Job Title: Principal Automation Engineer, (JP13398)
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA. 91320
Business Unit: Advanced Technology and Automation: Manufacturing & Clinical Supply (MCS) – Facilities & Engineering (F&E)
Employment Type: Contract
Duration: 2+ year with likely extensions and/or conversion to a permanent position.
Rate: $60 - $65/hour W2
Posting Date: 1/6/2025.
Notes: Only qualified candidates need apply. Mon thru Fri, 8am – 5pm (40 hours per week) + eventually some On-call support (1 week in 5)


3 Key Consulting is hiring!  We are recruiting a Principal Automation Engineer for a consulting engagement with our direct client, a leading global biotechnology company. 

Job Description:
The successful candidate will be smart, self-motivator, experienced technically with plant Automation support and troubleshooting. Good proactive team player.  Will be required to support Clinical & Commercial Plant Automation Programs and Capital Projects for client’s manufacturing group, including complex and challenging system automation initiatives that require solid understanding of various automation platforms, integration between different platforms, analytical problem-solving techniques, project management, lifecycle management and operational excellence. This position requires an extensive understanding and background in capital construction projects, design, programming, implementation, and lifecycle management of manufacturing process controls, automation, and field instrumentation technologies. This role is expected to deliver on assigned capital projects and daily plant support as required.

Top Must Have Skill Sets:
•    Life science experience
•    Rockwell Automation and/or DeltaV experience (site-based experience ideally).
•    GMP Manufacturing facility experience
•    Reliable/committed/flexible.
•    Ideally Degree educated, minimum 5 – 7 years relevant Automation experience including site work.

Day to Day Responsibilities:
•    Provide day-to-day support of ATO Drug substance operations
•    Represent plant automation team in Area WCTs
•    Lead a team of Automation engineers responsible to support and deliver on complex capital construction projects including Global Lifecycle Asset Management (GLAM) projects. Lead the direct reports including External Workers (EWs), onboarding the EWs, and ensuring the direct reports’ adherence to client’s training requirements.
•    Represent Plant Automation team during the development of project plan, business case, and cost estimates in partnership with key customers and stakeholders – ATO MCS Plant Operations, Engineering, Operations Information Systems (OIS), Global Construction Project Management (GCPM), and provide necessary support to obtain funding approval.
•    Based on project scope, work with OIS to estimate manhours and required resources
•    Represent Plant Automation team and participate in the preparation and implementation of detailed design, scope, schedule in partnership with Engineering and GCPM.
•    Represent Plant Automation team during the project implementation of new automation solutions including DeltaV Distributed Control System (DCS), Rockwell Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems (SCADA) related hardware, software, network infrastructure, and electronic Rt-reporting scope across various projects.
•    Represent Plant Automation team during the post-implementation activities including operationalization of the new assets by extending hyper-care support, training the System Owners, and Manufacturing team, revising the SOPs, and training documents, delivering spare parts list, updating Maximo assets and client’s CMDB systems.
•    Ensure compliance to client’s Engineering and Operational standards, specifications, and procedures as applicable during the project design and implementation.
•    Represent Plant Automation team and support functional area projects focused on improving process equipment/utilities/facilities -to- large/sophisticated capital projects to integrate new drug substance and drug product manufacturing technologies into clinical/commercial facility.
•    As applicable to the capital project scope, represent Plant Automation team and support new continuous improvements by performing automation engineering assessments, implementing automation system configuration changes, and supporting engineering and process qualification runs.
•    Support a safe working environment by complying with all pertinent environmental health/safety practice, rules, and regulations.

Basic Qualifications:
•    Doctorate degree and 2 years of experience OR
•    Master degree and 6 years of experience OR
•    Bachelor degree and 8 years of experience OR
•    Associate degree and 10 years of experience OR
•    High school diploma / GED and 12 years of experience

Red Flags:
•    Lack of GMP Experience
•    Lack of Automation background

Interview Process:
Up to 3 interviews. Available to start interviewing from 01/06/25. Initially on a call, potential face to face for final interview

We invite qualified candidates to send your resume to resumes@3keyconsulting.com.  If you decide that you’re not interested in pursuing this particular position, please feel free to take a look at the other positions on our website www.3keyconsulting.com/careers. You are also welcome to share this opportunity with anyone you think might be interested in applying for this role.