Associate Specialist, Manufacturing Automation

Role: Entry-Level Automation Associate Specialist supporting pharmaceutical manufacturing operations through hands-on automation technical support. Responsibilities: troubleshoot and maintain automated systems including PLCs, DCS, and OEM platforms; diagnose equipment issues affecting yield, cycle time, and reliability; ensure compliance with cGMP; lead investigations on automation anomalies; develop solutions for recurring problems; provide technical training and procedural improvements; participate in safety reviews. Requirements: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Engineering, Science, or Business; strong problem-solving skills; effective communication; ability to work onsite in a 24/7 manufacturing environment; hands-on mindset. Preferred: degrees in mechanical, electrical, chemical engineering, or related fields; familiarity with DeltaV, Allen-Bradley PLCs, OSI-PI, SQL, Infobatch; knowledge of Batch Processing and GAMP standards; prior manufacturing, engineering, military, or automation experience; motivation to build a long-term career in biopharma manufacturing. High-Value: supporting automated manufacturing of pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and vaccine products; entry-level, shop-floor technical support; shift work (day/night rotations); Elkton, VA location. Work setup: onsite with rotating 12-hour shifts, no travel required.