Automation Engineer

Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing - Grand Rapids, MI

Full-time - Mid Level

Grand Rapids, MI

Chemical Manufacturing

About the position

The Automation Engineer at Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing (GRAM) is responsible for providing automation and engineering support for the installation, start-up, commissioning, testing, qualification, operation, and maintenance of process and automated equipment and systems in a GMP biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility. This role requires a blend of technical expertise and collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful operation of manufacturing equipment and automation control systems.

Responsibilities

• Perform automation and instrumentation and control engineering support, including start-up of new facility systems and production equipment.
• Provide engineering support as part of cross-functional teams for current and new product/equipment launches, ensuring issues are resolved and documented.
• Act as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) and support teams and projects with moderate resource requirements and complexity, leading functional specification tests for automation.
• Generate and review SOPs and specification documents for new equipment, collaborating with SMEs across various departments on Automation Standards.
• Support and collaborate with Operations, Tech Services, and Quality teams on troubleshooting manufacturing equipment and automation control systems.
• Adhere to site SOPs during daily activities and project deliverables while maintaining training qualifications.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Maintenance departments as needed.
• Understand key business drivers to propose solutions and anticipate issues.

Requirements

• 3-10 years of relevant experience in automation engineering within a manufacturing, laboratory, or food manufacturing environment, or equivalently regulated industry.
• BS degree or equivalent in Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial, Controls or Electrical Engineering.
• Ability to successfully complete training on NFPA 70E.
• Deep technical knowledge of controls, PLCs, instrumentation, and dedicated equipment software/firmware.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Omron and other Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), HMI, and Vision Systems.
• Knowledge of PID control theories and techniques, and ability to read and understand P&IDs and sequence of operations.
• Knowledge of ISA, GAMP, ISO, UL508A standards and practices for instrumentation.
• Proficient computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Nice-to-haves

• Previous experience in a CMO and/or sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of GMP guidelines and experience in generating controlled documents.
• Certification in Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Omron and other Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), HMI, and Vision Systems.

Benefits

• Medical benefits starting day 1 with Blue Cross Blue Shield medical and dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits, with the company paying for 75% of the cost.
• Paid volunteerism starting day 1 with 16 hours of paid volunteer time per calendar year.
• PTO: Full-time employees accrue up to 17 days of time off per calendar year.
• Wellness Time Off: One paid day of Wellness Time Off (WTO) per quarter.
• Paid holidays: 10 paid holidays per calendar year with immediate eligibility.