Sr. Manager, Automation
Greenville, NC - USA
Job Summary
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)Environmental Conditions
OfficeJob Description
Job Description
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team youll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond.
About the Business
Join our Pharma Services Group (PSG)a global leader providing integrated drug development and manufacturing solutions to pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Our Greenville North Carolina site specializes in sterile and oral solid dose (OSD) manufacturing supported by advanced technologies and a highly collaborative team environment.
Discover Impactful Work
As the Sr. Manager Automation you will lead a team of automation and controls engineering leaders responsible for supporting manufacturing operations capital projects and digital/automation strategy across the site. This role is highly visible and part of the succession pipeline for future leadership with a strong focus on automation systems lifecycle management reliability and obsolescence mitigation.
A Day in the Life
- Lead and develop a team of 5 automation/controls engineering managers
- Serve as site SME for automation systems supporting sterile fill/finish (PLC SCADA DCS HMI historians and integrations)
- Own automation systems lifecycle management including design configuration validation maintenance upgrades and retirement
- Lead site-wide automation obsolescence program including risk assessments asset lifecycle tracking and upgrade planning
- Oversee automation deliverables across lifecycle phases: URS functional/design specs FAT/SAT installation startup and validation handoff
- Drive troubleshooting of complex automation issues root cause analysis and system reliability improvements
- Support CapEx projects including new equipment integration control system design and platform standardization
- Partner with business development on technical capabilities automation strategies and digital readiness for new programs
- Collaborate with process engineering validation IT/OT maintenance quality and operations to ensure compliant and reliable systems
- Mentor and develop future leaders in automation and digital manufacturing
Keys to Success
Education
Bachelors degree in Engineering Automation Electrical or related discipline (highly preferred)
Advanced degree preferred
Experience
- 10 years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing with strong focus on automation systems in sterile environments
- 5 years of leadership experience managing engineering teams including people leaders
- Proven experience managing automation systems lifecycle (URS design specs FAT/SAT commissioning validation)
- Demonstrated experience leading automation obsolescence strategies
- Strong experience with PLC/SCADA/DCS platforms in GMP environments
- Experience supporting capital projects (CapEx) and system migrations
- Exposure to business development technical support preferred
Knowledge Skills Abilities
- Deep expertise in automation systems supporting aseptic processing environments
- Strong knowledge of GAMP 5 21 CFR Part 11 Annex 11 and data integrity principles (ALCOA)
- Experience with automation cybersecurity and IT/OT integration
- Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis in control systems
- Ability to balance strategic leadership with technical expertise
- Strong cross-functional collaboration
- Experience with lifecycle asset management and obsolescence risk mitigation
Competencies
Leadership Technical Expertise Automation Strategy Lifecycle Management Continuous Improvement Talent Development Customer Focus
Required Experience:
Manager
About Company
Electron microscopes reveal hidden wonders that are smaller than the human eye can see. They fire electrons and create images, magnifying micrometer and nanometer structures by up to ten million times, providing a spectacular level of detail, even allowing researchers to view single a ... View more