Location: Kundl, Austria; 12 days/month in office
Internal job title: Senior Engineer (DCS, PLC)
About The Role The ITOT Team in Kundl is looking for a Senior Engineer (DCS, PLC) to lead ITOT automation across manufacturing, laboratories and supply chain operations and multiple production areas at site level, with end‑to‑end accountability for DCS/PLC systems across multiple production areas. The role will be responsible for ensuring system availability, GMP/HSE compliance and lifecycle management of automation solutions, driving and executing automation projects and technical changes aligned with site strategy and investment roadmap, leading and developing a team of automation engineers/technicians and fostering a high‑performance culture, and acting as a key interface between ITOT, production, quality and global stakeholders to deliver reliable and compliant operations. This role will play a critical role in driving digitalization, continuous improvement and leading change initiatives at site level.
Key Responsibilities
ITOT System Ownership & Operations: Own DCS/PLC systems across assigned production areas (end‑to‑end accountability), ensure system availability, reliability and lifecycle management, plan and coordinate maintenance, calibration and technical changes, ensure compliance with GMP, HSE and regulatory requirements, and maintain and continuously improve documentation, standards and procedures.
Project Management & Technical Delivery: Lead and execute automation projects (CapEx & OpEx) across site, manage full project lifecycle: scope, design, approval, implementation and handover, ensure delivery within budget, timeline and quality targets, coordinate internal and external resources (engineering, vendors, contractors), drive implementation of state‑of‑the‑art and standardized automation solutions.
Leadership & People Management: Lead a team of automation engineers/technicians, focusing on developing team capabilities in DCS/PLC, digitalization and compliance, driving performance management, coaching and talent development, fostering a strong collaboration across ITOT, production, QA and engineering, and building a high‑performing, accountable and solution‑oriented team.
Compliance, Quality & Audit Readiness: Ensure full compliance with GMP, HSE and regulatory standards, support audits and inspections and ensure timely resolution of findings, identify and mitigate compliance risks in automation systems, ensure proper qualification and validation of systems.
Continuous Improvement & Digitalization: Drive automation and digital transformation initiatives at site level, identify optimization opportunities (availability, efficiency, cost), implement best practices and global ITOT standards, contribute to site strategy and long‑term investment planning, lead and drive change initiatives within automation and operations.
Essential Requirements
7+ years experience in automation (DCS/PLC), preferably in a GMP‑regulated environment, and 3+ years experience leading teams
Strong automation project management experience
Strong technical expertise in automation systems in ITOT environments
Strong understanding of system lifecycle management, qualification and validation
Demonstrated leadership experience in technical teams and cross‑functional organisations, with strong cross‑functional collaboration skills as well as stakeholder management skills
Strong expertise in Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and/or PLC‑based automation systems, (preferably Emerson DeltaV, Siemens PCS 7, or equivalent process control platforms)
PLC Engineering & Industrial Automation – experience with PLC programming, troubleshooting, and lifecycle management in manufacturing environments
Automation Project Management – demonstrated track record in leading automation projects, system upgrades and technical implementations
Technical Leadership & People Management – experience leading technical teams, developing talent, with proven ability to lead organisational and technical change initiatives in complex manufacturing environments.
Excellent communication skills, with fluency in both English & German
Desirable Requirements
Experience working in pharmaceutical manufacturing
Expertise in GMP compliance, qualification & validation, experience in regulated industries, including qualification, validation and audit readiness is strongly preferred
What You Will Receive In addition to a market‑competitive base salary, we offer an attractive incentive program, a modern company pension scheme, childcare facilities, learning and development opportunities as well as worldwide career possibilities within the Novartis group. In accordance with Austrian law, we are obliged to disclose the minimum salary as stated in the collective bargaining agreement. For this position the minimum gross salary is €65,605.54 EUR/year (on a full‑time basis). We also offer a potential market‑oriented excess payment in line with your experience and qualifications.
