Senior Automation Engineer

AbbVie•Tempe, AZ

About The Position

The Senior Automation Engineer is responsible for moderate-to-complex configuration and programming of operational technology (OT) systems used for manufacturing processes, utilities, and facilities control systems. The role leads small-to-medium automation projects, supports capital projects when automation expertise is needed, provides technical support and troubleshooting, and administers and maintains assigned OT systems according to departmental procedures and AbbVie change-management requirements. The engineer develops and reviews control configurations and programs against design documents and functional requirements, serves as a subject matter expert for automation applications and process control systems, and contributes process-control recommendations for manufacturing operations and improvements. The role also leads OT lifecycle deliverables, including validation activities and system functional and design specifications; implements system upgrades and data migrations; and supports administration tasks such as operating-system and antivirus updates, account management, and critical-data backups. The position includes coordinating maintenance and production-system changes with supply chain and operations, potentially during off-peak hours, overnight, on weekends, or overtime. It also involves training OT users and engineers, troubleshooting hardware, software, and networking issues, replacing defective components as needed, and meeting EHS requirements and policies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline and at least six years of relevant experience; or a master’s degree in one of these disciplines and at least four years of relevant experience.
Working experience administering and/or configuring Distributed Control Systems (DCS), such as Emerson DeltaV or Foxboro I/A.
Working experience with SCADA and PLCs, such as Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, including programming in ladder logic and instructional texts.
Experience with commissioning and qualification activities, including computerized systems validation.
Solid understanding of pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing processes, operational best practices, and regulatory expectations.
Industry exposure to FDA, GMP, 21 CFR Part 11, data integrity, and safety and environmental legislation.

Nice To Haves

HMI graphics development and management.
Experience administering and/or configuring a data historian system such as OSIsoft PI.
Experience designing and implementing Windows Server operating systems and related components, including Active Directory, NTFS setup and security, user administration, and TCP/IP with DHCP, WINS, and DNS.
Working experience with Ignition MES architecture development.
Equipment integration.
Steady state management.

Responsibilities

Develop moderate-to-complex control configurations and programs in accordance with design documents and functional requirements.
Act as a subject matter expert for automation applications and process control systems.
Provide process-control input and recommendations regarding manufacturing-operation continuance issues and process improvements.
Perform and review configuration and programming using defined practices to meet user and functional requirements.
Lead development and execution of OT systems lifecycle deliverables, including validation activities and associated documentation such as System Functional and Design Specifications.
Evaluate and implement tools for OT system administration and maintenance, including operating-system and antivirus updates, user-account management, and critical-data backups.
Apply project-management techniques to monitor, report on, and control small-to-medium automation projects according to their size and criticality.
Support capital projects when automation expertise is required.
Coordinate schedules with supply chain and operations to perform or support maintenance and production-system changes during off-peak hours.
Conform to EHS management-system requirements and compliance obligations, promote continuous improvement, and consider EHS aspects during design and change processes.
Train OT system users and engineers in new automation technologies and process-control applications.
Diagnose and troubleshoot OT system hardware, software, and networking issues, and replace defective components as needed.
Implement and validate OT system upgrades and data migrations for DCS, PLC, SCADA, and data historian systems.
Comply with EHS procedures and policies, including incident reporting.