Principal Automation Engineer Optical Inspection SME

At Johnson & Johnsonwe believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build aworld where complex diseases are prevented treated and curedwhere treatments are smarter and less invasive andsolutions are our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow and profoundly impact health for more at .

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Job Function:

Supply Chain Engineering

Job Sub Function:

Automation Engineering

Job Category:

Scientific/Technology

All Job Posting Locations:

Wilson North Carolina United States of America

Job Description:

About Innovative Medicine

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Join us in developing treatments finding cures and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at more and apply to this exciting new role!

Senior Automation Engineer will lead internal team members suppliers OEMs system integrators Digital/IT partners automation-system owners and cross-functional stakeholders to deliver OT infrastructure industrial networking integration historian virtualization cybersecurity and lifecycle initiatives in a cGMP manufacturing environment. Own vision requirements and inspection specifications across filling AVI device assembly and packaging. Define inspection scope and measurable acceptance criteria with Quality and equipment specialists resolving supplier and integration gaps.

Key Responsibilities:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in manufacturing OT infrastructure industrial automation infrastructure or closely related regulated manufacturing systems with direct responsibility for OT architecture implementation integration troubleshooting and lifecycle support.
• Specify configure and troubleshoot cameras lenses illumination exposure triggering and image geometry. Establish stable image acquisition across product formats equipment speeds and expected variation in materials and presentation.
• Develop and maintain inspection jobs for particle and cosmetic defects container and closure features component presence and orientation print verification and barcodes according to each stations approved scope.
• Integrate automated inspection equipment and inline vision systems with machine PLCs. Verify trigger and result handshakes product tracking reject timing and confirmation and line stop behavior.
• Develop defect libraries and challenge sets with Quality. Evaluate detection capability false acceptance false rejection repeatability and performance across formats and operating conditions using approved test methods.
• Lead vision factory and site acceptance testing and commissioning. Support qualification with traceable requirements representative defect challenges repeatability studies and documented resolution of inspection and reject-system defects.
• Troubleshoot missed triggers poor images incorrect recipes product tracking errors and communication failures. Verify that stale missing or incomplete inspection results invoke the defined reject or stop response.
• Define and verify batch context inspection results defect images audit trails and retention requirements with Quality and IT/OT. Confirm that records and product identity remain traceable through interruptions and recovery.

Key Responsibilities Continued

• Control inspection recipes thresholds calibration software versions and access permissions. Assess camera lens lighting algorithm and firmware changes through risk assessment change control and appropriate requalification.
• Lead investigations of inspection escapes false rejects and recurring faults. Distinguish product defects from imaging algorithm handling and timing problems and implement corrective actions with Quality and Operations.
• Maintain configuration backups recovery procedures and technical documentation. Coordinate OEM support mentor engineers and technicians and train operators and maintenance personnel on inspection challenges setup and fault recovery.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelors degree in Automation Electrical Engineering Computer Engineering Computer Science Optical Engineering or a related technical discipline

Experience and Skills:

Required:

• Demonstrated hands-on experience developing and qualifying pharmaceutical automated visual inspection and PLC-integrated machine vision systems through commissioning and GMP manufacturing support.
• Experience configuring vision inspection tools for pattern matching edge detection feature measurement defect classification and recipe-based inspection with controlled parameter limits and robust result handling.
• Strong practical skills in optics camera and lens selection lighting calibration image processing feature measurement and defect detection including control of presentation and environmental variation.
• Ability to diagnose PLC and HMI interfaces digital I/O camera triggers encoders industrial Ethernet networks product tracking and reject control including communication handshakes and timing.
• Experience with presence and orientation checks print verification optical character recognition and verification (OCR/OCV) and one-dimensional and two-dimensional code reading and grading.
• Experience with defect standards challenge testing statistical assessment of inspection performance computerized system validation requirements traceability data integrity deviations and change control.
• Ability to independently resolve complex inspection problems communicate quality risks coordinate suppliers and guide colleagues through technical leadership without direct supervisory authority.

Preferred:

• Experience with robotic handling automated setup and vision-guided verification in device assembly and packaging.
• Experience with MES OPC UA SQL manufacturing historians inspection image archives and interfaces between vision results and serialization systems.
• Experience supporting startup of a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility inspection process improvement and regulatory inspection readiness.
• Work on site during integration commissioning qualification and manufacturing support including entry into controlled production areas using the required gowning and safety procedures.

Other:

• This position will be located in Wilson North Carolina and will require full time on-site support. However the design of the facility will occur at an Engineering firm with frequent travel (> 25%) required until the project shifts to the plant site of Wilson NC

If you are under 18 years of age you (the candidate) may need to obtain the necessary working papers or other documentation required by state law to start the assignment as well as get a parents consent for the background check.

For more information on how we support the whole health of our employees throughout their wellness career and life journey please visit .

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity age national origin disability protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation external applicants please contact us via internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

AI Judgement Integration Artificial Intelligence (AI) Continuous Improvement Critical Thinking Industry Analysis Innovation Lean Supply Chain Management Machine Learning (ML) Management Systems Implementation Organizing Process Improvements Project Management Prototyping Quality Assurance (QA) Robotic Automation Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Application Subject Matter Experts (SME) Collaboration Technical Credibility

Required Experience:

Staff IC