Automation Specialist (Contract – Onsite – Rocky Mount, NC)

A prominent client, a leader in the pharmaceutical industry, is actively seeking an Automation Specialist (Contract – Onsite – Rocky Mount, NC) to join their engineering department. This 12-month contract position, based onsite in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, is crucial for supporting innovative manufacturing processes. The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills, a strong teamwork spirit, and robust problem-solving abilities, all essential for successfully aligning with the organization’s commitment to efficiency and quality in pharmaceutical production.

Automation Specialist (Contract – Onsite – Rocky Mount, NC)

Location: Rocky Mount, NC – This is an Onsite role, requiring daily presence at the designated facility.

Employment Type: Contract

Pay Range: $35 per hour

Contract Duration: 12 Months

Industry: Engineering / Computer and Mathematical

What’s the Job? Optimizing Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Through Automation

As an Automation Specialist, you’ll be a hands-on contributor to the efficiency and reliability of critical manufacturing processes within the pharmaceutical industry. Your role involves a blend of routine maintenance, troubleshooting, system modification, and project contribution, ensuring equipment operates safely and efficiently to produce essential medicines.

• Contribute to Project Completion and Manage Time on Agreed Targets: You will actively contribute to the completion of various projects related to automation and control systems. This involves taking ownership of assigned tasks and meticulously managing your own time on agreed targets. Your ability to prioritize effectively, execute tasks diligently, and meet deadlines will be crucial for the timely delivery of engineering initiatives.
• Responsible for Routine and Preventive Maintenance: You will be directly responsible for routine and preventive maintenance work on automation equipment and systems. This involves performing scheduled inspections, calibrations, software backups, and component replacements to anticipate and prevent potential failures. Your diligence ensures that all equipment and systems operate safely and efficiently, minimizing unscheduled downtime in a 24/7 manufacturing environment where continuous operation is paramount for drug production.
• Analyze Operational Process Problems and Recommend Actions: You will systematically analyze operational process problems related to automation and control systems. This requires a keen eye for detail and strong diagnostic skills to identify deviations, inefficiencies, or malfunctions in automated sequences. Based on your analysis, you will then recommend appropriate corrective and preventative actions, proposing solutions that resolve immediate issues and prevent recurrence, thereby enhancing overall process stability and reliability.
• Modify and Install Electrical and Control Systems: You will perform hands-on work to modify and install electrical and control systems to enhance performance and resolve identified issues. This includes making adjustments to PLC programs, HMI interfaces, SCADA configurations, and associated electrical wiring or control circuits. Your ability to safely and effectively implement changes to live production systems is crucial for continuous improvement and operational adaptability in a regulated environment.
• Coordinate Activities with Production Personnel: You will proactively coordinate activities with production personnel to ensure that maintenance, modifications, or troubleshooting efforts result in minimized downtime. This requires excellent communication skills to plan interventions during optimal windows, provide clear status updates, and work collaboratively with operators and supervisors to ensure that production schedules are impacted as little as possible during automation-related work.

Required Qualifications: Your Foundation for Automation Expertise

To excel as an Automation Specialist in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, you’ll need a solid blend of technical knowledge, practical experience, and essential soft skills.

