Sr. Spclst, Engineering

Job Description

Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, skill, and teamwork of an individual like you. To this end, we strive to create an environment of mutual respect, encouragement, and teamwork. As part of our global team, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues while developing and expanding your career.

Applications are sought for an opportunity in the Vaccine and Advanced Biotechnologies (VAX) Process R&D department, which is part of our Company's Research Labs division. The individual will support our Company's process development efforts for Vaccine programs at West Point, PA.

Vaccines and Advanced Biotechnologies (VAX) Process R&D is responsible for the development and clinical manufacturing of Drug Substance (DS) and Drug Product Intermediates (DPI) for the vaccine and advanced therapy pipeline, spanning from preclinical to commercialization stages. Our vaccines process development team develops safe, scalable, robust, cost-effective processes that enable clinical and commercial manufacture of vaccines and adjuvants across all vaccine modalities.

We are seeking an innovative, highly motivated, and experienced Senior Specialist to join us at our research and development site in West Point, PA. The candidate will be responsible for technical contributions and leadership of operation technologies (OT) and lab automation.

The job responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Contribute to development, implementation, and sustainment of operation technologies strategy to enable digital transformation of the VAX Process Research and Development labs.

• Contribute to a range of lab automation activities including, but not limited to: (1) Lead and execute the design, scope, implementation, and documentation of automation projects for the labs; (2) Provide automation support for lab equipment, instruments and automation systems; (3) Drive comprehensive management of change including safety focused code design; (4) Support integration of new instrumentation and automation systems in process labs (5) Lead ongoing maintenance and upgrades for automation systems (6) Supervise project based automation contractors.

• Collaborate with Pilot Plant automation team to cross train and evaluate new operation technologies to improve operation reliability and increase efficiency.

• Occasional travel and off hour or weekend work may be required.

The candidate should be self-motivated, well-organized, have strong problem-solving skills, and be able to think strategically.  The individual should also be adaptable, demonstrate a willingness and ability to learn new technologies.  The individual will be expected to demonstrate the ability to work both independently and as part of a team and have excellent communication skills in both verbal and written formats.  In addition to the core responsibilities outlined above, the candidate will be expected to keep careful notes, comply with all required training, and maintain a focused attention on laboratory safety.

Position Qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirement:

• BS in Engineering, Information Technology or related discipline with a minimum of 6 years’ relevant automation experience

Required Experience and Skills:

• Highly motivated with the ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic setting. 

• Strong organizational, planning, and communication skills.

• Previous automation experience supporting process development or production of pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, or vaccines. 

• Significant DeltaV, data collection, and automation integration experience

• Ability to work independently and in a cross-functional team environment

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience with manufacturing equipment, process control, tuning, networking, data analysis, and capital projects. 

• Experience with SCADA systems like Ignition, WinCC OA, Unicorn.

• Experience with Project Management Methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, etc) and Tools (MS Project, RACI, GANTT).

Required Skills:

Automation Systems, Biopharmaceuticals, Collaboration, Technical Problem-Solving

Preferred Skills:

Change Management, Working in a Fast-Paced Environment

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