A highly automated biopharmaceutical manufacturing organization is hiring an Automation Lead to take technical ownership of automation across upstream production. This senior, full-time role covers everything from design and commissioning through qualification, production start-up, and ongoing GMP operations.
About the Role
The Automation Lead acts as the technical subject matter expert for DeltaV DCS, batch control, and OT systems across upstream manufacturing and drug substance operations. The role provides automation support for bioreactors, seed trains, media preparation, single-use systems, and process skids, while leading or supporting FAT, SAT, IQ, OQ, and PQ activities to ensure every system meets GMP, validation, and data integrity requirements.
Career Impact & Growth Opportunity
Biopharmaceutical manufacturing continues to scale rapidly, driving strong demand for automation specialists with deep DeltaV and GMP expertise. This Automation Lead role builds advanced technical leadership across commissioning, qualification, and lifecycle management, positioning experienced engineers for progression into Automation Manager, Process Control Manager, or MSAT leadership roles.
Why This Role Matters
Reliable automation systems are the backbone of consistent, compliant biologics production. By ensuring robust batch execution, recipe management, and system reliability, the Automation Lead directly protects product quality, regulatory compliance, and manufacturing uptime across the entire upstream process.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Ownership & System Expertise
- Lead automation activities across upstream manufacturing and drug substance operations
- Act as technical SME for DeltaV DCS, batch control, and OT systems
- Provide automation support for bioreactors, seed trains, media preparation, single-use systems, and process skids
Commissioning, Qualification & Compliance
- Support design, configuration, commissioning, qualification, and handover of automation systems
- Lead or support FAT, SAT, IQ, OQ, and PQ activities
- Ensure systems meet GMP, validation, data integrity, and regulatory requirements
Collaboration & Continuous Improvement
- Work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Validation, IT/OT, vendors, and system integrators
- Support change control, deviations, CAPAs, and automation lifecycle management
- Improve batch execution, recipe management, process control, and system reliability
- Support integration with historians, MES, and wider manufacturing systems
Qualifications & Requirements
- Strong automation experience within pharma, biotech, biologics, or GMP manufacturing
- Proven experience supporting upstream processing or drug substance manufacturing
- Strong hands-on experience with Emerson DeltaV
- Good understanding of bioreactors, fed-batch processes, single-use technologies, and media preparation
- Experience with commissioning, qualification, validation, and troubleshooting
- Strong knowledge of GMP documentation, data integrity, change control, deviations, and CAPAs
- Strong technical leadership and stakeholder management skills
- Fluent English required; German would be advantageous
About This Opportunity
This Automation Lead role sits within a highly automated biopharmaceutical manufacturing organization, offering a full-time, senior position covering automation design, commissioning, qualification, and ongoing GMP operations. It provides a strong platform for technical leaders to shape automation standards across a growing biologics production environment.
Who Should Apply
This role suits experienced automation engineers with deep DeltaV expertise and a strong GMP manufacturing background. Candidates who combine hands-on technical skill with confident stakeholder management will be best positioned for this senior-level opportunity.
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