Automation Lead – Sligo
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Automation Lead to join a growing pharmaceutical manufacturing site in Sligo. This role plays a key part in driving automation excellence and supporting the site’s long-term vision to become a Factory of the Future.
About the Role
Reporting to the Engineering Manager, the Automation Lead will provide technical leadership across all control system activities, managing a team of automation professionals and ensuring the reliability, compliance, and continuous improvement of site automation systems.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and manage all control system activities within the pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.
* Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of automation and control engineers.
* Provide technical support for control system issues, including troubleshooting, optimisation, and documentation control.
* Lead validation activities related to control systems during project start-up and commissioning phases.
* Oversee life cycle management of control systems in accordance with GAMP 5 and regulatory standards.
* Manage the automation elements of continuous improvement projects, collaborating with process engineers, technical support, and operations teams.
* Support future integrations between control systems, MES, and ERP platforms.
* Manage departmental budgets and contribute to long-term maintenance and improvement planning.
* Ensure full compliance with EHS and GMP standards.
* Represent the automation function during audits and inspections by regulatory authorities or customers.
Qualifications & Experience
* BSc / BEng / Postgraduate Diploma in a relevant engineering discipline.
* 6+ years’ experience in process automation within a GMP-regulated environment (pharmaceutical or related industry).
* Strong understanding of 21 CFR Part 11 and EU Annex 11 requirements for automated systems.
* Proven experience with plant start-ups, system commissioning, and new product introductions.
* Expertise in configuring and troubleshooting PLC, SCADA, and HMI systems.
* Solid understanding of control system networks, including Ethernet and network architecture models.
* Experience integrating systems with plant historians (e.g., OSI-PI) using OPC interfaces.
* Knowledge of automation system life cycle management – including backup, recovery, access control, configuration, and change management.
* Proficiency in Windows system administration within a regulated environment.
Why Apply?
This is a key leadership position within a dynamic and expanding pharmaceutical site, offering the opportunity to shape the automation strategy, lead a talented team, and deliver impactful projects in a world-class manufacturing environment.
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