Automation Engineer III

We're here for one reason and one reason only - to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. We've made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But we're not finished yet.

Join Kite, as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies, and help shape where our business and medical science goes next.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Kite and help create more tomorrows.

Job Description

At Kite, we are united by one mission: curing cancer. Every day, our teams connect their work to this purpose, developing innovative cell therapies that bring hope to patients with serious and life-threatening cancers. If you are motivated by meaningful, mission-driven work and want to make a real impact, we invite you to explore a career with Kite.

Kite, a Gilead Company, is a biopharmaceutical organization focused on the development and commercialization of breakthrough cancer immunotherapies. Our therapies harness the power of a patient's own immune system by engineering T cells to fight cancer. As our manufacturing network and digital capabilities continue to expand, we are building a strong automation organization to support our growth.

We are seeking a Process Automation Engineer III to join our biotechnology manufacturing facility in Frederick, Maryland. This is a hands-on technical leadership role responsible for supporting and enhancing automation and data platforms that enable compliant, reliable GMP manufacturing operations. You will work closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, IT, and global automation teams to ensure our systems are robust, scalable, and inspection-ready.

What You'll Do

Primary Platform Ownership

You will serve as the primary technical owner for key automation and manufacturing data platforms, including:

• AspenTech Inmation - Operational Technology Data Management System (OTDMS)

• Site Data Historian (OSIsoft PI)

Key responsibilities:

• Own the overall health, performance, availability, and compliance of OTDMS and historian platforms

• Design and implement integrations between manufacturing systems such as MES (Werum PAS|X), LIMS, historians, and future digital solutions

• Manage system configuration, upgrades, patches, and ongoing maintenance within a regulated GMP environment

• Define and maintain data ingestion, contextualization, and distribution strategies to enable secure OT-to-IT data flow

• Author and maintain system documentation, including SOPs, user requirements, functional specifications, and impact assessments

• Manage system access and user accounts in alignment with security and compliance requirements

• Partner with Quality, Validation, and IT to support system qualification, audits, and regulatory inspections

Additional Automation Systems

You will also provide technical support and integration for additional manufacturing systems, including:

• Manufacturing Execution System (Korber, PAS|X)

• Real Time Modeling System (Emerson, RTS)

• Cytiva Chronicle / Gateway platforms

• Identity and access management systems

Infrastructure & Project Support

• Support OT network architecture, including VLAN segmentation and manufacturing networks

• Implement changes to automation hardware and software as needed

• Lead vendor-managed system modifications, including specifications, testing, and acceptance activities

• Support and lead automation-related capital and operational projects

What Success Looks Like

• Manufacturing automation systems are reliable, well-documented, and inspection-ready

• Data flows seamlessly between plant floor systems and enterprise applications

• System issues are investigated quickly and resolved with clear root cause and preventive actions

• Projects are delivered on time and aligned with business and manufacturing priorities

• Stakeholders view you as a trusted automation and data subject matter expert

Basic Qualifications:

One of the following education/experience combinations is required:

• Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field with at least 3 years of relevant experience, or

• Bachelor's degree with at least 5 years of relevant experience, or

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting automation or manufacturing systems in a GMP-regulated environment

• Strong understanding of industrial automation platforms and system integrations

• Experience troubleshooting complex system issues in production environments

• Familiarity with change control, deviations, and CAPA processes

• Proven ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams

Why Join Kite

• Work on life-saving therapies that directly impact patients

• Hands-on ownership of critical manufacturing and data platforms

• Opportunity to influence site and global automation strategy

• Collaborative, mission-driven culture within a leading biotechnology company

• Competitive compensation and benefits as part of Gilead's global organization

The salary range for this position is: $115,260.00 - $149,160.00. Kite considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.

For additional benefits information, visit:

• Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

Kite is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies with a goal of providing rapid, long-term durable response and eliminating the burden of chronic care. The company is focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) engineered cell therapies designed to empower the immune system's ability to recognize and kill tumors. Kite is based in Santa Monica, CA. For more information on Kite, please visit . Sign up to follow @KitePharma on Twitter at .

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Kite Pharma is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact View email address on click.appcast.io for assistance.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' ( poster.

NOTICE: EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT (

YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

Kite Pharma will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, (c) consistent with the legal duty to furnish information; or (d) otherwise protected by law.

Our environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team.

Kite Pharma provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.

For Current Kite Pharma Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.

Change The World With Us

Everyone at Kite is grounded by one common goal - curing cancer. Every day, we aim to establish a direct line between that purpose and our day-to-day work.

We are creating Kite together, with the recognition that the best teams are built by the best people. We maintain an attitude of curiosity, and creativity with each challenge as we develop a new market for cancer therapies. We appreciate and respect one another, and most importantly, we don't take success for granted.

While we've come a long way to make what others viewed as impossible, possible, we know one thing is certain. Today is just the beginning.