Work Schedule

Environmental Conditions

Job Description

Position: Automation Engineer / Automation Specialist

Location: Sunnyvale, CA

Schedule: M-F, Days

Join our dynamic Analytical Instruments team and be at the forefront of innovation in scientific research, quality control, and process analysis! We cater to a wide range of industries, from biopharma and academia to government and environmental studies. Our talented colleagues develop a diverse portfolio of cutting-edge instruments, including chromatography systems, mass spectrometers, and electron microscopes. These tools are essential in ensuring product quality, driving groundbreaking research, and speeding up the development of new therapies. Come be a part of our exciting journey and make a real impact!

Our Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry organization develops and manufactures analytical instruments, consumables, and workflows that support scientific research, quality control, and regulated manufacturing. The Sunnyvale Analytical Instrumentation Operations site focuses on chemistry-based consumables and column manufacturing, where robust automation and control systems are critical to quality, safety, and throughput.

How will you make an impact?

As an Automation Engineer / Specialist, you will provide technical leadership for automation and controls systems supporting resin production and chromatography column manufacturing. You will enable safe, robust, and compliant manufacturing by designing, improving, and sustaining PLC-based automation, data collection, and control strategies across production equipment.

As part of the Manufacturing Engineering team, you will work closely with Product management, Quality, EH&S, Procurement, Product Development, Manufacturing and R&D teams to support new product introductions, validate automation changes, and improve process capability, reliability, and throughput in a regulated manufacturing environment.

What you will do:

• Serve as the technical owner for automation and control systems supporting resin synthesis, resin handling, and column manufacturing equipment.
• Design, modify, and support PLC-based control systems, HMIs, sensors, interlocks, and data acquisition solutions.
• Support NPDI programs to define automation requirements, execute factory bring-up, and support pilot and first-production runs.
• Lead and execute automation validation activities (IQ/OQ/PQ) for new equipment, control logic changes, and system upgrades, in partnership with Quality and Manufacturing.
• Troubleshoot automated manufacturing equipment, addressing control logic, instrumentation, network server infrastructure, and system integration issues.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineers to improve process robustness, yield, cycle time, and data visibility through automation.
• Support change control activities for automation-related changes, ensuring validated state is maintained.
• Develop and maintain automation documentation, including control narratives, software change records, test protocols, and SOPs.
• Support integration of manufacturing data systems for process monitoring, alarms, and trending.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior automation engineers or interns.
• Participate in safety reviews, hazard analyses, and risk assessments related to automated systems.

REQUIREMENTS:
How will you get here?

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Materials Engineering, or related field required & 5+ years of experience
• Advanced degree & 3+ years of experience

Experience:

• Experience in automation, controls, or manufacturing systems engineering within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on experience with PLC programming, software, and troubleshooting (e.g., Allen-Bradley/FactoryTalk, Siemens, or equivalent).
• Experience supporting automated or semi-automated manufacturing equipment.
• Experience supporting NPDI / NPI equipment or process introductions.
• Experience working in GMP, ISO, or similarly regulated environments.
• Experience supporting chemistry- or materials-based manufacturing processes is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong understanding of industrial automation, network server infrastructure, and control systems (PLCs, HMIs, sensors, actuators, safety interlocks).
• Familiarity with process validation, change control, and regulated documentation practices.
• Ability to troubleshoot across controls, equipment, and process interfaces.
• Strong collaboration skills with Manufacturing, Quality, and Operations teams.
• Ability to clearly document and communicate technical changes and validation results.
• Comfortable working hands-on in a manufacturing environment.

Compensation and Benefits

This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:

• A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs

• Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement

• At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy

• Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan

• Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount

For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards