MES Engineer

Zoetis•Kalamazoo, MI

About The Position

The MES Engineer is responsible for providing intermediate-level technical support, configuration, and continuous improvement of the site’s Manufacturing Execution System (MES), primarily Körber/Werum PAS‑X, within a regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. This role ensures that MES records, processes, and system integrations are optimized for reliability, compliance, and operational efficiency. The Engineer will lead technical initiatives, system enhancements, and cross-functional projects that improve MES and ERP functionality, user experience, and overall manufacturing performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related technical discipline.
3+ years of MES experience, including configuration, troubleshooting, and solution design within Körber/Werum PAS‑X, POMS, Rockwell PharmaSuite, or comparable life‑sciences MES platforms.
Experience with SAP S/4HANA and strong understanding of ERP–MES integrations.
Knowledge of SCADA systems and industrial communication protocols (e.g., Ignition, OPC).
Understanding of TCP/IP networking, routing, ports, and firewall concepts.
Experience with Lean Six Sigma or continuous improvement methodologies.
Basic statistical analysis skills for process troubleshooting and data evaluation.
Strong technical writing skills with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to diverse stakeholders.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Power BI, and comparable statistical or analytical tools.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in a GMP‑regulated pharmaceutical or life‑sciences environment preferred.

Responsibilities

MES Development, Configuration & Support Design, configure, test, and deploy MES master batch records (MBRs), formulas, recipes, and business logic using object‑oriented concepts within PAS‑X.
Troubleshoot plant‑floor MES execution issues, interface failures, and system integration challenges between MES, ERP, and automation systems.
Support daily MES operations, including deviation root‑cause investigation, corrective action implementation, and real-time troubleshooting.
System Integration & Automation Partner with the Software Systems Engineer and support integration between MES and Level 2 automation / control systems (e.g., SCADA/Ignition, OPC-based connections).
Support ERP-to-MES data flow health, identifying and resolving inefficiencies related to SAP S/4HANA and associated interfaces.
Data Integrity, Compliance & Validation Ensure MES maintains compliance with GMP, inspection readiness standards, and data integrity expectations.
Author, execute, and manage change controls, validation protocols, and qualification documentation related to MES upgrades, enhancements, and system changes.
Lead and author deviation investigations, applying root‑cause analysis tools (e.g., FMEA) to identify issues and implement sustainable corrective and preventative actions (CAPAs).
Utilize systems such as TrackWise or Veeva Vault to manage deviations, CAPAs, and other GxP documentation.
Continuous Improvement & Performance Monitoring Drive annual Continuous Improvement (CI) projects, meeting or exceeding financial and performance targets aligned to job grade expectations.
Leverage Power BI and related analytics tools to track, visualize, and communicate MES performance metrics, system health, and operational KPIs.
Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, automation, supply chain, and IT teams to define system requirements and ensure process parameters are accurately captured and controlled in MES.
Operational Support Provide on‑floor and remote MES technical support to ensure right‑first‑time batch execution.
Assist manufacturing operations with root‑cause analysis for MES or ERP-related deviations, implementing timely and effective solutions.
Occasional non‑routine or off‑shift support may be required based on production needs.