• Education and Experience Pathway: You must meet one of the following educational and experience criteria:
  • A high school diploma or GED with a minimum of 4+ years of relevant experience in automation or industrial controls; OR
  • An Associate’s degree in a related technical field with a minimum of 2+ years of experience; OR
  • A Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field with 0+ years of experience. This flexible pathway allows for various educational backgrounds supplemented by practical, hands-on experience in industrial automation.
• Familiarity with Industrial Control Systems: You must have familiarity with various industrial control systems (ICS). This includes conceptual and practical understanding of DCS (Distributed Control Systems) for complex process control, PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) for discrete control of machinery, SCADAs (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems) for monitoring and controlling industrial processes, and working knowledge of SQL Server for managing process data and historical information. Your understanding of these core ICS components is essential for navigating modern manufacturing environments.
• Troubleshooting to Root Cause and Corrective Actions: You must possess proven experience in troubleshooting issues to their root cause and effectively recommending corrective actions. This demonstrates your analytical ability to move beyond symptoms, identify the underlying problem, and propose sustainable solutions that prevent recurrence and improve system reliability.
• Good Planning, Organizing, and Time Management Skills: You are required to have good planning, organizing, and time management skills. This is crucial for managing diverse tasks, prioritizing maintenance activities, coordinating with production schedules, and ensuring that projects are completed efficiently and on time in a busy manufacturing setting.
• Ability to Read and Follow Engineering Documentation: You must have the ability to accurately read and follow complex equipment schematics, logic diagrams, and engineering drawings. This skill is fundamental for understanding control system designs, troubleshooting electrical circuits, interpreting PLC logic, and safely modifying industrial systems.

Reasons to Apply: Impact, Growth, and Mission-Driven Work

This 12-month contract opportunity as an Automation Specialist in Rocky Mount, NC, offers a compelling environment for professional growth and the chance to make a profound impact within the pharmaceutical industry.

• Opportunity to Work with a Dynamic Engineering Team: You’ll have the invaluable opportunity to work with a dynamic engineering team that is deeply committed to innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing. This fosters an atmosphere of open communication, knowledge sharing, and mutual support, allowing you to learn from experienced professionals.
• Contribute to Essential Medicines Availability: Your work will directly contribute to projects that impact the availability of essential medicines. By ensuring the efficiency and reliability of manufacturing processes, you’ll play a crucial role in bringing life-saving and health-improving drugs to patients, providing a profound sense of purpose and mission.
• Develop Skills in a Supportive and Collaborative Environment: You’ll have the chance to develop your skills in a supportive and collaborative environment. The team encourages continuous learning and provides opportunities to expand your expertise in automation technologies and pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.
• Engage in Continuous Learning and Professional Development: The organization fosters a culture of continuous learning and professional development. You’ll be encouraged to expand your technical skills, pursue certifications, and stay updated on the latest industry trends in automation and pharmaceutical production, ensuring your expertise remains cutting-edge.
• Be Part of a Mission-Driven Organization: You will be part of a truly mission-driven organization that is singularly focused on improving patient outcomes. Your daily contributions, though technical, directly align with this noble goal, providing significant meaning to your work.

Upon successful completion of a predefined waiting period, consultants are typically eligible for a comprehensive suite of benefits designed to support their well-being and financial security. These include:

• Medical and Prescription Drug Plans: Comprehensive healthcare coverage for medical services and necessary prescription medications.
• Dental Plan: Benefits covering routine dental care and essential treatments.
• Vision Plan: Coverage for eye examinations, prescription glasses, and contact lenses.
• Health Savings Account (HSA): A tax-advantaged savings account to help pay for qualified medical expenses.
• Health Flexible Spending Account (HFSA): Allows pre-tax contributions for eligible healthcare costs.
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA): Provides tax advantages for dependent care expenses.
• Supplemental Life Insurance: Options for additional life insurance coverage for enhanced financial protection.
• Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance: Income replacement benefits during periods of temporary or prolonged incapacitation due to illness or injury.
• Business Travel Insurance: Coverage for unforeseen events or emergencies that may occur during authorized business travel.
• 401(k), Plus Match: An opportunity to save for retirement with the added benefit of employer matching contributions, enhancing your long-term financial growth.
• Weekly Pay: Consistent and regular compensation provided on a weekly basis, ensuring stable financial flow throughout your contract engagement.

If this Automation Specialist role in Rocky Mount, NC, aligns with your experience in industrial control systems, your troubleshooting abilities, and your passion for contributing to the pharmaceutical industry, we encourage you to learn more about this exciting onsite contract opportunity. This is a fantastic chance to make a tangible impact on critical manufacturing processes.

Ready to optimize automation for essential medicine production?