Lead Automation Engineer - Process
About The Position
Build the future of cell therapy manufacturing. The opportunity - Rockville, MD. Imagine creating the intelligent automation that helps bring advanced cell therapies to patients with greater reliability, speed, and precision. As Senior Automation Engineer – Cell Therapy, you will be a trusted technical leader for high-impact projects and daily manufacturing operations across our Cell Therapy network. You will combine automation, operational technology, robotics, data, and GMP expertise to turn pioneering concepts into dependable manufacturing capability. Your impact Why this role matters Based at our Rockville, Maryland site, you will join Facilities and Engineering at a defining moment: the first-of-its-kind implementation of a robotic manufacturing cluster. You will shape the network infrastructure, software and hardware integrations, operating strategy, and lifecycle support that make this platform reliable, compliant, secure, and ready to scale. Lean ways of working and standardized methods will help you simplify complexity, improve performance, and focus effort where it creates the greatest value. Because these capabilities support continuous manufacturing operations, the role participates in a shared 24/7 on-call support model.
Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
- Five or more years of experience implementing and sustaining process automation or OT systems in manufacturing, laboratory, energy-management, or similarly complex environments.
- Hands-on experience integrating robotic systems with third-party manufacturing equipment; experience applying artificial intelligence to process execution or real-time control is highly valued.
- Demonstrated capability across the system lifecycle, including ideation, design, implementation, FAT/SAT, commissioning, qualification, validation, and ongoing support in a GMP-regulated environment.
- Working knowledge of automation architecture, data flows, configuration, alarm management, remote notifications, and industrial integration standards such as OPC, Modbus, BACnet, Ethernet, hardwired interfaces, and parsers.
- Experience with relevant platforms and equipment such as Rockwell, Siemens, COPA-DATA Zenon, process orchestration, historians, electronic batch records, or cell therapy manufacturing systems.
- Familiarity with system integration, data integrity, and zero-trust cybersecurity principles in a regulated environment.
- A structured, curious approach to troubleshooting and the judgment to balance operational urgency with GMP requirements.
- Clear communication and collaborative leadership across multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with maintenance-management platforms such as SAP in cell therapy, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Relevant certifications in process automation, robotics, Rockwell, Siemens, COPA-DATA, industrial networking, cybersecurity, or related disciplines.
Responsibilities
- Lead Automation and Operational Technology OT strategy for the site’s first-of-its-kind robotic manufacturing cluster, serving as the primary technical authority and a trusted partner to Manufacturing, Quality, IT, Engineering, and external suppliers.
- Own and administer critical Automation/OT platforms, including Environmental and Equipment Monitoring Systems, the Process Orchestration Layer, the robotics cluster, and integrated process equipment.
- Solve complex automation, OT, and robotics challenges, restore performance quickly, and maintain systems in a secure, reliable, and GMP-validated state.
- Guide equipment lifecycle decisions—from concept, design, and integration through FAT, SAT, commissioning, qualification, validation, maintenance, upgrades, and replacement.
- Design and continuously improve equipment startup logic, sequences of operation, system architecture, data flows, alarms, notifications, and interfaces for facility and manufacturing assets.
- Leverage artificial intelligence AI, system and equipment data to identify root causes, anticipate risk, improve reliability, and advance real-time process control.
- Develop sound capital and operating cost estimates that help leaders prioritize strategic investments.
- Advance energy-management automation and other continuous-improvement opportunities that strengthen operational and environmental performance.
- Share expertise, mentor colleagues, and help build enduring automation and robotics capability across the organization.
Benefits
- qualified retirement programs
- paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves)
- health, dental, and vision coverage
- short-term incentive bonuses
- equity-based awards for salaried roles
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
