Sr. Manager, Automation

JOB DESCRIPTION

Work Schedule

Environmental Conditions

Job Description

Job Description

As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond.

About the Business

Join our Pharma Services Group (PSG)—a global leader providing integrated drug development and manufacturing solutions to pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Our Greenville, North Carolina site specializes in sterile and oral solid dose (OSD) manufacturing, supported by advanced technologies and a highly collaborative team environment.

Discover Impactful Work

As the Sr. Manager, Automation, you will lead a team of automation and controls engineering leaders responsible for supporting manufacturing operations, capital projects, and digital/automation strategy across the site. This role is highly visible and part of the succession pipeline for future leadership, with a strong focus on automation systems lifecycle management, reliability, and obsolescence mitigation.

A Day in the Life

• Lead and develop a team of ~5 automation/controls engineering managers
• Serve as site SME for automation systems supporting sterile fill/finish (PLC, SCADA, DCS, HMI, historians, and integrations)
• Own automation systems lifecycle management, including design, configuration, validation, maintenance, upgrades, and retirement
• Lead site-wide automation obsolescence program, including risk assessments, asset lifecycle tracking, and upgrade planning
• Oversee automation deliverables across lifecycle phases: URS, functional/design specs, FAT/SAT, installation, startup, and validation handoff
• Drive troubleshooting of complex automation issues, root cause analysis, and system reliability improvements
• Support CapEx projects, including new equipment integration, control system design, and platform standardization
• Partner with business development on technical capabilities, automation strategies, and digital readiness for new programs
• Collaborate with process engineering, validation, IT/OT, maintenance, quality, and operations to ensure compliant and reliable systems
• Mentor and develop future leaders in automation and digital manufacturing

Keys to Success

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Automation, Electrical, or related discipline (highly preferred)

Advanced degree preferred

Experience

• 10+ years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing with strong focus on automation systems in sterile environments
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing engineering teams, including people leaders
• Proven experience managing automation systems lifecycle (URS, design specs, FAT/SAT, commissioning, validation)
• Demonstrated experience leading automation obsolescence strategies
• Strong experience with PLC/SCADA/DCS platforms in GMP environments
• Experience supporting capital projects (CapEx) and system migrations
• Exposure to business development technical support preferred

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Deep expertise in automation systems supporting aseptic processing environments
• Strong knowledge of GAMP 5, 21 CFR Part 11, Annex 11, and data integrity principles (ALCOA+)
• Experience with automation cybersecurity and IT/OT integration
• Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis in control systems
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with technical expertise
• Strong cross-functional collaboration
• Experience with lifecycle asset management and obsolescence risk mitigation

Competencies

Leadership, Technical Expertise, Automation Strategy, Lifecycle Management, Continuous Improvement, Talent Development, Customer Focus