Senior Automation Engineer, Optical Inspection/Device Assembly

Johnson Johnson; Wilson (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson & Johnson in Wilson, North Carolina, is seeking an Automation Engineer for Drug Product optical inspection and device assembly. You will own automation and controls delivery across the DP manufacturing area.

The role partners with Manufacturing, Process Engineering, Quality, CSV, MES, and system integrators to design, validate, and maintain automation solutions, ensuring data integrity and compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field.
• Experience with drug product manufacturing automation is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of automation lifecycle and validation.

Responsibilities

• Own automation/controls scope for Drug Product optical inspection and device assembly.
• Lead FAT/SAT, commissioning, qualification and start-up activities.
• Coordinate with Manufacturing, Process Engineering, Quality and CSV teams.
• Ensure data integrity, traceability, and system integration with MES and site systems.
• Review and update control narratives and system documentation.

Skills

Automation engineering

GMP/CGMP

PLC/SCADA

Project leadership

Tools

PLC/HMI

SCADA

MES interfaces

Job description

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com.

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function

Supply Chain Engineering

Job Sub Function

Automation Engineering

Job Category

Scientific/Technology

All Job Posting Locations

Wilson, North Carolina, United States of America

Job Description

About Innovative Medicine

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow. Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

Reporting to the Drug Product Manufacturing Lead within the Site Automation organization, the Automation Engineer, Drug Product - Optical Inspection / Device Assembly provides technical automation and controls engineering ownership for the assigned inspection and device-assembly area. This is an automation engineering role with direct accountability for manufacturing control systems and automation delivery; Process Engineering is a key partner but is not the functional scope of this position.

The Senior Automation Engineer, is responsible for the design, implementation, qualification, start-up, support, troubleshooting, and lifecycle management of automation solutions for Drug Product optical/visual inspection and device assembly operations and their interfaces to site manufacturing systems. The engineer will work closely with Manufacturing, Process Engineering, Quality, Computerized System Validation (CSV), OT Infrastructure, MES, Digital, equipment suppliers, OEM controls teams, and system integrators.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the area Automation Engineer for Drug Product optical/visual inspection and device assembly and provide direct technical ownership of the automation/controls scope under the DP Manufacturing Lead.
• Support end-to-end automation delivery from concept and detailed design through controls development, FAT/SAT, construction support, commissioning, qualification, start-up, handover, troubleshooting, and steady-state lifecycle support.
• Provide technical oversight for automation solutions supporting optical and visual inspection, device assembly, robotics, machine controls, servo/motion control, vision/inspection systems, SCADA/HMI, industrial networks, and associated site-system interfaces.
• Review and challenge OEM and system-integrator automation designs, software/configuration, functional and design specifications, control narratives, system architectures, interface definitions, alarms/interlocks, inspection/vision-system requirements, and test documentation to ensure alignment with site and global automation standards.
• Develop, implement, review, and troubleshoot PLC/HMI, machine-control, motion, robotics, and vision/inspection-system changes within the assigned area; ensure software and configuration are maintainable, standardized, documented, and appropriately controlled.
• Plan, support, and execute automation FAT/SAT, commissioning, qualification, and start-up activities; lead technical issue resolution and drive automation punch-list items to closure.
• Support automation interfaces to MES, historian, recipe/data platforms, and other site systems; ensure reliable data flow, traceability, and system integration for inspection and device-assembly operations.
• Author, review, and execute automation-related validation and qualification documentation; support risk assessments, investigations, deviations, CAPA, change controls, and regulatory/internal inspections.
• Apply sound automation engineering principles, cGMP requirements, GAMP 5 practices, data-integrity expectations, cybersecurity controls, and lifecycle-management standards throughout the system lifecycle.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Process Engineering on process and equipment requirements while retaining technical ownership of the automation/controls solution. Translate approved requirements into robust, testable automation functionality.
• Coordinate technically with equipment vendors, OEM controls teams, system