Be at the heart of actionFly remote-controlled drones into enemy territory to gather vital information.

Apply Now

Engineering Automation Lead

Barnard Castle
1 week ago
Create job alert

Job Title: Engineering Automation Lead
Location: Barnard Castle, County Durham, UK
A global pharmaceutical company is seeking an experienced Engineering Automation Lead to join its advanced manufacturing site in Barnard Castle. This site plays a key role in producing medicines and vaccines for global distribution, operating at significant scale and with a strong focus on quality, safety, and innovation.
As the company continues to modernise its operations, this role will be instrumental in driving smart manufacturing technologies-including robotics, digital solutions, and artificial intelligence-to support the development and delivery of complex pharmaceutical products.
Role Overview
The Engineering Automation Lead will provide strategic direction and technical leadership to ensure the successful implementation of advanced instrumentation, automation, and control engineering across the site. This includes balancing day-to-day operational management with long-term strategic planning, all within a GMP-compliant framework.
Key Responsibilities

Develop and execute a site-wide automation strategy aligned with business objectives.
Lead and mentor a team of automation engineers and support skill development among maintenance technicians.
Design and implement automation systems including PLCs, SCADA, and DCS.
Ensure compliance with GMP and regulatory standards across all automation processes.
Deliver training programs to enhance staff proficiency in automation technologies.
Drive continuous improvement by integrating emerging technologies and industry best practices.
Provide technical support and troubleshooting to minimise downtime.
Act as a subject matter expert during regulatory inspections and audits.Required Qualifications & Experience

Degree in Automation, Control, Electrical, Mechatronic Engineering or a related discipline.
Experience in Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing within the pharmaceutical sector (Green/Black Belt desirable).
Strong technical knowledge of ISA standards (e.g. S88, S95), P&ID nomenclature, automation architecture, instrumentation, control panels, HMI, MES, SCADA, PLCs, and Historians.
Practical experience with computer system validation (GAMP), cGMPs, and 21 CFR Part 11 in an FDA-regulated environment.
Proven leadership experience with a track record of building high-performing teams and driving transformation.
Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders.
Experience in designing and programming automation applications (firmware/software).Preferred Skills

MEng/MSc in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline.
Understanding of pharmaceutical secondary processing.
Knowledge of IT architecture, data warehousing, and virtualization.
Familiarity with cybersecurity in operational technology environments.
Project management experience.
Awareness of EHS regulations related to automated plant installations.
Understanding of FDA PAT initiatives.
Experience in automation support and maintenance for instrumentation and controls.

Carbon60, Lorien & SRG - The Impellam Group STEM Portfolio are acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Electrical Controls Engineering Manager

PLC Automation Engineer

PLC Programmer / Automation Engineer

Head of Automation

Project Manager (Mech. Engineering - Automation)

Electrical Design Engineer

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Robotics Recruitment Trends 2025 (UK): What Job Seekers Need To Know About Today’s Hiring Process

Summary: UK robotics hiring has shifted from toolbox checklists to capability‑driven evaluation that emphasises deployed systems, safety, reliability and total cost of ownership. Employers want proof you can ship and sustain robots in production—industrial arms & cobots, AMRs/AGVs, field robots, surgical/med‑tech, warehouse automation, inspection & maintenance. This guide explains what’s changed, what to expect in interviews and how to prepare—especially for robotics software engineers (ROS/ROS 2), perception/vision engineers, controls & motion planners, mechatronics & embedded, safety & compliance, test/V&V, DevOps/SRE for fleets, and robotics product managers. Who this is for: Robotics software/perception/controls engineers, mechatronics & embedded, simulation & test, DevOps/SRE for robotics fleets, HRI/UX, safety/compliance, field/commissioning engineers, and product/technical programme managers in the UK.

Why Robotics Careers in the UK Are Becoming More Multidisciplinary

Robotics used to be the domain of mechanical, electrical and software engineers. In the UK today, robotics is more than motors and control loops — it’s about perception, interaction, trust, regulation and integration into human environments. That evolution means robotics careers are becoming more multidisciplinary. Modern robots interact with people, collect data, operate under constraints, and often assist in safety-critical environments (healthcare, manufacturing, transport). So engineers now collaborate closely with legal, ethical, psychological, linguistic and design experts. In this article, we explore why UK robotics careers are evolving into multidisciplinary roles, how law, ethics, psychology, linguistics & design intersect with robotics, and how job-seekers and employers can adapt to this shift.

Robotics Team Structures Explained: Who Does What in a Modern Robotics Department

Robotics is transforming manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, agriculture, entertainment and more. In the UK, advances in robotics span autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), robotic arms, surgical robotics, drone systems, human-robot interaction, and collaborative robots (cobots). Building effective robotics systems requires not only strong hardware and software, but also finely coordinated teams with clear roles from research through deployment and maintenance. If you’re a candidate applying for robotics roles or an employer hiring through RoboticsJobs.co.uk, this guide will help you understand who does what in a mature robotics department, how the lifecycle of a robotics product works, what skills and qualifications UK employers typically expect, what salaries look like, common challenges, and best practices for structuring teams that deliver.