JOB TITLE: SME LEAD AUTOMATION ENGINEER

Location: Hybrid – Charlotte, NC area
Type: 12+ Month Contract
Compensation: $90+/hr
Industry: Pharmaceutical / Life Sciences

CLIENT OVERVIEW:

Our client, a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer, is seeking a Subject Matter Expert (SME) with deep expertise in Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)—preferably Emerson DeltaV DCS—to support operations and utilities. This is a high-visibility, long-term hybrid contract role offering some of the most competitive compensation in the industry.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The ideal candidate will provide expert-level support for DeltaV and pharmaceutical utility systems in a GMP-regulated environment. The role requires hands-on experience with control systems and utilities support, strong collaboration across departments, and a proven ability to operate in a 24/7 production environment.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Proven hands-on experience with Emerson DeltaV DCS systems.
• In-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical utility systems, including CIP, WFI, HVAC, and clean steam.
• Familiarity with batch processing and the ISA-88 (S88) model.
• Experience with recipe authoring and configuration tools.
• Prior experience in a GMP-compliant pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing environment.
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with QA, Manufacturing, and Engineering teams.
• Strong documentation and communication skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior experience supporting DeltaV in a utilities context.
• Knowledge of MES integration with process control systems.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

• Provide hands-on support for Emerson DeltaV DCS, including troubleshooting, configuration, and optimization.
• Support pharmaceutical utility systems including CIP, WFI, HVAC, and clean steam.
• Configure and support batch systems following the ISA-88 (S88) standard, including recipe management and authoring.
• Assist in maintaining compliance with GMP regulations, including participation in documentation, validation, and audits.
• Collaborate with QA, Engineering, and Manufacturing to troubleshoot and resolve system issues.
• Ensure system availability and reliability in a 24/7 production environment.
• Conduct root cause analysis for system failures or deviations.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives related to control systems and utilities.