Associate Director/Director Automation

A leading pharmaceutical company is investing $4.5 billion to launch the Medicine Foundry, a first-of-its-kind facility that merges drug development and advanced manufacturing to boost efficiency, scalability, and sustainability. The automation team is building a site-wide system focused on safety, adaptability, and future readiness, and is seeking an experienced engineer with a strong automation background, leadership skills, and the ability to drive high-impact, high-risk initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement automation systems for scaling drug manufacturing.
• Ensure automation systems are safe and compliant with data integrity standards.
• Design and maintain flexible, highly automated equipment.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to align automation with site strategy.
• Lead digital plant initiatives to enhance data collection and analysis.
• Innovate and maintain automated workflows within the Foundry.
• Support testing and deployment of new technologies.
• Provide training, maintenance, and expert troubleshooting for automated systems.
• Influence best practices through industry knowledge and external engagement.

Basic Requirements

• Education & Experience:
  • Bachelor’s in Engineering/STEM + 15 years in automation, or
  • Master’s in Engineering/STEM + 12 years in automation.
• Technical Skills:
  • Experience with DeltaV and Rockwell systems.
  • Proficiency in programming and tools like Atlassian.
  • Familiarity with lab automation tools (e.g., Echo, Kingfisher, Mantis).

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong influence on technical decisions and high-throughput analytics.
• Recognized expert and mentor in automation.
• Experience in pharmaceutical automation system design and maintenance.
• Skilled in scripting and collaborating with lab scientists.
• Excellent organizational and documentation skills.
• Experience with lab information systems (e.g., Benchling, Signals).
• Proven contributor to positive organizational culture.