Senior Automation Engineer

Virtue America; Georgia; On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Virtue America in the United States Georgia is seeking an experienced Senior Automation Engineer to support automation, controls, and manufacturing systems in a regulated pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical device environment. The role involves designing, developing, and troubleshooting PLC/HMI/SCADA and DCS applications, and leading upgrades, commissioning, and startup activities.

You will collaborate with Process, Manufacturing, Electrical, Validation, and Quality teams; mentor junior

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in Automation, Controls, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on experience with PLC programming and troubleshooting.
• Experience with HMI/SCADA systems such as FactoryTalk, Ignition, WinCC, or similar platforms.
• Strong documentation, analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills.
• Preferred: MES integration (Syncade, PAS‑X, PharmaSuite, Tulip) and plant data systems (OSI PI, Kepware, SQL Server).

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, modify, and troubleshoot automated manufacturing and process control systems.
• Develop and maintain PLC, HMI, SCADA, and DCS applications.
• Support automation system upgrades, modifications, commissioning, and startup activities.
• Troubleshoot PLC, instrumentation, controls, and industrial communication issues.
• Develop and execute automation test protocols, including FAT, SAT, commissioning, and qualification activities.
• Collaborate with Process, Manufacturing, Electrical, Instrumentation, Validation, and Quality teams.

Skills

PLC programming

HMI/SCADA

GMP compliance

FDA 21 CFR Part 11

FAT/SAT

ISA-88

Electrical engineering

Documentation

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Tools

FactoryTalk

Ignition

WinCC

OSI PI

Kepware

SQL Server

Job description

Industry: Pharmaceutical Medical Devices

We are seeking an experienced Senior Automation Engineer to support automation, controls, and manufacturing systems within a regulated pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical device environment. The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience with PLC/DCS programming, SCADA systems, troubleshooting, commissioning, and automation lifecycle activities.

Key Responsibilities :

• Design, develop, modify, and troubleshoot automated manufacturing and process control systems.
• Develop and maintain PLC, HMI, SCADA, and DCS applications.
• Support automation system upgrades, modifications, commissioning, and startup activities.
• Troubleshoot PLC, instrumentation, controls, and industrial communication issues.
• Develop and execute automation test protocols, including FAT, SAT, commissioning, and qualification activities.
• Collaborate with Process, Manufacturing, Electrical, Instrumentation, Validation, and Quality teams.
• Support integration of automation systems with MES, historians, databases, and other manufacturing systems.
• Review and develop control system documentation, functional specifications, design documents, and standard operating procedures.
• Ensure automation systems comply with applicable GMP, FDA, 21 CFR Part 11, GAMP 5, and data integrity requirements.
• Participate in root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for automation-related issues.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to junior automation and controls engineers.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to improve equipment reliability, production efficiency, and system performance.

Required Qualifications :

• 7+ years of experience in Automation, Controls, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on experience with PLC programming and troubleshooting.
• Experience with one or more major automation platforms such as:
• Experience with HMI/SCADA systems such as FactoryTalk, Ignition, WinCC, or similar platforms.
• Strong understanding of industrial networking, instrumentation, and control systems.
• Experience with FAT, SAT, commissioning, startup, and troubleshooting.
• Knowledge of GMP, FDA regulations, 21 CFR Part 11, GAMP 5, and computerized system controls.
• Strong documentation, analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Experience with MES integration, including systems such as Syncade, PAS‑X, PharmaSuite, or Tulip.
• Experience with OSI PI, Kepware, SQL Server, or other plant data systems.
• Experience with batch process control and ISA-88 principles.
• Experience supporting CIP/SIP, bioreactors, chromatography, filtration, filling, packaging, or other pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment.
• Experience with automation system validation and change control.
• Engineering degree in Electrical, Automation, Controls, Instrumentation, or a related discipline.