our ability to deliver life‑saving medicines to patients around the globe.

What You Will Achieve

In this role, you will:

• Provide a lead engineering role for automation upgrade capital projects involving automation systems.
• Provide engineering support for the delivery of new automation and software technologies; define minimum standards for computer systems and control system hardware and software components within the business unit.
• Perform detailed reliability analyses for all critical automation systems used in production manufacturing and their associated infrastructure systems.
• Provide technical engineering direction and support for the maintenance, installation, startup/commissioning, testing, and qualification of automation systems for process equipment, process‑related systems, and infrastructure equipment within a biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility.
• Provide detailed engineering support for change controls and limited‑scope functional upgrades to existing systems.
• Troubleshoot multiple automation platforms, with a primary focus on Allen‑Bradley PLCs and GE iFIX SCADA systems.
• Support automation design for cell culture, harvest, and purification process equipment, including development of User Requirement Specifications (URS), Functional Requirement Specifications (FRS), and Configuration Specifications (CS).
• Develop and execute commissioning plans, as well as validation and qualification documentation.
• Write and review change controls, and review and approve specifications, drawings, and other project‑related documentation.
• Support project activities, including estimating project budgets and developing specifications for new equipment.
• Provide instrumentation support, including I/O troubleshooting, signal verification, loop checks, and control panel design and review.
• Support maintenance activities, attend required meetings, and maintain specified training requirements.
• Design and implement automation systems in compliance with ALCOA data integrity principles (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, and Accurate).
• Support equipment maintenance history reviews, investigations, and audits as required.

Here Is What You Need (Minimum Requirements)

• Bachelor's degree in chemical, mechanical, electrical engineering, or a relevant scientific discipline with at least 4 years of experience; OR a master's degree with at least 2 years of experience; OR a PhD with 0+ years of experience; OR as associate's degree with 8 years of experience; OR a high school diploma (or equivalent) and 10 years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of 4 years of automation experience with a BS, or 3 years with an MS, including automation of pharmaceutical process systems and execution of design, commissioning, and troubleshooting activities.
• Working knowledge of cGMP systems and practices.
• Ability to work across functional areas, including operations, maintenance, validation, and project management.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience working with both production equipment and utility automation systems.
• Experience with Allen‑Bradley PLCs and HMIs as well as GE iFix SCADA.

Bonus Points If You Have (Preferred Requirements):

• Experience leading automation projects.
• Experience with Emerson DeltaV and OSI PI products.
• Familiarity with relational databases such as SQL or Oracle.
• Familiarity with automation networks, including Ethernet, DH+, ControlNet, and similar technologies.
• Familiarity with network infrastructure and cybersecurity principles.
• Relevant pharmaceutical experience.
• Demonstrated cross‑functional leadership competencies, including diligence, strategic development, conflict resolution, analytical thinking, communication, and business/organizational awareness, along with strong project planning skills.

Other Job Details:

• Work Location Assignment: Must be able to work from assigned Pfizer office 2-3 days per week, or as needed by the business

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $99,200.00 to $165,400.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer's Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 12.5% of the base salary and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life’s moments. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage. Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site – U.S. Benefits | (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com). Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States.

Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Candidates must be authorized to be employed in the U.S. by any employer.

U.S. work visa sponsorship (such as TN, O-1, H-1B, etc.) is not available for this role now or in the future.

Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.

EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer. This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.

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To learn more about acceptable and prohibited uses of AI during the recruitment process, please review our candidate AI-use guidelines available on Pfizer Careers.