Senior Engineer, Automation Controls – Facilities & Engineering

AstraZeneca • Los Angeles, CA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Engineer, Automation Controls leads facilities and process automation in a pharmaceutical environment. The role drives engineering projects, validation, and capital investments while ensuring systems meet GMP and regulatory standards. It provides expert technical guidance, oversees complex projects, and improves operational efficiency across critical facilities, laboratories, and production areas.

The position leads automation and controls across facilities, engineering, and capital projects; serves as asset owner for automation and control systems; and directs validation, maintenance, system upgrades, and new installations. It manages project budgets, schedules, vendors, and stakeholders, and prepares and reviews validation, engineering, and capital-project documentation. The role also supports compliance, safety, audits, inspections, and continuous improvement.

The working environment includes office and on-site facilities work, with occasional travel. The position averages at least three days per week in the office and may require evening or weekend work for urgent projects. The annual base pay range is $146,721.60–$220,082.40. The role offers a short-term incentive bonus opportunity and, for salaried roles, eligibility to participate in an equity-based long-term incentive program. Benefits include a qualified retirement program (401(k)), paid vacation and holidays, paid leaves, and medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related engineering field; Electrical Engineering is preferred.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• 7–10 years of experience in automation and controls software and equipment systems, including qualification or validation, facilities engineering, and capital projects.
• Experience in a pharmaceutical or regulated industry; significant experience is preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of GMP, FDA regulations, and other relevant compliance requirements.
• Proven experience leading complex automation and controls processes, asset ownership, engineering projects, and capital investments.
• Strong project management skills, including budgeting, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure.

Nice To Haves

• Cell Therapy experience.
• Electrical Engineering degree.
• Master’s degree.

Responsibilities

• Guide technical teams in automation and controls development, validation, and engineering solutions; mentor junior staff; and collaborate across functions.
• Serve as asset owner for automation and control systems across critical facilities, laboratories, and production areas; develop upgrade and efficiency strategies.
• Ensure facilities systems comply with health, safety, and environmental standards.
• Lead validation strategies, protocols, and documentation for automation and controls assets, ensuring compliance with FDA, EMA, and internal standards.
• Manage complex validation projects from design through reporting.
• Oversee the reliability of electrical components, software, and field devices; implement maintenance and inspection programs.
• Direct the design, installation, and commissioning of systems and equipment, ensuring GMP compliance.
• Develop preventive and predictive maintenance programs to maximize reliability.
• Manage automation and controls upgrades, expansions, and new installations, including budgets, schedules, and stakeholder and vendor coordination.
• Prepare and review validation, engineering-procedure, and capital-project documentation; produce accurate, compliant reports.
• Maintain regulatory and industry-standard compliance; enforce safety protocols and emergency response plans; conduct audits and inspections and address issues proactively.
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve reliability; stay current with industry, technology, and regulatory changes.

Benefits

• Qualified retirement program (401(k) plan).
• Paid vacation and holidays.
• Paid leaves.
• Medical coverage.
• Prescription drug coverage.
• Dental coverage.
• Vision coverage.
• Short-term incentive bonus opportunity.
• Eligibility to participate in an equity-based long-term incentive program for salaried roles.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior