Senior Automation Engineer — Life Sciences Manufacturing

Verista; Portsmouth (NH); On-site; USD 85,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company-paid Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Health Insurance

Job summary

Verista is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer in Portsmouth, NH to lead controls and automation activities for manufacturing projects, troubleshoot complex systems, and support technology transfers. You will collaborate with Manufacturing, MSAT, Engineering, and Quality to ensure compliant, robust automation solutions.

The role emphasizes troubleshooting, data-driven analysis using PI data, change controls, and CAPAs within a regulated life sciences environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of controls, automation, or industrial automation experience.
• Experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Strong hands-on experience troubleshooting manufacturing equipment and process automation systems.
• Experience reviewing or troubleshooting automation code.
• Experience using process historian data, such as PI data, to investigate equipment or process performance.
• Working knowledge of cGMP requirements and regulated change-management practices.
• Experience supporting change controls, deviations, CAPAs, and technical investigations.
• Ability to independently establish methods and procedures for achieving defined project goals.
• Strong critical-thinking, analytical, and technical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities across Manufacturing, Engineering, MSAT, and Quality.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute plant projects involving complex equipment modifications and significant process improvements.
• Serve as the Controls and Automation lead for technology-transfer initiatives.
• Troubleshoot manufacturing equipment, instrumentation, and process automation systems.
• Analyze process and equipment performance using PI data and other available system information.
• Review and troubleshoot automation code to identify and resolve system issues.
• Support the resolution of equipment breakdowns, process deviations, and quality issues within manufacturing suites.
• Provide subject-matter expertise to Manufacturing, MSAT, Engineering, Quality, and other departments regarding the design and operation of process automation equipment.
• Represent the Controls organization during integrated project team, joint project team, and other cross-functional meetings.
• Initiate and support change controls through planning, execution, testing, and closure.
• Own and execute assigned CAPA actions.
• Review SOPs, functional specifications, work instructions, and related technical documentation.
• Participate as a Controls SME during audits and regulatory inspections when required.
• Monitor project schedules and budgets to help ensure deliverables are completed on time and within established financial targets.
• Participate in an on-call support rotation outside normal business hours

Skills

Controls

Automation

Manufacturing

Troubleshooting

PI data

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/CS

Tools

PI System

Job description

Verista is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer in Portsmouth, NH to lead controls and automation activities for manufacturing projects, troubleshoot complex systems, and support technology transfers. You will collaborate with Manufacturing, MSAT, Engineering, and Quality to ensure compliant, robust automation solutions.

The role emphasizes troubleshooting, data-driven analysis using PI data, change controls, and CAPAs within a regulated life sciences environment.