Lead Automation Engineer - Process
AI summary of the role
Lead automation and OT strategy for a first-of-its-kind robotic manufacturing cluster at AstraZeneca's Rockville, MD cell therapy site.
What you’ll do
- Lead Automation/OT strategy for the site's first-of-its-kind robotic manufacturing cluster, serving as primary technical authority.
- Own and administer critical Automation/OT platforms including Environmental and Equipment Monitoring Systems, Process Orchestration Layer, robotics cluster, and integrated process equipment.
- Solve complex automation, OT, and robotics challenges; maintain systems in a secure, reliable, GMP-validated state.
- Guide equipment lifecycle from concept through FAT/SAT, commissioning, qualification, validation, and upgrades.
What you’ll bring
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- 5+ years implementing/sustaining process automation or OT systems in manufacturing, lab, or energy-management environments.
- Hands-on experience integrating robotic systems with third-party manufacturing equipment.
- Experience across system lifecycle in GMP-regulated environment (FAT/SAT, commissioning, validation).
Technologies
Rockwell · Siemens · COPA-DATA Zenon · OPC · Modbus · BACnet · Ethernet · SAP · robotics · process orchestration · historians · electronic batch records
About AstraZeneca
Science-led biopharma developing and commercializing prescription medicines across oncology, chronic disease, respiratory/immunology, infectious disease, and rare disease, with AI-enabled R&D and global launch scale.
Public · 5000+ people
Source and classification
Internal deployment & tooling · Evidence for this classification:
Build the future of cell therapy manufacturing The opportunity - Rockville, MD Imagine creating the intelligent automation that helps bring advanced cell therapies to patients with greater reliability, speed, and precision. As Senior Automation Engineer – Cell Therapy, you will be a trusted technical leader for high-impact projects and daily manufacturing operations across our Cell Therapy network. You will combine automation, operational technology, robotics, data, and GMP expertise to turn pioneering concepts into dependable manufacturing capability. Your impact Why this role matters Based at our Rockville, Maryland site, you will join Facilities and Engineering at a defining moment: the first-of-its-kind implementation of a robotic manufacturing cluster. You will shape the network infrastructure, software and hardware integrations, operating strategy, and lifecycle support that
More from the job description
Build the future of cell therapy manufacturing The opportunity - Rockville, MD Imagine creating the intelligent automation that helps bring advanced cell therapies to patients with greater reliability, speed, and precision. As Senior Automation Engineer – Cell Therapy, you will be a trusted technical leader for high-impact projects and daily manufacturing operations across our Cell Therapy network. You will combine automation, operational technology, robotics, data, and GMP expertise to turn pioneering concepts into dependable manufacturing capability. Your impact Why this role matters Based at our Rockville, Maryland site, you will join Facilities and Engineering at a defining moment: the first-of-its-kind implementation of a robotic manufacturing cluster. You will shape the network infrastructure, software and hardware integrations, operating strategy, and lifecycle support that make this platform reliable, compliant, secure, and ready to scale. Lean ways of working and standardized methods will help you simplify complexity, improve performance, and focus effort where it creates the greatest value. Because these capabilities support continuous manufacturing operations, the role participates in a shared 24/7 on-call support model. What you will do Lead Automation and Operational Technology OT strategy for the site’s first-of-its-kind robotic manufacturing cluster, servi [... source excerpt omitted ...] and environmental performance. Share expertise, mentor colleagues, and help build enduring automation and robotics capability across the organization. What you bring - Essential Requirements A bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience. Five or more years of experience implementing and sustaining process automation or OT systems in manufacturing, laboratory, energy-management, or similarly complex environments. Hands-on experience integrating robotic systems with third-party manufacturing equipment; experience applying artificial intelligence to process execution or real-time control is highly valued. Demonstrated capabilit [... source excerpt omitted ...] ty, and zero-trust cybersecurity principles in a regulated environment. A structured, curious approach to troubleshooting and the judgment to balance operational urgency with GMP requirements. Clear communication and collaborative leadership across multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders. Additional experience that will help you thrive Experience with maintenance-management platforms such as SAP in cell therapy, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical manufacturing. Relevant certifications in process automation, robotics, Rockwell, Siemens, COPA-DATA, industrial networking, cybersecurity, or related disciplines. Bring your whole perspective If this opportunity excites you, we encour
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