Senior Automation Engineer (Digital)

Celebrating 20 years of innovation - Discover how we've been a catalyst for regional growth and UK innovation for over two decades in CPI's Annual Review 2023-2024.

£41,000 - £51,200 per annum - dependent on experience

Employment

Full-time - Permanent

Team

Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre

CPI helps make great ideas and inventions a reality. We’re a team of intelligent people using advances in science and technology to solve the biggest global challenges in healthcare and sustainability.

Through our incredible people and innovation infrastructure, we collaborate with our partners in industry, academia, government, and the investment community to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative products.

From health technologies and pharmaceuticals to sustainable food and materials innovations, we turn the entrepreneurial spirit and radical thinking of our people and partners into incredible impact that makes our world a better place.

Why this role is important for CPI’s work

CPI has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Engineer – Automation to join our innovative team, delivering cutting-edge digital automation projects at the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC) and the Oligonucleotide Manufacturing Innovation Centre of Excellence (OMICE).

This role will play a crucial part in maintaining and optimizing process automation systems for Grand Challenge 2 — a fully digital oral solid dose filling line designed for clinical trial supply. Additionally, the Senior Engineer will contribute technical expertise to review design documentation for the construction of OMICE, a new facility focused on oligonucleotide manufacturing.

As a Senior Engineer – Automation, you will provide technical leadership in maintaining, operating, and troubleshooting an advanced automation platform. You will be a subject matter expert in automation, ensuring seamless integration of digital manufacturing approaches beyond traditional automation boundaries. Your contributions will support system reliability, performance optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives within GMP-regulated environments.

Working under the technical supervision of your line manager and senior technical colleagues, you will ensure regulatory compliance, system validation, and effective automation strategies that align with MMIC’s innovation goals.

Key Responsibilities

Key tasks in the Senior Engineer role will include (but are not limited to the below), please download the job description for full details available on the CPI careers page:

• System Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Responsible for maintaining, operating, and optimizing the novel automation platform in production. Identify and resolve bugs, operational issues, and inefficiencies to ensure uninterrupted system performance.
• Automation Strategy Implementation: Translate the Automation for Pharma strategy into practical deliverables within the Operational Technology (OT) team to meet business objectives.
• Compliance & Documentation: Ensure full compliance with Safety, Health, and Environmental (SHE) regulations, GMP standards, and best practices. Maintain clear and documented records of technical data, validation master plans, and experimental testing plans within the MMIC GMP framework.
• Technical Leadership: Act as a recognized authority in automation, providing expert solutions to development and improvement initiatives. Support the design review process for OMICE and contribute to the integration of digital manufacturing technologies.
• Innovation & Future Development: Identify and evaluate new technical trends, translating them into opportunities for technological innovation and process improvements.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, customers, research organizations, and regulatory authorities to represent CPI as a credible automation expert.
• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: Actively coach, mentor, and support colleagues across the organization, fostering a culture of continuous development and technical excellence.
• Continuous Learning: Stay up to date with emerging technologies, legislative changes, and best practices in automation, ensuring CPI remains at the forefront of innovation.

Direct Reports

This role does not have direct reports, but the Senior Engineer will provide mentorship and technical guidance across the team.

The person we are seeking

• Are educated to HNC or Foundation Degree level (or equivalent) in a relevant Scientific/Engineering discipline plus significant industrial experience. Ideally, you are educated to Degree level (or equivalent) in a Scientific/Engineering discipline plus relevant industrial experience, or educated to Master Degree or PhD level (or equivalent) in a related discipline.
• Significant technical expertise in automation and data integration approaches.
• Can evidence complex technical problem-solving.
• Have in-depth technical and theoretical knowledge in automation, recognized as an authority by peers and managers.
• Have experience in building knowledge sharing and network building practices across teams and organizations.

It would be great if you also had:

• An active membership in a professional body.
• Experience using Siemens TIA Portal.
• Knowledge of IEC 61131 – 3 programming languages.
• Knowledge and experience of applying a GAMP 5 approach to GxP Computerised System Validation.
• Knowledge of functional safety systems within automated machinery.
• Chartered/registered status with a relevant professional institution.
• Have industrial experience within a GMP environment.

What does CPI offer you?

At CPI, we offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, this includes:

• Up to 36 days holiday, including bank holidays – Plus a holiday purchasing scheme
• Life assurance and accident insurance schemes

CPI is an organisation based in the UK. Commencement of employment is conditional to demonstrating right to work in the UK, sponsorship may be available.