Senior Associate Automation Engineer

Role Summary

Senior Associate Automation Engineer at Pfizer within the Global Supply division. You will contribute to designing, developing, deploying, and maintaining automated manufacturing processes and systems to ensure efficient, reliable, and innovative production. You will interpret manufacturing data, support automation infrastructure, and collaborate cross-functionally to drive improvements across batch production, testing, and drug substance disposition.

Responsibilities

• Lead or co-lead complex projects, effectively managing time and resources.
• Make decisions to resolve complex problems and develop new options independently in ambiguous situations.
• Work independently on assignments, seeking guidance on unusual or complex problems.
• Review your own work, seek directional feedback, and mentor colleagues (junior/entry to mid-level automation engineers).
• Design, develop, deploy, and test automated processes, systems, and equipment.
• Contribute to interpretation of manufacturing data and planning/execution of subsequent automation activities.
• Maintain and support the automation computing infrastructure, providing 24x7x365 operational support as a rotational on-call resource and escalation path.
• Design, install, validate, and maintain critical manufacturing automation systems to improve manufacturing success rates.
• Integrate operational knowledge, equipment control, and data collection into systems that enforce operational sequences across departments for batch production, testing, performance tracking, and drug substance disposition.
• Solve complex problems within the department and assist with issues outside the department, overseeing operational activities to support short-term goals.
• Communicate effectively by soliciting input, explaining complex concepts, persuading others, and sharing own point of view and rationale.
• Manage multiple projects and ongoing work activities of complexity, involving cross-functional representatives, and deliver all site automated systems capital and strategic projects.
• Ensure system-wide compliance, perform system support responsibilities, offer technical leadership, adhere to safe work practices, and communicate progress and issues to management and peers.
• Engage third party vendors, suppliers, and/or contractors as needed to support computer system design and maintenance activities.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Electrical, or Computer Science Engineering (or related field) with at least 4 years of experience working with an automated system in the pharmaceutical, biopharma, life sciences or related industries; OR Master’s degree with more than 2 years of relevant experience; OR PhD with 0 years; OR Associate’s degree with 8 years; OR High School Diploma with 10 years of relevant experience in the same industries.
• Required: Demonstrated experience in Automation Engineering with expertise in process controls equipment and DeltaV Batch and Continuous software configuration.
• Required: Automation support during manufacturing processing while maintaining compliance.
• Required: Strong design, troubleshooting, and debugging skills, primarily supporting DeltaV control systems.
• Required: Broad understanding of systems architecture and operations, along with related components.
• Required: Excellent project management skills.
• Required: Strong presentation and communication skills.
• Required: Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
• Required: Experience with regulatory compliance in a pharmaceutical/biotech manufacturing environment.
• Required: Ability to interact with functional groups at site, including Manufacturing, Quality, EHS, Technical Operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in using automation software and tools (PI, Infobatch, AgileDoc).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and facilitate collaboration.
• Experience in developing and implementing new methodologies and concepts.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to mentor and guide team members.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Network hardware and software management.
• Knowledge of PLC control systems as standalone or when integrated with DeltaV.

Education

• See Qualifications above for degree requirements and experience.

Additional Requirements

• Physical/mental: Job may include sitting, standing, walking, bending, ability to perform mathematical calculations, and ability to perform complex data analysis.
• Non-Standard Work Schedule, Travel or Environment: Adhere to safe work practices and procedures.