Senior Automation Engineer I

Lonza; Vacaville (CA); Hybrid; USD 107,000 - 179,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Medical, dental and vision insurance

401(k) matching plan

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Employee assistance programs

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Lonza in Vacaville, California, is seeking an automation engineer to deliver robust support for CCP1 and CCP2 automation systems. This role focuses on maintaining MCS, DCS, PLC, and VSC platforms to keep them in a qualified state while collaborating across manufacturing, engineering, process science, validation, and QA teams.

The position supports MAR activities, capital projects, and technology transfers from design through commissioning and validation, requiring strong communication and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field preferred.
• Excellent communication to engage and collaborate at all levels.
• High adaptability to changing conditions with the ability to prioritize.
• Provide robust automation support for testing, startup, commissioning and validation changes.
• Support ongoing manufacturing by evaluating discrepancies and implementing corrective actions.
• Maintain and troubleshoot plant control systems to ensure reliable automation.

Responsibilities

• Deliver automation support for CCP1/CCP2 roadmaps to ensure quality supply and operational excellence.
• Maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize CCP1/CCP2 automation systems (MCS, DCS, PLC, VSC) to stay qualified.
• Support MAR activities, capital projects, and technology transfers from design to validation.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to implement effective automation solutions.
• Develop and review scope definitions, system requirements, and change control assessments.
• Perform coding, startup testing, peer reviews, and change approvals for system performance.
• Provide troubleshooting to resolve manufacturing discrepancies and implement corrective actions.

Skills

Effective communication

Adaptability

Cross-functional collaboration

Automation troubleshooting

Documentation and change control

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

MCS

DCS

PLC

VSC

Job description

Location: Vacaville, California

This is a fully site based role. Working together in person supports close, real time collaboration and the technical precision needed to manufacture medicines to the highest quality and safety standards.

Execute automation projects and Automation roadmap initiatives for systems supporting Cell Culture Plant 1 (CCP1) and Cell Culture Plant 2 (CCP2). Support MAR activities and Vacaville Manufacturing Operations by assisting with tech transfers and capital projects while maintaining the qualified state of PLC and VSC systems.

What you will get

The full-time base annual salary for this position is expected to range between $107,250 to $178,750. In addition, below you will find a comprehensive summary of the benefits package we offer:

• Performance-related bonus
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) matching plan
• Life insurance, as well as short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Employee assistance programs
• Paid Time Off

What you will do

• Deliver robust automation support for site-wide projects in alignment with CCP1 and CCP2 roadmaps to ensure a reliable quality supply and operational excellence.
• Maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize critical CCP1/CCP2 automation systems, including MCS, DCS, PLC, and Vendor Supplied Controller (VSC) platforms, to guarantee they remain in a qualified state.
• Support Make Assess Release (MAR) activities, capital project execution, and technology transfers from initial design through commissioning and validation.
• Partner with cross-functional teams—including manufacturing, engineering, process science, validation, and QA—to engineer and implement "right-the-first-time" automation solutions.
• Collaborate with project leads to develop, review, and approve scope definitions, system requirements, control designs, technical drawings, and Change Control assessments.
• Perform off-line and on-line coding, debugging, comprehensive startup testing, peer reviews, and software change approvals for seamless system performance.
• Provide dedicated troubleshooting and to resolve manufacturing discrepancies, mitigate software issues, and implement corrective action plans

What we are looking for

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field preferred.
• Effective communication to engage and collaborate at all operational levels.
• High adaptability to changing operational conditions and requirements, with a proven ability to prioritize and manage key deliverables effectively.
• Provide robust automation support for the testing, startup, commissioning, and validation of system changes and projects, including Change Control assessments and record ownership.
• Support ongoing manufacturing by evaluating discrepancies, taking authorized additional actions, providing technical input for investigations, and implementing corrective action plans.
• Maintain and troubleshoot plant control systems—including PLCs, DCS, and field I/O devices—to ensure reliable process automation and minimize equipment downtime.

About Lonza

At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With 30+ sites across five continents, our globally connected teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion and Integrity reflect who we are and how we work together. Everyone’s ideas, big or small, have the potential to improve millions of lives, and that’s the kind of work we want you to be part of. Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives to the table. At Lonza, we offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reference: R77540

You will feel at home at Lonza if you:

• Take ownership, step forward, and enjoy meaningful responsibility
• Love solving problems and thrive in a complex, fast-moving environment
• Are curious, always looking to learn and improve
• Work collaboratively, contributing to something bigger than yourself
• Are motivated to make a difference through work that impacts customers and their patients

Why Lonza:

We are a place of unique opportunity, where your ideas, expertise and ambition can make a real difference. Here, will have the freedom to grow, the support to succeed and the chance to contribute to work that matters.

We are the makers of the medicines of tomorrow.