Automation Engineer

Job Description

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our 35,000 employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

Organization Overview:

For 140 years, Lilly has manufactured medicines that improve people’s lives around the world. We produce our medicines using some of the most sophisticated manufacturing technologies and rigorous quality standards. Lilly Manufacturing strives for excellence in its process, standards, procedures and behaviors to develop medicines with safety first and quality always.

Lilly employees embrace Operational Excellence in everything we do, to achieve our mission of Making Medicine with Safety First & Quality Always; following our common purpose under TEAM Lilly and our Manufacturing Standards under the strict code of conduct guided by our Red Book assuring data integrity in all we do in order to deliver a reliable supply of medicine for people around the world.

Responsibilities:

The Automation Engineer is primarily responsible for the development and/or configuration of PLC/HMI codes, S88 batch recipe, historian data, historian reports, data analytics for reliable operation of manufacturing processes, and the existing automation systems, the front-line support for Building Management System (BMS), Utility and manufacturing process automation support for the Lilly New Jersey Facilities, as applicable. Will work with cross function team to troubleshoot issues for reliable operation of automation systems. Will be supporting day to day automation activities, developing data analytics tools and reports, driving appropriate GMP change control/deviation, preparing/adhering project schedules, and programming process control systems, as applicable. Will be providing technical support for daily biologics manufacturing operations and for the specification, installation, start-up and validation support of process equipment projects. As applicable, other duties include interfacing with Maintenance, IT, Engineering, and Manufacturing personnel as required to coordinate plant shutdowns, prepare, and review Operational SOP’s and Functional Requirement Specification (FRS), lead projects activities, and represent automation group in several process meetings.

Manage for Results /Strategic Planning:

• Be a Subject Matter Expert for Rockwell Automation’s PLCs and HMIs codes, S88 batch, OSI PI historian, MS SQL reporting, Thin Manager, data analytics tools (Tableau, SAS, etc.), electrical switchgears, generators, and UPS systems, as applicable.
• Provide frontline support and troubleshoot PLC and HMI codes and electrical equipment, as applicable.
• Professional experience to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Deliver professional Automation and/or Electrical support of clinical and commercial biologics manufacturing operations
• Representing Engineering on cross functional process teams, possibly for data analytics and reporting, as applicable.
• Leading equipment and process troubleshooting efforts, Root Cause Analysis, and deviation, as applicable.
• Implementing continuous improvement projects, possibly for data review/monitoring, audit trails, and electrical engineering, as applicable.
• Interacting regularly with Manufacturing, Maintenance, Process Engineers, Plant Engineering, Validation and Quality and other functions, as needed.
• Data monitoring and analysis for process improvements and issue resolution for applicable departments.
• Author, review, and approve change controls, deviation investigations, standard operating procedures (SOPs), drawings, schematics, work orders, etc.
• Identify process automation and Data Integrity knowledge gaps that impact equipment and process capability, as applicable.
• Provide engineering support and project management by:
• Maintaining and enhancing the Process Control and Building Management Systems, as applicable.
• Developing the project scope, including user requirement, design, functional specifications, and engineering drawings.
• Influencing functional groups regarding operability, technical feasibility, engineering design, maintenance, spare parts, installation/shut-down coordination, project schedule and validation/documentation requirements.
• Arranging for procurement of equipment and instrumentation required for the projects.
• Working with professional consultants and mechanical contractors to develop design and construction drawings/specifications and to implement and test the changes.
• Leading installation, start-up, commissioning and qualification activities.
• On call after hours and weekend support to the Facilities/Manufacturing to ensure continuous production.
• Keep up to date with required training. Develop expertise by attending technical seminars and training sessions.
• Grow and develop each year as an individual. Develop deep skills and knowledge. Deliver results consistently.
• Performs all job functions with adherence to company policies, in a cGMP manner, safely and ethically.

Basic Requirements:

• Have attained a B.S. or M.S. in Engineering (typically, Chemical, Electronics, Electrical, Computer Engineering).
• Demonstrate a deep technical knowledge and experience with Rockwell (PLC/HMI) Automation Systems, as applicable.
• Minimum 3 years of experience with OSI PI Historian, MS SQL database/ reporting, and Data Analytics tools, as applicable.
• Have technical knowledge and experience with data analytics tools to monitor manufacturing processes, reduce cost, data integrity (DI) compliance requirements, Electrical distribution, lighting equipment, UPS systems, and emergency generators, as applicable.
• Have technical knowledge and experience with Automation Systems, as applicable.
• Have experience with frontline support in a GMP environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Curious to learn new technology.
• Strong leadership skills, as applicable.

Additional Skills:

• Minimum 2 years industrial experience in automation field.
• Coach and mentor front-line automation engineers in aspects of fundamental automation support including automation understanding (both theoretical and practical), problem solving, project management, and automation architecture and design.
• Present and attend various Governance teams as required for technical initiatives and collaborate with other key officials and support groups around the development of process knowledge.
• Review, approve, and promote documentation of learning points, technical studies, and event investigations, and identify knowledge gaps that impact equipment and process capability.
• Utilize optimization resources and tools for automation assets monitoring and improvement.
• Provide guidance on key elements of return to service requirements for equipment after interventions, such as maintenance, and in development of test plans for Commissioning and Qualification packages and associated critical components.
• Support scope development for capital projects targeted at both short- and long-term needs and act as user representative in some cases.
• Champion the application of statistical thinking and use of data to monitor process performance and make engineering decisions.
• Ensure operational automation control systems are appropriate and implemented.
• Support development and technical analysis for large-scale initiatives (secondary loop projects) such as productivity improvements, new product introduction, capacity development, data analysis, data integrity, GMP remediation, and safety and/or environmental risk mitigation.
• Perform and promote optimization of unit operation cycle time, automation control system performance, process system improvement through condition/ metering-based monitoring.
• Proactively work on Life Cycle Management (LCM) of automation assets, reliability of automation assets, continuous improvement automation systems.
• Provide technical oversight of Asset Qualification Management for Direct Impact systems to ensure constant state of qualification and during development of equipment and process system User Requirements and related Design Review/Qualification documentation to ensure that equipment/systems are appropriate for the intended purpose.
• Possess a passion for understanding, be inquisitive to what is happening in Automation, Data Analytics, and Electrical, as applicable.
• Be self-motivated, confident, able to influence and self-directed personality with able to work independently as well as in team environment.
• Be flexible, resilient, and proactive.

Additional Information:

• Travel required (<5%).
• Lifting required, NMT 50lbs.
• Required to be on call.

Lilly is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.
As a condition of employment with Eli Lilly and Company and its subsidiaries in the United States and Puerto Rico, you must be fully COVID-19 vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination satisfactory to the company. If you would like to request an accommodation for medical or religious reasons, you may do so at [email protected].