Senior Automation Engineer, Optical Inspection/Device Assembly

Johnson & Johnson Co.; Wilson (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson & Johnson Co. in Wilson, NC, seeks a Senior Automation Engineer focused on optical inspection and device assembly in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

You will design, implement, qualify, support, and maintain automation systems to meet cGMP and data integrity standards. Responsibilities cover the full automation lifecycle from concept through steady state, reviewing OEM designs, troubleshooting, and integrating automation with MES and historians.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 6+ years of controls engineering in biopharma manufacturing, with hands-on ISA-95, PLC/DCS, vision/inspection, robotics, networks.
• Experience in automation project execution, controls software development, troubleshooting, and validation in regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Oversee automation lifecycle from concept through steady-state support.
• Review OEM/system-integrator designs and perform troubleshooting.
• Integrate automation with site systems like MES and historians.

Skills

ISA-95

PLC/DCS

Vision systems

Robotics

Industrial networks

Automation lifecycle

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/CS

Tools

Rockwell

Siemens

Emerson DeltaV

Job description

Role: Senior Automation Engineer specializing in drug product optical inspection and device assembly within pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Primary objectives include designing, implementing, qualifying, supporting, and maintaining automation systems for inspection and assembly operations, ensuring compliance with cGMP, GAMP 5, and data integrity standards.

Responsibilities encompass overseeing automation lifecycle from concept through steady-state support, reviewing OEM/system-integrator designs, troubleshooting, and integrating automation with site systems like MES and historians.

The role also involves validation documentation, risk assessments, and collaboration with cross-functional teams, vendors, and external partners.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
• 6+ years of controls engineering experience in biopharma manufacturing, with hands-on expertise with ISA-95 systems, PLC/DCS controls, vision/inspection systems, robotics, and industrial networks
• Experience must include automation project execution, controls software development, troubleshooting, and validation within a regulated environment
• Preferred skills include automation in optical/visual inspection, machine vision, robotics, and familiarity with platforms like Rockwell, Siemens, or Emerson DeltaV
• High-value specifics include focus on pharmaceutical inspection and device assembly, with a strong emphasis on automation lifecycle management, digital transformation, and Industry 4.0 concepts

Location: Wilson, North Carolina, with >25% travel for project design and construction phases.