Director, Global Automation Engineering

AbbVie•North Chicago, IL

3d•$182,000 - $346,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Global Automation Engineering is AbbVie's enterprise-wide authority for automation architecture, process control systems, and digital infrastructure across the global manufacturing network. This executive-level role carries full financial accountability for approximately $100 million in annual automation operating spend and provides strategic and technical leadership to a high-performing, enterprise-distributed team of automation and capital project engineers. The Director is accountable for the development and execution of AbbVie's enterprise automation strategy, governing automation investments for a portfolio exceeding $3 billion over a five-year horizon. This leader establishes, owns, and continuously advances AbbVie's Factory of the Future automation vision — embedding its requirements into every new capital project and site modernization program to ensure consistent, compliant, and cutting-edge automation solutions are delivered across the enterprise. The role serves as Design Authority for all automation and digital systems enterprise-wide, providing governance over standards, specifications, vendor qualification, and operational readiness throughout the full project lifecycle. As a member of AbbVie's senior engineering leadership community, this role exerts direct influence on enterprise technology direction, regulatory strategy, and long-range digital transformation.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related engineering or scientific discipline is required.
Minimum 20 years of progressive experience in automation engineering, with a demonstrated track record of increasing leadership responsibility across enterprise-scale organizations.
Significant experience within the biopharmaceutical or pharmaceutical manufacturing industry is required; experience spanning both biologics and small molecule manufacturing environments is strongly preferred.
Proven experience leading automation scope on large-scale capital projects ($50M+) in an owner-side or engineering leadership capacity across multiple sites or business units.
Demonstrated experience managing enterprise-wide, matrixed engineering teams across multiple sites and time zones.
Extensive hands-on and leadership experience with DCS, PLC, batch automation, SCADA, OSI-PI, EMS, BAS, and related process control technologies.
Deep knowledge of GxP regulatory requirements, data integrity frameworks (21 CFR Part 11, EU Annex 11), and CQV / commissioning practices in a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience in OT cybersecurity strategy and enterprise-wide implementation within regulated manufacturing environments.
Track record of defining or making material contributions to digital transformation and Factory of the Future initiatives within a global manufacturing organization.
Executive presence with a strong ability to influence, communicate, and engage at all organizational levels, including C-suite and regulatory authorities.
Strategic thinker with the ability to translate complex technical challenges into clear, actionable enterprise roadmaps.
Proven financial acumen and experience managing large capital budgets and enterprise automation program spend.
Exceptional people leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to build, inspire, and retain world-class technical teams across a distributed organization.
Strong vendor and stakeholder management capabilities in a complex, matrixed, enterprise-wide environment.
High personal standards for quality, compliance, and operational excellence.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or equivalent advanced qualification in a relevant engineering or technical field is preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as AbbVie's enterprise automation authority and senior-most engineering leader for automation, process control, and digital infrastructure across all manufacturing sites globally.
Define, own, and continuously evolve AbbVie's Factory of the Future automation strategy, ensuring its requirements are embedded in every new capital project, site modernization program, and technology investment decision.
Exercise Design Authority for automation and digital systems across the enterprise manufacturing network, ensuring all technical decisions align with enterprise strategy, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
Provide owner-side leadership for automation architecture, process control systems, and digital infrastructure supporting pharmaceutical manufacturing capital projects with a total portfolio value exceeding $3 billion.
Drive enterprise-wide harmonization of automation standards, specifications, and engineering practices across all AbbVie manufacturing sites, eliminating fragmentation and reducing compliance risk.
Deliver executive-level technical direction on automation technology selection, platform architecture, and long-range digital infrastructure roadmaps in support of enterprise business objectives.
Lead and provide owner-side oversight for automation scope across AbbVie's enterprise capital project portfolio, with full financial accountability for approximately $200 million in automation capital spend.
Define automation deliverables, design requirements, and technical specifications for all capital projects, ensuring alignment with GxP, cybersecurity, and data integrity requirements from project inception through operational handover.
Govern the selection, qualification, and performance management of automation vendors, system integrators, and engineering contractors enterprise-wide across all capital programs.
Ensure Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), commissioning, qualification, and verification (CQV) activities are executed to the highest quality and regulatory standards at every project site.
Oversee operational readiness and startup support for automation systems on all major capital projects, ensuring seamless transition from project completion to sustained manufacturing operations.
Own end-to-end automation architecture and enterprise-wide technical governance for Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), batch automation, SCADA, OSI-PI / data historian platforms, Environmental Monitoring Systems (EMS), Building Automation Systems (BAS), and associated digital infrastructure.
Provide strategic oversight of cybersecurity programs for Operational Technology (OT) environments enterprise-wide, ensuring compliance with AbbVie cybersecurity policy, OT/IT convergence frameworks, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Champion data integrity across all automated systems, ensuring design, validation, and lifecycle management practices meet current regulatory expectations including FDA 21 CFR Part 11, EU Annex 11, and GAMP 5.
Lead the development and governance of enterprise automation standards, specifications, User Requirement Specifications (URS), Functional Design Specifications (FDS), and engineering best-practice libraries applicable across all sites.
Drive integration of automation systems with enterprise digital platforms, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), ERP, and cloud-based data solutions in support of AbbVie's Factory of the Future strategy.
Build, lead, develop, and retain a high-performing enterprise team of automation engineers, capital project engineers, and site automation leads operating across a matrixed, globally distributed organization.
Foster a culture of technical excellence, continuous improvement, innovation, and accountability throughout the enterprise automation function.
Establish clear performance expectations, structured development pathways, and robust succession plans to ensure long-term organizational capability and resilience.
Mentor and coach engineers at all career stages, with particular emphasis on cultivating next-generation automation leadership talent across the enterprise network.
Manage enterprise-level resource planning, workload allocation, and staffing strategies to meet the dynamic demands of a large global capital portfolio.
Own and maintain AbbVie's enterprise automation standards program, ensuring specifications and engineering guidelines are current, compliant, and consistently applied across every manufacturing site.
Provide enterprise-wide governance and audit support for automation systems, including readiness for internal audits, regulatory inspections (FDA, EMA, and other global health authorities), and third-party assessments.
Lead the development of enterprise automation training programs and competency frameworks to build and sustain capability across the full global manufacturing network.
Oversee enterprise procurement strategy and support sourcing activities for automation hardware, software, and services, ensuring value delivery, quality assurance, and supply continuity.
Ensure all automation activities are executed in full compliance with applicable GxP regulations, ISPE guidelines, ISA standards, and AbbVie Quality System requirements.