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Internal job title: Senior Engineer (DCS, PLC)
About The Role The ITOT Team in Kundl is looking for a Senior Engineer (DCS, PLC) to lead ITOT automation across manufacturing, laboratories and supply chain operations and multiple production areas at site level, with end‑to‑end accountability for DCS/PLC systems across multiple production areas. The role will be responsible for ensuring system availability, GMP/HSE compliance and lifecycle management of automation solutions, driving and executing automation projects and technical changes aligned with site strategy and investment roadmap, leading and developing a team of automation engineers/technicians and fostering a high‑performance culture, and acting as a key interface between ITOT, production, quality and global stakeholders to deliver reliable and compliant operations. This role will play a critical role in driving digitalization, continuous improvement and leading change initiatives at site level.
Key Responsibilities
ITOT System Ownership & Operations: Own DCS/PLC systems across assigned production areas (end‑to‑end accountability), ensure system availability, reliability and lifecycle management, plan and coordinate maintenance, calibration and technical changes, ensure compliance with GMP, HSE and regulatory requirements, and maintain and continuously improve documentation, standards and procedures.
Project Management & Technical Delivery: Lead and execute automation projects (CapEx & OpEx) across site, manage full project lifecycle: scope, design, approval, implementation and handover, ensure delivery within budget, timeline and quality targets, coordinate internal and external resources (engineering, vendors, contractors), drive implementation of state‑of‑the‑art and standardized automation solutions.
Leadership & People Management: Lead a team of automation engineers/technicians, focusing on developing team capabilities in DCS/PLC, digitalization and compliance, driving performance management, coaching and talent development, fostering a strong collaboration across ITOT, production, QA and engineering, and building a high‑performing, accountable and solution‑oriented team.
Compliance, Quality & Audit Readiness: Ensure full compliance with GMP, HSE and regulatory standards, support audits and inspections and ensure timely resolution of findings, identify and mitigate compliance risks in automation systems, ensure proper qualification and validation of systems.
Continuous Improvement & Digitalization: Drive automation and digital transformation initiatives at site level, identify optimization opportunities (availability, efficiency, cost), implement best practices and global ITOT standards, contribute to site strategy and long‑term investment planning, lead and drive change initiatives within automation and operations.
Essential Requirements
7+ years experience in automation (DCS/PLC), preferably in a GMP‑regulated environment, and 3+ years experience leading teams
Strong automation project management experience
Strong technical expertise in automation systems in ITOT environments
Strong understanding of system lifecycle management, qualification and validation
Demonstrated leadership experience in technical teams and cross‑functional organisations, with strong cross‑functional collaboration skills as well as stakeholder management skills
Strong expertise in Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and/or PLC‑based automation systems, (preferably Emerson DeltaV, Siemens PCS 7, or equivalent process control platforms)
PLC Engineering & Industrial Automation – experience with PLC programming, troubleshooting, and lifecycle management in manufacturing environments
Automation Project Management – demonstrated track record in leading automation projects, system upgrades and technical implementations
Technical Leadership & People Management – experience leading technical teams, developing talent, with proven ability to lead organisational and technical change initiatives in complex manufacturing environments.
Excellent communication skills, with fluency in both English & German
Desirable Requirements
Experience working in pharmaceutical manufacturing
Expertise in GMP compliance, qualification & validation, experience in regulated industries, including qualification, validation and audit readiness is strongly preferred
What You Will Receive In addition to a market‑competitive base salary, we offer an attractive incentive program, a modern company pension scheme, childcare facilities, learning and development opportunities as well as worldwide career possibilities within the Novartis group. In accordance with Austrian law, we are obliged to disclose the minimum salary as stated in the collective bargaining agreement. For this position the minimum gross salary is €65,605.54 EUR/year (on a full‑time basis). We also offer a potential market‑oriented excess payment in line with your experience and qualifications.
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