Senior Automation Engineer

Abbott Laboratories seeks a Senior Automation Engineer to lead design, implementation, and optimization of automated systems supporting biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing. In this role, you will own full lifecycle delivery of automation solutions-requirements, architecture, coding, testing, commissioning, and validation-while ensuring compliance with FDA, GMP, and GAMP 5 standards. You will collaborate closely with operations, quality, IT, and engineering teams to enhance reliability, throughput, and data integrity. This position offers the chance to impact global health in an inclusive, growth-oriented, and innovation-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain automated systems for biotech/pharma manufacturing and laboratories.
• Lead automation projects from requirements through commissioning and validation.
• Develop and maintain PLC, SCADA, and related control system code and documentation.
• Ensure systems comply with FDA, GMP, and GAMP 5 regulations and internal quality standards.
• Collaborate with operations, quality, IT, and engineering to optimize system performance and reliability.
• Troubleshoot complex automation issues and drive root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Develop and execute validation, testing, and change control documentation for automated systems.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and best practices to cross-functional and junior team members.

Required Skills

• Automation system design and implementation
• PLC programming (e.g., Allen-Bradley, Siemens)
• SCADA/HMI configuration and support
• MES and data integration in regulated environments
• Validation, IQ/OQ/PQ, and change control documentation
• GMP, FDA, and GAMP 5 compliance knowledge
• Industrial networks and control system architecture
• Scripting or high-level programming (e.g., Python, C#, VBA)
• Root cause analysis and advanced troubleshooting
• Project management for automation projects