Novartis Posted September 9, 2026

Automation Engineer III - Compounding/CIP/SIP/Utility Distribution

Durham, United States FULL_TIME
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Novartis is the source of truth for this posting and owns the application process. We surface normalized context and market comparison you won't find on the original listing.

About this opportunity

Imagine using your automation expertise to support the systems that enable safe, compliant, and reliable pharmaceutical manufacturing every day. As an Automation Engineer III focused on Compounding, CIP, SIP, and Utility Distribution systems, you'll help ensure critical process automation platforms operate at peak performance while supporting the production of medicines for patients worldwide. Working across Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality, you'll drive troubleshooting, system improvements, and automation projects that enhance reliability, efficiency, and GMP compliance throughout the manufacturing process.

Location: This position will be located in Durham, NC and will be an onsite role.Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.Key Responsibilities:Maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize compounding, CIP, SIP, utility distribution, and manufacturing automation systems.Support design, configuration, installation, and lifecycle management of automation hardware and software.Support automation and control strategies for compounding, CIP, SIP, and utility distribution systems.Lead automation activities for capital projects, upgrades, and system enhancements.Develop URS, FS, DDS, HDS, and SDS documentation for automation solutions.Execute and support change controls, validation activities, and regulatory compliance initiatives.Partner with Manufacturing and Quality teams to resolve complex production issues.Support GMP manufacturing operations through on-call and operational support activities.Drive continuous improvement projects that enhance reliability, compliance, and operational efficiency.Maintain automation procedures, SOPs, and system records in alignment with FDA and GMP requirements.Essential Requirements:Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.Minimum 5 years of experience in pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical GMP manufacturing operations, or 9 years of equivalent industry experience.Hands-on experience programming, troubleshooting, and maintaining DCS platforms, preferably DeltaV.Experience supporting compounding, CIP, SIP, utility, PLC, and SCADA/HMI systems in GMP manufacturing.Knowledge of automation validation, change controls, and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements.Experience with data historian technologies, preferably OSI PI.Strong understanding of process instrumentation, utility systems, control system architecture, and industrial communication protocols.Excellent communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work across technical and business teams.Novartis Compensation and Benefit Summary:The salary for this position is expected to range between $98,700 and $183,300 annuallyThe final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.#LI-Onsite

Job details

Seniority
Not listed
Function
Manufacturing & CMC
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
Durham, United States
Employment type
FULL_TIME

How this role compares

Computed from every other active Manufacturing & CMC role in our database, not just this employer's listings.

We currently track 3374 comparable Manufacturing & CMC roles across 173 biopharma companies.

3374Comparable roles tracked
3074Currently active
173Companies hiring similar roles
61Countries represented

Salary context

792 of 3374 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)

Peers share this role's job function. This posting doesn't list a seniority level, so peers aren't narrowed by seniority either -- the range below may span more levels than usual.

This roleSubject $98,700/yr – $183,300/yr
Lowest disclosed · Operator – Plant Utilities · Lilly $13/hr – $28/hr (≈ $26,998–$58,302/yr)
Highest disclosed · Head of Analytical Development · ModernaTX, Inc. $272,200/yr – $490,100/yr
Peer group range $42,650 – $381,150 (median $128,367)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 3374 comparable roles

United States1531
Germany216
India155
France145
Ireland130
China121

+ 55 more countries

Seniority mix

1484 of 3374 peers have a known seniority level

Senior403
Manager351
Intern/Fellow/Postdoc198
Associate142
Principal126
Director106
Associate Director104
Senior Director47
Executive/VP7

Therapeutic area mix

21 of 3374 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Vaccines & Infectious Disease13
Rare Disease3
Oncology2
Dermatology & Aesthetics1
Respiratory1
Immunology1

Similar opportunities

The closest matches from our peer group, ranked by how similar they are, not how well you'd qualify for them -- treat this as market context, not a guaranteed shortlist; a weak match is labeled as one below.

40%similar
40%similar
Lilly Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America Director
Same function Same country
40%similar
Lilly Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America Associate
Same function Same country
40%similar
Merck West Point, Pennsylvania, United States of America Principal
Same function Same country
40%similar
Merck West Point, Pennsylvania, United States Intern/Fellow/Postdoc
Same function Same country
40%similar
AbbVie North Chicago, IL Associate Director
Same function Same country

Notify me about similar jobs

Get an email when we spot other openings like this one – same job function, comparable seniority, roles you'd actually want to see.

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How we calculate "similar"

No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.

Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.

40%
Director, Global Regulatory Affairs – Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC), Platform Innovation – Synthetic Peptides and Oligonucleotides
Lilly · Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America · Director
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
40%
Associate Principal Scientist/Engineer, Medical Device and Combination Products, Analytical
Merck · West Point, Pennsylvania, United States of America · Principal
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
40%
Senior Scientist II - Biologics Drug Product Development
AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
40%
Senior Scientist I - Peptide Analytical Chemistry
AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
Unmatched or unknown dimensions score exactly the same: 0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.