Principal Automation Engineer
About this role
Principal Automation Engineer - Bulk Manufacturing
Position Summary:
The Principal Automation Engineer provides technical leadership and subject matter expertise for automation systems supporting bulk manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for ensuring the reliability, availability, compliance, and continuous improvement of process control systems that enable safe and efficient manufacturing. The position serves as a key technical resource for troubleshooting complex automation issues, leading strategic automation initiatives, and supporting 24/7 manufacturing operations through an on-call rotation.
Key Responsibilities:
Manufacturing Automation Support
- Provide technical leadership and support for automation systems supporting bulk manufacturing operations including Upstream, Downstream, Support, and Utilities process areas.
- Ensure high availability and reliability of process control systems, including DeltaV DCS, OEM PLC, HMI, PI historian, and associated infrastructure.
- Lead troubleshooting and root cause investigations for complex automation, process, and equipment issues impacting production.
- Partner with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Validation, and IT teams to resolve manufacturing issues and improve system performance.
Operational Excellence
- Monitor and improve automation system performance, reliability, and cybersecurity compliance.
- Develop and execute automation reliability strategies to minimize downtime and production disruptions.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on process optimization, alarm management, operator effectiveness, and system standardization.
- Analyze trends and manufacturing data to identify opportunities for increased efficiency, capacity, and robustness.
Project Leadership
- Serve as technical lead for automation capital projects and system enhancements.
- Develop automation architectures, functional specifications, and design standards.
- Provide oversight of system integrators, vendors, and contractors.
- Ensure projects are delivered in compliance with GMP, safety, quality, and corporate standards.
Compliance and Documentation
- Maintain automation systems in accordance with GMP requirements and site procedures.
- Support change control, deviation investigations, CAPA implementation, and regulatory inspections.
- Review and approve automation documentation such as specifications and test protocols.
- Ensure systems remain compliant with applicable data integrity, cybersecurity, and validation requirements.
On-Call Support
- Participate in a 24/7 on-call rotation to provide critical automation support for bulk manufacturing operations.
- Act as escalation point for complex manufacturing automation incidents and lead restoration efforts.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Automation, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
- 5-10+ years of experience supporting automation systems in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, or related regulated manufacturing environments.
- Demonstrated expertise in process control systems including DeltaV, PLCs, HMIs, historians, and industrial networking.
- Strong troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and technical leadership skills.
- Experience leading cross-functional projects and mentoring engineering teams.
- Knowledge of GMP regulations, computer system validation, and data integrity requirements.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license or advanced degree preferred.
About CSL Seqirus
CSL Seqirus is part of CSL. As one of the largest influenza vaccine providers in the world, CSL Seqirus is a major contributor to the prevention of influenza globally and a transcontinental partner in pandemic preparedness. With state-of-the-art production facilities in the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, CSL Seqirus utilizes egg, cell and adjuvant technologies to offer a broad portfolio of differentiated influenza vaccines in more than 20 countries around the world.
To learn more about CSL, CSL Behring, CSL Seqirus and CSL Vifor visit https://www.csl.com/ and CSL Plasma at https://www.cslplasma.com/.
Our Benefits
For more information on CSL benefits visit How CSL Supports Your Well-being | CSL.
You Belong at CSL
At CSL, Inclusion and Belonging is at the core of our mission and who we are. It fuels our innovation day in and day out. By celebrating our differences and creating a culture of curiosity and empathy, we are able to better understand and connect with our patients and donors, foster strong relationships with our stakeholders, and sustain a diverse workforce that will move our company and industry into the future.
To learn more about inclusion and belonging visit https://www.csl.com/careers/inclusion-and-belonging
Equal Opportunity Employer
CSL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please visit https://www.csl.com/accessibility-statement.
Watch our ‘On the Front Line’ video to learn more about CSL Seqirus
Company at a glance
CSL is a leading global biopharma company with a dynamic portfolio of lifesaving medicines, including those that treat haemophilia and immune deficiencies, vaccines to prevent influenza, and therapies in iron deficiency, dialysis and nephrology. Since our start in 1916, we have been driven by our promise to save lives using the latest technologies.
Today, CSL – including our businesses, CSL Behring, CSL Seqirus, and CSL Vifor – provides lifesaving products to patients in more than 100 countries and employs 29,000+ people. Our unique combination of commercial strength, R&D focus and operational excellence enables us to identify, develop and deliver innovations so our patients can live life to the fullest.
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