Senior Automation Engineer - PLC

Role: Senior Automation Engineer supporting manufacturing operations at Takeda's Thousand Oaks site, focusing on automation systems in a regulated pharmaceutical environment. Responsibilities: manage PLC, HMI, SCADA, and instrumentation lifecycle activities; troubleshoot and resolve automation issues; develop and implement control strategies; support automation projects from conception to deployment; maintain documentation, SOPs, and training; lead or assist in automation system lifecycle activities in compliance with GMP standards; provide technical guidance and mentoring to engineers and technicians; handle small projects and support 24/7 operations with on-call duties. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in engineering; 7+ years of PLC automation/control experience in GMP pharma or similar regulated setting; expertise with Allen-Bradley PLC, Siemens SIMATIC S7, SCADA platforms (e.g., iFix, WinCC); strong troubleshooting, system administration, and project execution skills; knowledge of automation instrumentation and field devices; effective communication and cross-functional collaboration skills. Preferred: familiarity with cGxP, pharmaceutical equipment (e.g., autoclaves, CIP/SIP systems), DeltaV control system, and process automation in biotech or manufacturing environments. High-value: focus on process automation supporting formulation, filling, packaging, utilities; regulatory compliance; support for continuous manufacturing improvements; field work involving control panels and instrumentation; work environment includes controlled, loud, and chemical areas; scheduled for off-hours and on-call support. Location: onsite in Thousand Oaks, California, with potential shift and extended hours.