Site Automation Strategy Lead (Pharma & Biotech)

Civica Rx; Petersburg (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Civica Petersburg seeks an Associate Director of Automation to shape site automation strategy and lead a team responsible for design, implementation, and compliant operation of ICS across clinical and commercial operations.

You will collaborate with IT/OT, ensure cybersecurity, validation, and data integrity while driving continuous improvement and regulatory readiness in a fast-paced pharmaceutical environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or similar technical degree.
• 10+ years of progressive automation experience in pharma.
• 5+ years of automation execution expertise.
• Experience developing test plans, user requirements, and system design documents.
• Strong programming/troubleshooting for Rockwell or Siemens PLCs and HMI (FTView, GE iFix, Wonderware).
• Knowledge of CSV, regulatory inspections, and GMP standards.
• Experience supporting sterile injectable automation from design to qualification.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage budgets/resources.
• Excellent leadership, planning, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the site automation strategy.
• Lead Automation Engineering for mission-critical manufacturing systems.
• Ensure commissioning, validation, safety, and quality across production.
• Manage automation engineers and partner with IT, Quality, Validation, and Manufacturing.
• Provide hands-on support and guidance to the team as needed.
• Set priorities for system landscape and validation lifecycle strategies.
• Mentor and develop engineers; drive continuous improvement and compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Team-building

Communication

Budgeting

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Rockwell PLCs

Siemens PLCs

FTView

GE iFix

Wonderware System Platform

AVEVA PI

SQL

PI Historian

VMware

Job description

Civica Petersburg seeks an Associate Director of Automation to shape site automation strategy and lead a team responsible for design, implementation, and compliant operation of ICS across clinical and commercial operations.

You will collaborate with IT/OT, ensure cybersecurity, validation, and data integrity while driving continuous improvement and regulatory readiness in a fast-paced pharmaceutical environment.