Director, Automation

AbbVie•North Chicago, IL

17h

About The Position

The Director of Automation provides owner-side leadership for automation architecture, process control systems, and digital infrastructure supporting pharmaceutical manufacturing capital projects of total value > $2B. The role serves as the Design Authority for automation and digital systems, ensuring manufacturing control systems, data infrastructure, and digital platforms are designed to meet operational, regulatory, and data integrity requirements. This position ensures effective integration of process automation, facility control systems, and enterprise digital platforms supporting modern pharmaceutical manufacturing. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that the automation systems are designed, integrated, and implemented in alignment with corporate engineering standards, regulatory expectations, and operational requirements. This role provides technical oversight of specialist contractor engineering activities and ensures that core automation engineering deliverables meet the technical, safety, and operational standards required for pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. This role shall also ensure effective integration of process design with utilities, automation, commissioning, qualification, and operational readiness activities. The role also supports integration of technology with AI and digital innovation teams such as the Factory of the Future. The incumbent will report to Director, Engineering in the Operations Transformation organization.

Requirements

BS, in Engineering or equivalent technical degree; Master’s degree in Engineering preferred
15+ years of experience as a process lead across multiple platforms and industries but with considerable portion of it in biopharmaceuticals.
Proven leadership experience in automation projects to support mega-capital projects ($500MM – $1B+)
Deep knowledge of automation systems, codes and architecture
Proven inclusive management and leadership capabilities of large cross-functional teams and the ability to effectively interact and communicate with senior leadership and executives from strategic partners and authorities
Demonstrated experience managing Engineering contractors and global equipment vendors
Results-oriented leadership with outstanding negotiation skills and risk-based decision making is required
Ability to mentor and develop next generation of leaders

Responsibilities

Serve as the owner’s senior automation and digital systems leader.
Define the automation architecture and digital strategy for the project.
Lead the owner’s automation engineering team.
Provide oversight for design and implementation of Distributed Control Systems (DCS), PLC-based equipment control systems, Batch automation systems, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Process control strategies
Provide oversight into the design and implementation of environmental monitoring systems and Building automation systems
Ensure automation supports reliable manufacturing operations and regulatory compliance.
Ensure compliance with data integrity and regulatory requirements.
Oversee development of control narratives and cause-and-effect diagrams.
Ensure integration between automation systems, equipment vendors, and process control systems.
Ensure automation supports process control, safety interlocks, and operational efficiency.
Ensure automation systems comply with corporate cybersecurity and GxP data integrity requirements.
Implement secure and reliable automation architectures
Support automation system testing and commissioning including system integration testing and operational readiness.
Ensure automation systems support CQV activities.
Drive transformation across all phases of the projects to deliver best-in-class technology, efficiency in execution to reduce the overall project line up to 20% from the baseline, introduce AI and digitalization in various aspects of project management and development.
Monitor and control the cost and schedule of automation vendor driven programs including hardware and software to ensure adherence to project budgets and timeline