Senior/Junior Automation Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Intermediate Level Automation Engineer

Location: Durham, NC

Industry: Pharmaceutical Manufacturing / Biotechnology

Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated Automation Engineer to support and enhance automation systems within a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. This individual will be responsible for the design, implementation, troubleshooting, maintenance, and continuous improvement of manufacturing control systems, ensuring reliable operation while maintaining compliance with cGMP and regulatory requirements.

The ideal candidate will have experience with PLCs, SCADA/DCS platforms, process automation, and validation activities within a regulated life sciences environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support manufacturing operations by troubleshooting and resolving automation, controls, and process system issues.
• Design, configure, program, and maintain automation systems including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, and DCS platforms.
• Lead and support automation projects from design through commissioning, qualification, and startup.
• Develop and modify control strategies, logic, alarms, recipes, and batch processes.
• Collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Validation, Quality, and Engineering teams to improve system performance and reliability.
• Support commissioning, qualification, and validation activities, including IQ/OQ/PQ documentation and execution.
• Manage automation-related change controls, deviations, investigations, and CAPA activities.
• Maintain compliance with FDA, cGMP, and data integrity requirements including 21 CFR Part 11.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation including functional specifications, P&IDs, SOPs, and automation standards.
• Support manufacturing execution systems (MES), historians, and data collection platforms.
• Participate in root cause investigations and implement corrective actions to minimize downtime and improve productivity.
• Provide after-hours support for critical manufacturing systems as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Automation, Controls Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 3+ years of automation experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience with PLC platforms such as Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens, or equivalent.
• Experience with SCADA, HMI, or DCS systems such as FactoryTalk, Ignition, iFix, DeltaV, or Siemens PCS7.
• Knowledge of manufacturing process control systems and instrumentation.
• Experience supporting validation and qualification activities in a cGMP environment.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with DeltaV, PAS-X, PI Historian, OSIsoft PI, or other manufacturing systems.
• Experience supporting sterile, API, biologics, cell therapy, gene therapy, or aseptic manufacturing operations.
• Knowledge of ISA-88, ISA-95, GAMP 5, and ASTM E2500 standards.
• Experience with SQL databases, reporting tools, or industrial networking.
• Experience supporting facility utilities such as WFI, clean steam, HVAC, purified water, and process gases.
• Greenfield startup, commissioning, or expansion project experience.

Technical Skills

• PLC Programming
• SCADA / HMI Systems
• DeltaV DCS
• Process Automation
• Batch Control
• Instrumentation & Controls
• MES Integration
• Data Historians
• Change Control & CAPA
• Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
• Root Cause Analysis
• cGMP & FDA Compliance

What Success Looks Like

• Reliable operation of manufacturing automation systems with minimal downtime.
• Successful execution of automation projects on schedule and within budget.
• Strong partnership with operations, maintenance, validation, and quality teams.
• Continuous improvements that increase throughput, quality, compliance, and system reliability.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Durham, NC.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $65.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Durham,NC.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 30, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email View email address on us.fitly.work for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.