Automation Engineer (Pirbright, United Kingdom, Aberdeen City)
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THE POSITION
The Automation Engineer is responsible for maintaining and improving site automation technologies, including production equipment and building automation systems. The role combines hands-on technical work with project support, covering design, programming, troubleshooting and lifecycle management of control systems. The position contributes to production continuity, supports engineering and maintenance activities, and ensures that automation systems operate in line with regulatory and internal standards while enabling future site development.
This is a fixed-term contract until 31st December 2027.
Tasks and Responsibilities
The person in this role will support both day-to-day operations and project activities related to automation systems. In particular, they will:
Maintain and troubleshoot automation systems (including production and building automation) to ensure system reliability and minimize production downtime, while managing documentation, backups and system records
Deliver automation support for engineering and maintenance projects, including design, programming and implementation of control systems, while ensuring alignment with scope, timelines, budgets and global standards
Lead or contribute to automation projects and continuous improvement initiatives, coordinating stakeholders, managing deliverables and supporting long-term site automation strategy and roadmap
Ensure systems operate in a compliant manner by adhering to internal procedures, industry standards and regulatory requirements, including supporting audits and implementing corrective and preventive actions
Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (operations, maintenance, engineering, validation, IT) and external vendors to support system performance and project execution
Evaluate and implement new technologies, build internal expertise and provide knowledge sharing and training within the team
Requirements
Hands-on experience with industrial automation systems, including PLCs, HMI/SCADA, building automation and control systems
Strong knowledge of PLC programming (e.g. ladder, function block, structured text) and industrial control architectures
Understanding of low voltage control systems (relays, safety circuits, drives) and industrial devices and interfaces (sensors, I/O, fieldbus, networking)
Experience supporting the full system lifecycle (design, implementation, troubleshooting, upgrades and documentation)
Familiarity with HMI/SCADA platforms and building automation systems
Experience working in a pharmaceutical environment or another highly regulated industry
Knowledge of GAMP5 (Good Automated Manufacturing Practice) methodology
Understanding of project delivery and ability to manage priorities in a fast-paced environment
Awareness of operational technology cybersecurity principles
Strong communication and collaboration skills
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Control Systems or a related field
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required for the successful candidate. Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory DBS certificate.
WHY THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK
Boehringer Ingelheim has been recognised as a Top Employer in the UK, demonstrating our commitment to building an exceptional workplace through strong people practices and supportive HR policies.
To learn more about why BI is a great place to work, visit:
https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.co.uk/careers/uk-careers/why-great-place-work
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Job details
How this role compares
Computed from every other active Manufacturing & CMC role in our database, not just this employer's listings.
We currently track 2526 comparable Manufacturing & CMC roles across 157 biopharma companies.
Salary context
639 of 2526 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.
Where these roles are based
Top locations among the 2526 comparable roles
+ 55 more countries
Seniority mix
1056 of 2526 peers have a known seniority level
Therapeutic area mix
5 of 2526 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden
Similar opportunities
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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.
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.