Sr. Controls Engineer - Pharma / Life Sciences - On-Board Companies

The Opportunity
We have a Senior Controls Engineer / Project Lead position available in our Wilmington, MA office. This position requires demonstrated technical proficiency in implementing automation solutions with PLC, DCS, HMI, and SCADA platforms.

Primary Purpose:
This position requires demonstrated technical proficiency in implementing automation solutions with PLC, DCS, HMI, and SCADA platforms. The Senior Controls Engineer will interact directly with the customer and lead a team of engineers in identifying requirements, developing specifications, and implementing/testing/commissioning/qualifying automation solutions.

This position is a leadership role within the business unit and requires strong problem-solving ability, methodical project management skills, well-balanced people skills, an aptitude for business efficiency, and an interest in creating partnerships. The Senior Controls Engineer demonstrates success by securing repeat work with both new and existing customers.

Major Responsibilities:
This position requires the ability to deliver innovative automation solutions and design standards either self-directed or as a leader of a team. The candidate must have the ability to conceptualize, detail and implement control systems for industrial processes and machinery that meet our customers’ requirements. This involves the development of a control system architecture, selecting the components to be used, detailing schematic diagrams and system documentation, programming controllers (PLC, DCS, RTU), programming the process visualization (HMI/SCADA), developing databases for archiving/displaying historical system data and implementing/commissioning the control system at the client’s facility. Knowledge of controller programming languages such as Ladder, Sequential Function Chart, Structured Text, and others to achieve the desired results is required. Also having knowledge of standard programming languages such as VBA, .NET, and SQL for the development of HMI/SCADA systems is preferred.

For larger systems, experience with industrial networking used to connect control system components and instrumentation is preferred. The Senior Controls Engineer would design, detail, and implement a variety of fiber, wired and wireless systems using industrial protocols (Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus, etc.).

This position oftentimes requires the following project management responsibilities: developing project execution plans, work breakdown structures, and associated budgets, task prioritization and scheduling, task ordering, time tracking, and reporting, financial tracking and reporting, early problem identification, conflict management/resolution, leading and supporting a team, and attending project status meetings. Also includes overseeing daily operations and activities of a project(s) up to $1M. This position is often responsible for ensuring the overall profitability of the project.

The ideal candidate must have a diverse engineering skillset with the ability to work independently. Will act as technical lead on projects and guide lower-level engineers and technicians. Could also act as a Project Manager on smaller projects.

Job Requirements
Education – A Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical/Control Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Computer Science is required.

Experience – Greater than 10 years with capabilities in below areas is preferred:

• In-depth understanding of PLC hardware/software platforms such as Rockwell Automation, Siemens, and Modicon
• In-depth understanding of HMI/SCADA hardware/software platforms such Client iFIX, Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk View, Inductive Automation’s Ignition, and Siemens
• In-depth understanding of DCS hardware/software platform such as Emerson DeltaV, Rockwell PlantPAx, or similar
• Familiarity with electrical schematics, including power distribution under 480VAC, control panels, and associated NEC references desired
• Experience with AutoCAD is also desired
• Experience leading a team of engineers/technicians to provide control system solutions
• Experience mentoring less experienced engineers
• Proven experience in managing, leading and guiding automation design and implementation projects in the Life Science industry
• Proven experience with all phases of automation projects including conceptual, basis of design, implementation, testing, start-up and commissioning of Process Control System (PCS), SCADA, and DCS in the Life Science industry
• Strong knowledge of S88 Batch
• Familiarity with relevant regulatory requirements of the life science industry such as cGMP, 21 CFR Part 11, etc.
• Familiarity with GAMP5, System and Software Development Life Cycles methodologies, validation
• Strong knowledge of IT/OT networking
• Extensive knowledge of automation protocols such as HART, Foundation Fieldbus, Traditional I/O, Profibus, Ethernet I/P, OPC, Modbus TCP/IP, etc.
• Experience with relational databases such as SQL, Oracle, etc.
• Excellent technical writing and verbal communication skills
• Professional references, preferably one from each of the following: a subordinate, a peer, and a manager
• Ability to travel 15-25%

Physical Demands of Position:
Seeing, color perception, hearing, clear speech, dexterity in hands, driving, lifting, ability to mount/dismount equipment, pushing, and pulling.

Working Conditions
Standard office environment, on-site office environment, diverse industrial environments, frequent use of a personal computer, facsimile/copy machines, phones.