Principal Automation Engineer

Gateway Recruiting

Principal Automation Engineer

Portland, ME
Full Time
Paid
  • Responsibilities

    The Opportunity:

    This role is responsible for supporting manufacturing processes, quality/cost-saving initiatives, and the implementation of engineering principles while ensuring compliance with cGMP, quality, and safety standards.

    Responsibilities:

    • Responsible for building code from scratch to support equipment upgrades and automation improvements.
    • Responsible for programming and supporting manufacturing processes, including automation upgrades, quality improvements, and cost-saving initiatives.
    • Responsible for managing equipment specification, acquisition, and implementation.
    • Lead automation equipment upgrades efforts related to safety, obsolescence, and continuous improvement initiatives.
    • Evaluate machine logic, electromechanical, and process controls to troubleshoot equipment and drive resolution.
    • Mentor teams to identify the root cause of manufacturing failures using structured problem-solving.
    • Applies root cause fixes to prevent recurrence.
    • Conduct failure modes and effects analysis and evaluates manufacturing equipment risk.
    • Completes complex projects based on comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing equipment and processes.
    • Lead design of experiments, validation, completion of testing, and analysis of data.
      • Presents data to cross-functional teams.
    • Drive implementation of new methods or materials for continual improvement of quality and efficiency.
    • Analyze current equipment for process suitability and provide detailed plans for improvement.
    • Create and revise manufacturing documents, specifications, standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety instructions, validation protocols, risk assessments, procedures, and other technical documents to ensure compliant, efficient, and safe procedures.
    • Lead other engineers and technicians in developing solutions and improvements in materials, equipment, and processes as necessary, in addition to ensuring continual improvement, safety, and compliance.
    • Manage cross-functional project teams and coordinates activities.
    • Contribute to the professional development of engineers and technicians.
    • Provide training and process expertise for product processing in specific areas such as process development, tooling development, documentation, cleaning protocol, process characterization, and validation.
    • Initiate and leads resolution of Quality Incidents and CAPA.
    • Participate in teams as necessary and mentors' junior engineers and maintenance technicians to ensure continual improvement, safety, and compliance.
    • Consider safety, ergonomics, maintenance, and operator impact on manufacturing design.
    • Interact with the local Project Management Office on milestones and project status updates.
    • Participate in site strategy meetings and planning.
    • Provide expert-level judgment and consulting across other businesses and act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for applicable topics.
    • Responsible for changes made through Agile PDM.
    • Comply with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, other regulatory requirements, company policies, operating procedures, processes, and task assignments.
    • Maintain positive and cooperative communications and collaboration with all levels of employees, customers, contractors, and vendors.

    Required Qualifications:

    • Bachelor’s degree (BS) in engineering or equivalent combination of education and experience.
    • 10+ years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
    • Hands-on experience with machine logic and automation systems.
    • Mastery in the application of Lean Six Sigma principles and the DMAIC approach or a similar structured problem-solving system.
    • Proficiency in changing management principles and processes.
    • Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI, etc.).

    Preferred Qualifications:

    • Experience working in GMP, FDA, ISO, and USDA-regulated environments.
    • Experience with OEM.
    • Experience with statistical analysis software.

    Skills:

    • Innovative Thinking: Independently generates new, creative, and sometimes unconventional ideas to solve problems or improve current processes and structures while seeking feedback from managers and coworkers.
    • Multitasking: Demonstrates the ability to handle multiple tasks or responsibilities simultaneously by efficiently managing time, prioritizing tasks, and maintaining productivity across different activities.
    • Self-Motivated: Demonstrates a proactive attitude, consistently drives personal and team goals, and maintains high productivity with minimal external supervision.
    • Verbal and Written Communication: Effectively conveys ideas in both individual and group settings, adapting style and methods to suit the audience’s needs, both verbally and in writing.
    • Teamwork and Collaboration: Demonstrates professional cooperation by working harmoniously with others, being an integral part of a team, respecting others’ contributions, and aligning personal goals with those of the team.
    • Engineering Competencies
    • Materials Testing: Proficient in a variety of testing and measuring methods relating to the evaluation of properties and performance of materials used in manufacturing.
    • CAD: Proficient in computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing software for designing system layouts.
    • Fabrication Principles: Mastery in fabrication principles including CNC, lathe, milling, welding, and bolted connections.
    • Mathematical Aptitude: Mastery in mathematical concepts such as ANSI/AQL, probability, and statistics.
    • Technical Aptitude: Mastery in interpreting an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and dealing with several abstract and concrete variables.