Senior Automation Engineer (Packaging)
Key Skills
Job Description
Senior Automation Engineer
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Senior Automation Engineer to join a highly automated pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging facility in Haarlem. This is a hands-on technical role supporting the design, maintenance, optimisation, and implementation of automation systems across production and packaging operations.
The successful candidate will have extensive experience working with a variety of automation platforms and packaging equipment within a regulated manufacturing environment. This role focuses on discrete manufacturing and packaging automation; DeltaV experience is not required.
Key Responsibilities
Provide technical leadership for automation systems supporting manufacturing and packaging operations.
Maintain, troubleshoot, and optimise PLC, HMI, SCADA, and industrial control systems to maximise equipment reliability and performance.
Lead automation projects including system upgrades, equipment integration, commissioning, and lifecycle improvements.
Support installation, FAT, SAT, commissioning, IQ/OQ, and validation activities for new and modified equipment.
Work closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Production, Quality, Validation, and IT/OT teams to deliver automation solutions.
Develop and maintain automation standards, documentation, and change control records.
Ensure compliance with GMP, GAMP5, data integrity, and company engineering standards.
Analyse equipment performance and implement improvements to increase OEE, reduce downtime, and improve operational efficiency.
Support industrial cybersecurity initiatives for operational technology (OT) systems.
Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance to maintenance and operations teams.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Automation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline.
Minimum of 7 years' experience in industrial automation.
Proven experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, food, FMCG, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
Strong experience supporting automated packaging operations.
Excellent troubleshooting skills across electrical, control, and automation systems.
Experience managing automation projects from concept through commissioning.
Technical Skills
Candidates should have experience with several of the following technologies:
PLC Platforms
Siemens (TIA Portal, S7)
Rockwell Allen-Bradley (Studio 5000)
Beckhoff
Schneider Electric
Omron
Mitsubishi
HMI & SCADA
Siemens WinCC
FactoryTalk View
Ignition
Wonderware (AVEVA)
Other modern SCADA platforms
Industrial Networks
Profinet
Ethernet/IP
Modbus TCP
OPC UA
Profibus
Packaging Equipment Experience
Experience with automated packaging equipment such as:
Cartoners
Bottle filling and capping systems
Labelling equipment
Checkweighers
Vision inspection systems
Serialization and aggregation systems
Case packers
Palletisers
Conveying systems
Robotic pick-and-place applications
Desirable Experience
Computer System Validation (CSV)
GMP / GAMP5
Data Integrity (ALCOA+)
Change Control and CAPA
FAT / SAT execution
MES integration
Industrial cybersecurity
Continuous Improvement / Lean Manufacturing
OEE improvement programs
Digital manufacturing initiatives
Core Responsibilities
The Senior Automation Engineer will lead the design, maintenance, and optimization of automation systems within a pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging facility. Responsibilities include managing automation projects, ensuring regulatory compliance, and troubleshooting control systems to maximize equipment performance.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline and possess at least 7 years of experience in industrial automation within regulated environments. Strong technical proficiency with PLC, HMI, and SCADA platforms, along with experience in automated packaging operations, is required.
About Horizon Controls Group
Industry: Industrial Automation
Company size: 51-200 employees
Horizon Controls Group: A global leader in automation consulting, enabling both clients and employees to live on the forefront of evolving technology. Horizon Controls Group is a modern, global technology company, specializing in automation consulting, engineering, and training. Founded on the belief that our people are the difference, we have grown entirely from customer references and successive projects. Our people and their established reputation are our most valued assets. This belief has created a great place to work, enabling us to attract the very best and to give our customers confidence in our superior solutions. Our business is comprised of excellence at every level. We employ a pro-active and comprehensive approach to projects -- asking the right questions, analyzing client needs, and engineering a skilled solution. We are committed to understanding the entire spectrum of your automation challenges and to developing uniquely tailored innovative solutions. Our decision to be vendor-independent enables us to offer tailored solutions and represent your needs free of any conflict of interest. We are aligned exclusively with our customers' goals and system requirements, enabling us to provide maximum value. Ultimately, the ability to harvest maximum value from new systems is dependent on the quality and training of your people. Just as we expect and ensure absolute expertise in our people, we work with you to ensure your team is trained to the specific needs of your organization and remain at the forefront of industry trends. We are a global company operating in the United States from our headquarters in Conshohocken, PA and offices in Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and California and from Cork in Ireland. This is Horizon Controls Group’s official company LinkedIn page.