Senior Process Automation Engineer - Siemens Exp Required

GEA Group•Columbia, SC

3d•$100,000 - $130,000•Onsite

About The Position

GEA Group, located in Columbia, MD, is searching for a Senior Process Automation Engineer to join their Team! GEA's Process Engineering Team is a dynamic, technologically advanced and global export-oriented organization, focused on the design, development and manufacturing of complex process equipment for the production of pharmaceutical oral solid dosage (OSD) forms. This role involves working effectively with the GEA Core Technology Center (CTC) for OSD system design, collaborating with Pharma North America (NAM) stakeholders to design, develop, install, and commission OSD software and systems. The engineer will also work closely with the software engineering group in Wommelgem, Belgium for training, projects, and software design related to customer projects and field service activities within NAM. The position requires developing customer-specific software, participating in project team development, managing project timelines and costs, and maintaining a continuous improvement mindset. The role also includes executing software development activities for global customers, participating in review meetings to standardize automation processes, and developing SOPs and work instructions for field service activities. The engineer will interpret technical drawings, investigate and resolve customer issues, and provide support to field service technicians and engineers. Additionally, the role involves assisting with the creation and maintenance of NAM iBase records, adhering to GEA policies, and contributing to team efforts to satisfy customer requests. The Senior Process Automation Engineer is expected to be the "Face of GEA," demonstrating good people skills, professional behavior, and alignment with GEA values. Continuous improvement and collaborative problem-solving are key aspects of this role, including providing constructive feedback to CTCs and NAM colleagues.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering with Software focus, plus 5+ years of related experience as software/controls engineer in process industry (food, beverage, pharma or other related,) OR Master’s Degree in Automation/Controls engineering.
Knowledge and experience programming most of the following systems: Siemens PLC’s (S7 1500) and TIA Portal, Siemens WinCC SCADA systems, Scripting (VBS,), Rockwell solutions, MS SQL server
Able to read mechanical drawings.
Knowledge or Good Automation Manufacturing Practice (GAMP)
Profound Customer Care expertise and Service oriented personality are required
Analytical capabilities, problem-solving skills and ability to think and offer solutions to customer issues quickly
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong Customer / market orientation with commitment to fast customer responses
Continuously looking for improvements to match requirements from pharmaceutical companies with scheduled hours per project for controls activities.
Must be proficient with MS Office applications, especially Word, Excel and Visio
Must be prepared to travel up to 60%
Extensive initial training period in Belgium for a 1-2-month period
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship.

Responsibilities

Works effectively with the GEA Core Technology Center (CTC) for the OSD system design in alignment with the Pharma North America (NAM) stakeholders to design, develop, install, and commission and supports OSD software and systems for the NAM Pharma market through service demands
Works closely with the software engineering group within our CTC, located in Wommelgem, Belgium for training, projects, software design related for customer projects and field service-related activities within NAM
Develops customer specific software using standard engineered modules as well as software design best practices
Participates in project team development, meetings and regularly reports status for software engineering development
Manages, estimates and reports on times for projects as well as utilization, billing and costing of projects
Maintains continuous improvement mindset and openly discusses improvements with the automation standardization leadership team at the CTC and in NAM team
Conducts review meetings with the customers explaining software architecture, optimization and updates
Executes software develop activities for global customers for assigned projects
Participates in review meetings with other GEA departments outside Wommelgem to standardize the automation processes, development and customization approach
Develop SOPs and work instructions with the CTCs for designated Field Service Activities to support service resources and their ability to effectively handle high level software updates, diagnostics and onsite troubleshooting
Interpret part and assembly drawings, electrical schematics, P&ID’s, System General Arrangements, and other types of technical drawings and specifications for the information required for complete system troubleshooting, modifications and enhancements
Review information received from GEA CTC’s and process it into locally useable technical documents and work instructions for field service and customer support responsibilities
Investigate start up, delivery problems and customer complaints. Produce reports and communications as appropriate to resolve problems and assist with process improvement efforts
Support colleagues when they are in the field at customer sites (e.g. Field Service Technicians and Engineers), by providing or arranging for the provision of information, documents, parts, or any other assistance as required
Follow up with customers and affiliates as required to clarify questions and to obtain the information required to answer them if the information is not readily available
Assist with the creation and maintenance of NAM iBase records.
Follows important procedural tasks such as time sheets, vacation requests, and expense reports and follows GEA policies including Travel and the Health and Safety handbook.
Contribute to team effort by working the necessary hours, including reasonable overtime, to satisfy customer requests.
Complete all tasks as may be assigned with high quality, and all documented for further improvements, audits, or records.
Be the “Face of GEA”; good people skills and professional behavior are required as well as the alignment to the GEA values
In the spirit of, and in concert with, the concepts of continuous improvement, the person in this role must think about the way tasks are performed and work collaboratively with management and colleagues to streamline and improve our Ways of Working
Provides feedback to the CTC’s and NAM colleagues with constructive and informative communications that foster collaboration and shared understandings as well as corrective actions as part of the requirements of this important role