Automation Engineer I (Pharmaceutical Manufacturing)

Location: On-site in Petersburg, Virginia, United States; first- or second-shift work with occasional after-hours and weekend engineering coverage.

Company

hirify.global is a nonprofit pharmaceutical company developing and operating a Virginia facility for manufacturing affordable generic sterile injectable medications and biosimilar insulins.

What you will do

• Support and implement automation solutions for manufacturing process controls, packaging equipment, aseptic filling lines, and facility utilities.
• Troubleshoot Rockwell and Siemens PLC, HMI, SCADA, instrumentation, and process control applications.
• Administer and support FactoryTalk systems, data historians, Asset Centre, databases, SQL, virtual environments, and industrial networks.
• Develop engineering specifications, SOPs, test scripts, engineering documents, and automation standards.
• Lead root-cause analyses, incident investigations, change controls, and troubleshooting for electrical, instrumentation, and control-system issues.
• Support new product and technology introductions through engineering assessments, configuration changes, equipment testing, and engineering runs.

Requirements

• Three years of engineering or automation experience, or an associate degree with six or more years of engineering or automation experience.
• Hands-on experience with at least one major PLC platform: Allen Bradley ControlLogix or CompactLogix with Studio 5000, or Siemens PLCs with TIA Portal.
• Experience with virtual environments or virtual network configuration, or batch reporting.
• Knowledge of 21 CFR Part 11, data integrity, GAMP 5, FDA pharmaceutical guidance, GMP, validation, change control, nonconformance, and CAPA practices.
• Understanding of control-system standards, alarms, instrumentation configuration, programming, and design in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work on site in Petersburg, Virginia, including access to restricted spaces and occasional after-hours or weekend coverage.

Nice to have

• Experience in sterile fill-finish manufacturing.
• Knowledge of FactoryTalk View, FactoryTalk Directory, Asset Centre, Data Historian, WIN911, Thin Manager, and Thin Clients.
• Experience with SQL Server, BMS, EMS, OPC, ODBC, utilities systems, switches, firewalls, and network architecture.
• Experience with regulatory inspections, control projects, change controls, and investigations.

Culture & Benefits

• Team-based work with collaboration across engineering, IT/OT, manufacturing, and other cross-functional departments.
• Fast-paced environment supporting the qualification and operation of a state-of-the-art sterile injectable manufacturing facility.
• Reasonable accommodation may be provided for employees with disabilities.
• Work includes physical activities such as standing, walking, crouching, reaching, handling tools or controls, and occasionally lifting or moving up to 25 pounds.