Senior Principal Automation Engineer (CVRM)

TL;DR

Senior Principal Automation Engineer (CVRM): Leading automation and instrumentation design for a new large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing facility with an accent on greenfield project execution, system qualification, and long-term operational support. Focus on driving strategic automation initiatives, managing cross-functional teams, and ensuring compliance with GMP standards in a complex biotech environment.

Location: Must be based in or able to relocate to Holly Springs, North Carolina, USA. The role requires a mix of remote and onsite work initially, transitioning to full-time onsite.

Salary: $114,400 – $212,400

Company

hirify.global, a member of the Roche group, is a pioneering biotechnology company dedicated to discovering and developing groundbreaking medicines for serious and life-threatening diseases.

What you will do

• Provide automation, instrumentation, and control engineering design services for facility projects, including upgrades and capacity expansions.
• Produce and review design drawings and specifications (URS, FS, DS) and manage end-to-end system qualification.
• Lead automation-impacting projects, manage contractor and FTE staff, and provide status updates to project teams.
• Support plant operations by troubleshooting automation issues and providing real-time floor support.
• Author and adhere to site SOPs and drive improvements to business processes.
• Ensure integration of safety and security into business processes and foster a positive safety culture.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, or Computer Science).
• Minimum 8 years of automation/instrumentation experience (or 7 years with a Master’s degree).
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry/GMP.
• Knowledge of drug product manufacturing processes, including aseptic/robotic filling, vial handling, and clean utilities.
• Proficiency in PLC programming (RS Logix preferred) and process automation systems (Rockwell/Siemens preferred).
• Ability to work 24x7 on-call support, including weekends and holidays as required.

Nice to have

• Experience with GAMP5 and ISA standards.
• Knowledge of vision systems and industrial communication protocols (OPC, Modbus, MQTT, Ethernet IO).
• Experience with integration and data transfer across Level 2, 3, and 4 systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive salary with discretionary annual bonus based on performance.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, retirement, and insurance.
• Relocation funding is available for this role.
• Opportunity to work on a high-impact greenfield project at a Fortune 100 Best Company to Work For.