Senior Automation & Controls Engineer

Back Senior Automation & Controls Engineer
Engineering Charlottesville , Virginia Full-Time Aug 26, 2026

About the Role:

Join a leading automation and controls engineering team supporting complex pharmaceutical and life sciences projects from concept through commissioning. As a Senior Automation & Controls Engineer/SME, you will serve as a technical leader responsible for developing and reviewing control system designs, driving engineering excellence, and ensuring automation solutions align with project objectives, regulatory expectations, and operational requirements. This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with stakeholders, guide technical strategy, and contribute to the successful delivery of critical facility and process automation systems.

About TAI:

TAI brings together engineering, construction, systems integration, on-site services, and technical services — combining proven execution with trusted expertise to support clients across the entire project lifecycle. Team members at TAI are capable, well-rounded, flexible, and optimistic. We have found that the best employees are the ones who recognize the importance of what they do and the ones who let that guide them in the actions they take. More than any skill, we seek people who make decisions that support the common good. We work for our clients, and we work for one another.

Here’s a glimpse into your day to day:

• Engage with key stakeholders to ensure that their needs are understood and reflected in the CD design
• Prepare Project Technical Requirements Specification for all systems specifying performance requirements & applicable Standards [GE.SP.CEE.204 made Project specific]
• Ensure all relevant Specifications are delivered to the Design Contractor
• Define & agree with Design Contractor necessary design deliverables for all design stages (CD, BD, DD)- Design Deliverables List made Project Specific including the level of review appropriate to these documents
• Review Contractor response to the Project Technical Requirements to ensure requirements are correctly included
• Prepare Project specific Technical Requirements for Package Equipment [GE.SP.CEE.207 or 209 made project specific]
• Attend Project meetings on an as required basis
• Participate in and make recommendations for the procurement strategy for technical work packages including pre-qualification/contractor selection and technical content/scope of contracts.
• Produce regular Design Assurance Reports according to the plan set up by the PTM, to ensure ongoing technical alignment.
• Identify value engineering opportunities
• Ensure key SHE and GMP compliance requirements are reflected in the design deliverables
• Attend and contribute to SHE risk assessment activities to ensure alignment with SHE requirements and ensure appropriate mitigations are included in the design
• Provide technical guidance to Work Package Owner teams within their areas of responsibility.
• Ensure specific technical solutions are consistent with Customer, cost and schedule requirements.
• Provide input to Project Planning
• Review/ involvement with mechanical packages
• Review BMS description of operation from Electrical view point (Applicable if BMS written by others)
• Review EMS URS from Electrical view point (Applicable if EMS written by others)
• Support development of redundancy strategy and maintenance philosophy
• Review & input to Sustainability Checklist
• Respond to Construction queries where the Design Contractor is unable to provide answers.

You’ll be a perfect fit if you have:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university; Electrical, Mechanical or Chemical Engineering.
• Master’s Degree is a plus.
• Professional Engineer licensure is preferred.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of control system design experience helping to create construction documents for a wide range of projects.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience supporting projects within the Pharma/Biotech/Life Science industry.
• Experience in specifying, designing, programming and maintaining distributed control systems, within Life Sciences industry. Other applicable industry experience, such as industrial, power, oil & gas, manufacturing, food & beverage facilities will also be considered.
• Working knowledge of and ability to specify both digital and analog instrumentation (Level, Flow, Pressure, Temperature, Analytical - pH, LEL, O2, CO, CO2, etc.) and integrate construction and panel drawing sets.
• Working knowledge of and ability to specify Electrical Component and Field Devices (combination starters, VFD’s, MCC’s, pushbuttons/selector switches, heat trace, etc.)
• Experience designing, reviewing and approving Electrical Construction Drawing sets including but not limited to instrument location plan, conduit block and network architecture drawings
• Experience designing, reviewing and approving PLC control panel and motor control panel drawings
• Experience with specification and programming of controls systems including Rockwell family of processors and HMI’s, ability to program new applications and modify existing applications with ample annotation for future reference
• Working knowledge of TCP/IP, Modbus, Profibus and other industrial communication protocols
• Experience programming PlantPax, Wonderware, IFix, Maple, Delta V, Siemens, Omron, Modicon, Mitsubishi and Koyo is a plus Experience programming SCADA and SQL is a plus
• Familiarity with the installation, configuration, and testing of Data Historians (e.g. AVEVA (OSIsoft) PI System) is a plus
• Working knowledge of and ability to specify control systems for use in hazardous area locations as identified by NFPA 70
• Working knowledge of ISA standards and ability to interpret and contribute to development of P&ID
• Working knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Guidelines and Regulations as well as ISPE and GAMP 5 standards is preferred
• Experience with the acceptance testing and qualification of Computerized System is preferred
• Working knowledge of and ability to design robust safety circuits and specify components of varying industry requirements
• Working knowledge of NFPA 79Interact with customers and contractors to gather critical information.
• Strong communications skills with the ability to manage existing customer relationships.

Candidates must have experience with the following software:

• Rockwell RSLogix 5, RSLogix500, RSLogix5000, FactoryTalk View SE & ME, RSlinx

Compensation and Benefits:

• Pay: $135,000-185,000 Annually (depending on experience)
• Eligible for overtime pay
• Annual Profit Sharing Bonus (variable)
• PTO and Paid Holidays
• Health Benefits: Employee through family level coverage for medical, dental, and vision insurances. Company funded life and long-term disability insurances. Short Term Disability, FSA, HSA, EAP, and supplemental life insurances (employee – family) are also available!
• 401(k)with employer match

Other Offerings:

• The opportunity to make a real impact on a variety of industry-leading projects.
• The ability to balance your work and family activities.
• Flexible work schedule
• Work in a dynamic and collaborative environment that values creativity and innovation.
• A chance to learn and grow alongside some of the brightest minds in engineering.
• Professional Development, Tuition Reimbursement, and Association Membership Reimbursements.

Discover what makes TAI a top-20 manufacturing partner, according to Engineering News-Record (ENR), and one of the top-50 fastest-growing private companies in the Baltimore Business Journal. Learn more about us at