Process Automation Engineer

King of Prussia, PA
Full Time
Facilities and Engineering
Manager/Supervisor
Company Overview
SK pharmteco (SKPT, the Corporation) is a U.S.-based global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) that consolidates the operations of sites worldwide – Korea, France, Ireland, The United States (CA and PA).  Built on over 75 years of experience, SK pharmteco is a trusted partner specializing in the manufacture of small molecule APIs and intermediates, viral vectors for gene therapies, cell therapies, registered starting materials and analytical services for the pharmaceutical industry worldwide.

Position Summary
The Process Automation Engineer shall be responsible for ensuring that site production, safety, and quality requirements are met by establishing process control alarm ranges and sequences, and analyzing/troubleshooting system outputs and data.
The process automation and controls engineering team will be responsible for designing, optimizing, and troubleshooting automated processes and systems at Levels 0, 1, and 2 onsite.
Coordinating with IT Automation team for design, selection and implementation of system control platform project and improvements. These may include any or all of the following stages: scope definition, feasibility studies, pilot testing & modeling, simulation, cost/benefit analyses, design, specification development, project planning, implementation, and post-implementation monitoring and follow-up.
The incumbent must be capable of managing a team of instrument, controls and automation resources, establishing process automation strategy to meet team objectives. This position will report to the Director of Engineering.

Primary Responsibilities
Process & Project Development
  • Subject Matter Expert (SME) for process controls, instrumentation, and automation for equipment and systems at Levels 0-2. Systems include Ignition SCADA environmental monitoring system; Schneider Electric building management system;
  • Identify opportunities and develop solutions for process improvements from an automation and controls perspective for implementation of new equipment, process software, building systems and monitoring or other control platforms.
  • Define scope of project in consultation with supervisor and stakeholders. Individually or collaboratively through leadership of project team, define alternative solutions, and decision criteria used to evaluate the alternatives.
Equipment, Component & Process Specification
  • Within projects or as part of system definition across multiple business units, designs and specifies equipment functional operating requirements. Define system design, operation, and alarm control ranges and values with input from equipment and process owner, facilities, and engineering teams.
  • Define alarm criticality and system response with stakeholder input.
  • Oversee configuration of systems and alarms to maintain specified process ranges and ensure proper system alarm response and recovery.
  • Develop site standards and equipment and system requirements for design and implementation of automated process equipment and systems.
  • Develop and oversee automated system change management processes to ensure automated equipment and systems maintain validated state, and associated documentation reflects current system operation.
  • Interface with CQV team(s) to provide technical input or review and approve testing documents and protocols of automated systems as required.
  • Develops control strategies for process and building platforms including operational and functional criteria for parameter setpoints and alarm ranges.
  • Apply knowledge of controls standards and advanced knowledge of process controls, automation, and systems function.
Troubleshooting and Process Improvement
  • Investigate, analyze, and report equipment or system outputs and data to troubleshoot quality or performance issues and optimize processes. Propose design solutions and coordinate system updates and improvements with system owner and applicable stakeholders including quality, manufacturing, and facilities.
  • Leads proactive problem solving efforts for EMS/BMS controls platforms.  Troubleshoots and resolves complex process controls issues and determining short- and long-term solutions. 
  • Develops and implements methods to systematically evaluate manufacturing process and equipment problems, analyze process data, and make recommendations to prevent recurrences. 
  • Works closely with cross-functional groups to identify, investigate and resolve system problems
  • Work closely with IT Automation department to integrate systems and controls into existing and planned site networks and controls infrastructure, select appropriate instruments and controls solutions, and interface with Level 3 automation systems.
Management / Strategy
  • Develops detailed plans and prioritizes the tasks within process automation engineering team to achieve operational and functional goals. Cross-functional coordination with other engineering and support services teams.
  • Provides leadership, oversight, instruction and development opportunities for process automation team staff. Manages process controls and automation engineering team by setting design standards and requirements, goals, and operation.
  • Oversees contractor/consultant performance.
Quality Compliance
  • Promotes cGMP compliance within the workplace by following site cGMP procedures.  Incorporate cGMP and regulatory compliance into all assigned projects scope, design and construction work.
Education & Experience
  • Bachelors degree in Engineering or another related scientific area with 7+ years experience in positions of increasing responsibility within pharmaceutical manufacturing operations or technical service
  • Experience with continuous improvement of processes and validations of processes/equipment
  • cGMP experience in a biopharmaceutical manufacturing environment
  • Self-motivated, results- and solution-oriented personality
  • Ability to combine and apply modern automation engineering and manufacturing concepts to meet complex tasks
  • Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills
  • Good organizational and project management skills
  • Highly analytical and structured way of working
  • Ability to successfully collaborate with teams across different organizational levels
  • Sound experience in Project management, task prioritization and team leadership

Note: This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, responsibilities, and skills required. Additional duties may be assigned as necessary.

SK pharmteco Inc., is an equal opportunity employer who prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type, and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants.
Share

Apply for this position

Required*
Apply with
We've received your resume. Click here to update it.
Attach resume or Paste resume
Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.
Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran
  • A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
    • a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
    • a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
  • A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
  • An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
  • An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Veteran status


Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Please check one of the boxes below:

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

You must enter your name and date
Human Check*