Area Lead Automation Engineer

Leap29•Indianapolis, IN

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

A global leader in Life Science Manufacturing Technology Solutions is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Automation Area Lead to join their team. This role will support a major pharmaceutical manufacturing program, providing technical ownership of automation systems for a defined project area. The successful candidate will ensure alignment with overall program standards, automation philosophy, and user requirements. This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of one week per month on-site in Indiana during the design phases, with full-time on-site presence required during commissioning.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent experience.
A minimum of 8 years of automation experience in the pharmaceutical industry, ideally in API or bulk manufacturing.
At least 5 years of hands-on experience with DeltaV Batch DCS.
Proven track record of delivering large-scale pharmaceutical automation projects.
Strong teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across technical and non-technical teams.
In-depth understanding of GMP, regulatory compliance, and computer system validation (CSV) principles.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Allen-Bradley PLCs is a plus.

Responsibilities

Act as the technical owner for the automation scope of a specific project area.
Define the S88 software structure and component list for the assigned area.
Develop and refine Functional Design Specifications (FDS) in collaboration with system integrators.
Participate in P&ID and control strategy reviews to ensure alignment with project goals.
Ensure automation solutions meet project standards, schedules, and budgets.
Collaborate closely with the Project Technical Lead, Automation Project Manager, and System Integrator.
Maintain consistency and compliance across all automation deliverables, including requirements, FDS, control strategies, and recipes.
Support software definition, testing, issue tracking, and remediation activities.
Contribute to risk analysis and mitigation planning for technical challenges.
Ensure all work complies with GMP and relevant regulatory standards.