Utilities Automation Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Title: Utilities Automation Lead
Location: Richmond, VA (this role will start remote, then require being onsite as the site progresses)
Type: 3+ year Contract (with potential to convert)
Hourly Pay: $60-$100 per hour, based on level and experience
Benefits: Enhanced Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision), Paid Holidays, PTO  

Are you ready for a career-defining challenge at the forefront of biopharmaceutical manufacturing? We’re seeking a Utilities Automation Lead to join the core project team supporting a major, next-generation biologics and bioconjugation facility in the Richmond, VA area.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the technical lead for automation of all building utilities, including clean utilities (WFI, clean steam, process gases, industrial gases, HVAC, and water systems).
• Oversee automation strategies for utility systems leveraging DeltaV and Rockwell platforms, supporting both drug substance and drug product suites.
• Review P&IDs, block flow diagrams, instrumentation lists, and prepare/approve functional and design specifications for utility equipment.
• Collaborate with equipment vendors and system integrators on code review, documentation, and commissioning/qualification activities—across both custom (stick-built) and packaged solutions.
• Act as the primary interface for cross-system integration and technical troubleshooting, supporting successful handover through the project lifecycle.
• Engage regularly with stakeholders, process leads, and area leads to align on schedules, priorities, scope, and technical queries.

The Ideal Candidate Will Bring:

• Hands-on experience with utilities automation (DeltaV, Rockwell, PLC/DCS) in GMP-regulated biopharma or pharmaceutical facilities.
• Strong knowledge of clean utility systems—such as WFI (water for injection), clean steam, process gases, and plant-wide utility integration.
• Demonstrated history of delivering automation solutions for both drug substance (active ingredient/API) and drug product (formulation/fill-finish) environments.
• Experience overseeing vendor and system integrator deliverables, from design through FAT/SAT and qualification.
• Engineering and technical documentation skills—able to manage specs, test plans, and validation protocols in a regulated environment.
• Ability to operate in a high-profile, complex greenfield project involving multiple stakeholders and evolving requirements.

Other Details:

• This position begins remotely, with regular site visits as construction progresses, and will ultimately transition onsite once the facility is operational.
• Candidates must have a strong biopharmaceutical or pharmaceutical manufacturing background and an interest in joining an innovative, large-scale project team.
• Competitive compensation offered.

Ready to be a foundational part of a new site? Interested candidates are encouraged to apply!

 

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