Automation Senior Engineer

Purpose of the Role

The Automation Senior Engineer is a member of the Site Digital & Automation Team and is responsible for the run‑state support, lifecycle maintenance, and continuous improvement of site automation and digital systems supporting manufacturing operations.

This role provides hands‑on technical expertise to ensure production continuity, system reliability, validated state, and regulatory compliance. The role works in close collaboration with Operations, Engineering, and Core Digital & Automation partners.

Responsibilities

Automation Operations & Production Continuity

·        Provide day‑to‑day operational and technical support for production‑critical automation and digital systems.

·        Act as a key technical point of contact for Operations, Manufacturing, and Engineering partners for run‑state automation systems.

·        Support investigations, deviations, and unplanned events by providing automation subject matter expertise and technical root‑cause analysis.

·        Support NPI projects, new equipment introductions, and the transition of systems from project delivery into BAU operations.

Automation Maintenance, Lifecycle Support

·        Maintain automation systems in a validated and compliant state, ensuring adherence to GMP, GAMP, and formal change‑management requirements.

·        Develop, update, and review automation lifecycle documentation including requirements, design specifications, SOPs, and periodic reviews.

·        Ensure statutory and regulatory maintenance requirements are met and support regulatory audits and inspections as required.

Incident, Crisis & Business Continuity Support

·        Participate in real‑time incident response for automation and digital systems, including fault diagnosis, escalation, and recovery support.

·        Collaborate with site, network, and core Digital & Automation support teams to restore system availability and minimise production impact.

·        Support site Business Continuity Plans (BCP) execution and testing

·        Operate in alignment with site SLAs and response targets

·        Document incidents, root causes, and resolution actions

·        Engage and coordinate with vendors as required

Control Systems & Automation Infrastructure Management

·        Provide hands‑on technical support across the automation lifecycle for DCS, PLC, SCADA, HMI, and PC‑based production systems.

·        Design, test, deliver and manage automation software across its lifecycle, from initial introduction through to retirement, in line with site coding standards and good engineering practices.

·        Implement system and software changes using formal change‑control and validation processes.

·        Support the specification, supplier engagement, development, installation, and commissioning of automation system upgrades.

Process Automation & Continuous Improvement

·        Contribute to automation and manufacturing systems continuous improvement initiatives using Lean / Six Sigma methodologies.

·        Apply strong analytical and problem‑solving skills to improve system reliability, data integrity, and operational performance.

·        Participate as a technical contributor in cross‑functional problem‑solving and standardisation initiatives.

·        Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within assigned systems or areas

Key Attributes, Skills & Competencies

·        Strong understanding of business processes and operational acumen within manufacturing environments

·        Expert knowledge of manufacturing automation systems including DeltaV DCS, PLCs, SCADA, and PC‑based platforms.

·        Strong understanding of automation lifecycle management and experience in supporting audits in regulated / validated GMP environments.

·        Proven troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis skills in operational manufacturing environments.

·        Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross‑functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications, Experience & Certifications

·        Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical, Electronic, Automation, Mechatronic, Chemical, or Computer Science Engineering.

·        Significant hands‑on experience supporting automation control systems in pharmaceutical or GMP manufacturing environments.

·        Strong knowledge of GAMP guidelines applicable to validated computer systems.

·        Experience supporting automation projects, vendor interaction, and lifecycle documentation activities.

EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) & Employment Eligibility 

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, or disability.

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