Automation Specialist (Manufacturing Automation Systems)

About the Role

We are looking for an Automation specialist to join our Automation team in Liverpool. This is an exciting opportunity for an automation engineering professional to play a key role in supporting and improving critical manufacturing systems within a highly regulated pharmaceutical environment.

You will be responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, and enhancing automation and manufacturing data systems that support site operations. Working closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and IT teams, you will help ensure systems remain reliable, compliant, and fit for future business needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical support for manufacturing automation systems, ensuring high availability and rapid issue resolution.
• Implement hardware and software changes, upgrades, and system improvements.
• Execute automation lifecycle activities, including configuration, documentation, testing, and change control.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives, end-of-life replacement projects, and process optimisation activities.
• Act as a subject matter expert during investigations, deviations, and root cause analysis activities.
• Train and support users on automation systems and related processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver compliant and effective automation solutions.
• Promote a strong safety, quality, and compliance culture aligned with GMP requirements.
• Provide occasional out-of-hours support for critical manufacturing systems when required.

What We're Looking For

Essential Skills & Experience

• Minimum 3 years' experience in Industrial Automation, Manufacturing Systems, or Manufacturing Information Technology.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills within automated manufacturing environments.
• Experience developing, configuring, testing, or supporting automation systems.
• Experience in Industrial Automation networking, security and disaster recovery.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively both independently and within a team.

Desirable Experience

• PCS (Siemens PCS7)
• SCADA, PLC and HMI systems (Siemens WinCC, S7 PLC).
• Manufacturing system integration with IT networks and infrastructure.
• Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Awareness of MES, Data Historian, BMS, Visual Inspection & Serialization .

Qualifications

• Degree, HNC, or equivalent qualification in Automation, Electrical Engineering, Control Systems, Computer Science, or a related discipline preferred.

Different qualifications or responsibilities may apply based on local legal and/or educational requirements. Refer to local job documentation where applicable.