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Senior Automation Engineer - Manufacturing Support

Pfizer

Pfizer

Software Engineering, Customer Service
Sanford, NC, USA
USD 96,300-160,500 / year + Equity
Posted on Sep 3, 2025

Use Your Power for Purpose

At Pfizer, we believe that every role is crucial in our mission to improve patients' lives. Within our Global Supply division, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that our manufacturing processes are efficient, reliable, and innovative. Whether you are involved in the design and development of manufacturing processes for products or supporting maintenance and reliability, engineering is vital to making sure customers and patients have the medicines they need when they need them. Working with our manufacturing team, you'll help bring medicines to the world even faster by imagining what’s possible and taking action. Your contributions will directly impact our ability to deliver life-saving medicines to patients around the globe.

What You Will Achieve

In this role, you will:

  • Lead or co-lead complex projects, effectively managing time and resources.

  • Make decisions to resolve complex problems and develop new options independently in ambiguous situations.

  • Work independently on assignments, seeking guidance on unusual or complex problems

  • Review your own work, seek directional feedback, and mentor colleagues (junior/entry to mid-level automation engineers).

  • Design, develop, deploy, and test automated processes, systems, and equipment.

  • Contribute significantly to the interpretation of manufacturing data and planning/execution of subsequent automation activities

  • Maintain and support the automation computing infrastructure, providing 24x7x365 operational support as a rotational on-call resource and escalation path.

  • Design, install, validate, and maintain critical manufacturing Automation systems to improve manufacturing success rates.

  • Integrate operational knowledge, equipment control, and data collection into systems that enforce operational sequences across departments for batch production, testing, performance tracking, and drug substance disposition.

  • Solve complex problems within the department and assist with issues outside the department, overseeing operational activities to support short-term goals.

  • Communicate effectively by soliciting input, explaining complex concepts, persuading others, and sharing own point of view and rationale.

  • Manage multiple projects and ongoing work activities of complexity, involving cross-functional representatives, and deliver all site automated systems capital and strategic projects.

  • Ensure system-wide compliance, perform system support responsibilities, offer technical leadership, adhere to safe work practices, and communicate progress and issues to management and peers.

  • Engage third party vendors, suppliers, and/or contractors as needed to support computer system design and maintenance activities

Here Is What You Need (Minimum Requirements)

  • Applicant must have a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Electrical, or Computer Science Engineering (or related field) with at least 4 years of experience working with an automated system in the pharmaceutical, biopharma, life sciences or related industries OR Master’s degree with more than 2 years of experience working with an automated system in the pharmaceutical, biopharma, life sciences or related industries OR PhD with 0 years of experience OR Associate’s degree with 8 years of experience working with an automated system in the pharmaceutical, biopharma, life sciences or related industries OR High School Diploma (or Equivalent) and 10 years of relevant experience with an automated system in the pharmaceutical, biopharma, life sciences or related industries

  • Demonstrated experience in Automation Engineering, showcasing expertise in process controls equipment, DeltaV Batch and Continuous software configuration

  • Automation support during Manufacturing processing while maintaining compliance

  • Strong design, troubleshooting and debugging skills, primarily supporting DeltaV control systems

  • Broad understanding of systems architecture and operations, along with related components

  • Excellent project management skills

  • Strong presentation and communication skills

  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities

  • Experience with regulatory compliance in a pharmaceutical/biotech manufacturing environment

  • Ability to interact with functional groups at site, including Manufacturing, Quality, EHS, Technical Operations.

Bonus Points If You Have (Preferred Requirements):

  • Proficiency in using automation software and tools (PI, Infobatch, AgileDoc)

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

  • Ability to lead cross-functional teams and facilitate collaboration

  • Experience in developing and implementing new methodologies and concepts

  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to mentor and guide team members

  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

  • Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work in a fast-paced environment

  • Network hardware and software management

  • Knowledge of PLC control systems as standalone or when integrated with DeltaV

  • Master's degree and relevant pharmaceutical experience


Physical / Mental requirements

  • Job may include sitting, standing, walking, bending, ability to perform mathematical calculations and ability to perform complex data analysis.

Non-Standard work schedule, travel or environment requirements

  • Adhere to safe work practices and procedures.


Other job details

  • Last day to appy: September 17th, 2025

  • 100% onsite role

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $96,300.00 to $160,500.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 12.5% of the base salary and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life’s moments. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage. Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site – U.S. Benefits | (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com). Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States.

Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.

EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer. This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.

Pfizer endeavors to make www.pfizer.com/careers accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process and/or interviewing, please email disabilityrecruitment@pfizer.com. This is to be used solely for accommodation requests with respect to the accessibility of our website, online application process and/or interviewing. Requests for any other reason will not be returned.

Engineering