Job Summary Required Qualifications and Skills
We are seeking an experienced Automation Engineer for a direct hire opportunity supporting a site-wide Alarm Rationalization Program in a regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing environment. This remote role supports automation and alarm management initiatives across manufacturing, utilities, fermentation, purification, and wastewater treatment operations connected to a site in Canovanas, PR.
This is an excellent opportunity for an Automation Engineer who enjoys solving complex process control challenges, improving alarm performance, and working in a highly collaborative GMP environment. The role offers strong visibility across Automation, Process Engineering, Operations, Quality, EHS, and Technical Services teams, making it ideal for someone who values technical ownership, cross-functional teamwork, and continuous improvement.
The selected candidate will help improve alarm quality, reduce nuisance alarms, support compliance, and strengthen operational reliability across a 24/7 manufacturing operation.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as a technical resource for alarm configuration, troubleshooting, and optimization within DeltaV and/or Rockwell Automation PLC/HMI systems.
- Extract, consolidate, and analyze alarm and event data to identify nuisance alarms, bad actors, alarm floods, and improvement opportunities.
- Support and lead alarm rationalization activities, including evaluation of setpoints, priorities, causes, consequences, and corrective actions.
- Develop and maintain alarm rationalization documentation, master alarm database records, engineering documentation, and supporting validation materials.
- Initiate, coordinate, and manage change controls related to approved alarm modifications in compliance with GMP, data integrity, and quality requirements.
- Support configuration, testing, validation, troubleshooting, KPI reporting, and continuous improvement activities for automation system alarm changes.
Compensation and Benefits
- Job Type: Direct Hire.
- Pay Range: $50 to $100 per hour.
- Work Arrangement: Remote opportunity supporting automation and alarm management initiatives.
- Location Supported: Canovanas, PR.
- Availability to support a 24/7 manufacturing operation when required.
- Support a site-wide Alarm Rationalization Program across manufacturing and utilities areas.
- Analyze alarm and event data to improve alarm system performance and reduce nuisance alarms.
- Configure, test, validate, and document approved automation alarm changes.
- Collaborate with Automation, Process Engineering, Operations, Quality, EHS, and Technical Services teams.
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Chemical, Computer, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
- 6 to 10 years of relevant experience in automation, controls, process control, or a related engineering role within manufacturing.
- Experience working in GMP-regulated operations with strong understanding of data integrity, validation, and quality requirements.
- Knowledge of PLC/HMI systems, DCS platforms, industrial automation, and control system alarm functionality.
- Experience with Computer Systems Validation, testing protocols, change controls, and regulated engineering documentation.
- Strong knowledge of industrial instrumentation, including smart and conventional instrumentation.
- Proficiency with Excel and the ability to analyze alarm data, trends, KPIs, and system performance information.
- Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, organization, and documentation skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities independently while working effectively in a remote, cross-functional team environment.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to facilitate technical discussions with multidisciplinary stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications
- Hands-on experience with DeltaV and/or Rockwell Automation PLC/HMI systems.
- Previous alarm management or alarm rationalization experience.
- Knowledge of ISA-18.2 and/or EEMUA 191 alarm management principles.
- Experience managing change controls in Veeva Vault or a similar electronic quality management system.
- Experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
- Bilingual English and Spanish skills.
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