Senior Automation Engineer / Project Manager

About Company:

JC Automation Corp. (JCA) was founded in 1997 with the mission of filling a gap between technology and regulatory requirements in the life science manufacturing industry. The company offers highly capable resources at an affordable cost to build solutions and execute projects in: Automation, Control Systems Integration, Information Technology, System Integration and Regulatory Compliance.

JCA is a HUBZone Certified Small Business Firm, NMSDC Certified Minority Business Enterprise, and Certified Critical Industry Supplier. It’s mission is to add value by delivering quality services & solutions on time all the time by transforming processes & technology into business advantages.

ABOUT THE ROLE

JC Automation is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer / Project Manager to support a life sciences manufacturing site in Rockville, Maryland. This role requires a strong background in industrial automation, project execution, and regulated life sciences environments, along with an innovative mindset toward the implementation and use of Artificial Intelligence within site operations.

The ideal candidate will combine technical automation expertise with project leadership skills and will be comfortable working cross-functionally with engineering, operations, quality, IT, and other site stakeholders.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Automation, Controls, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Significant professional experience in industrial automation or controls engineering.
• Experience supporting projects within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or another regulated manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated project management or project leadership experience.
• Strong understanding of automation systems, controls, commissioning, and troubleshooting.
• Experience working in GMP-regulated environments.
• Strong communication, organization, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to work onsite in Rockville, Maryland.

Preferred

• Previous experience leading automation projects at a pharmaceutical or biotechnology manufacturing site.
• Experience with digital transformation, advanced analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or AI-enabled operational solutions.
• Experience identifying and implementing innovative technologies within manufacturing or site operations.
• Familiarity with PLC, HMI, SCADA, DCS, or other industrial automation platforms.
• Experience with FAT, SAT, commissioning, startup, and system validation.
• PMP certification or equivalent project management training is a plus.

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SKILLS

Technical Skills

• Lead and support automation projects throughout the full project lifecycle, from planning through execution, commissioning, and closeout.
• Coordinate project scope, schedule, resources, risks, and key deliverables.
• Provide technical leadership for automation systems and site initiatives.
• Support troubleshooting, optimization, and continuous improvement of automation systems.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, quality, IT, and other stakeholders in a regulated life sciences environment.
• Identify opportunities for innovative use of Artificial Intelligence within manufacturing or site operations.
• Support evaluation and implementation of AI-enabled solutions where appropriate.
• Ensure automation activities comply with applicable GMP, quality, safety, and site requirements.
• Support project documentation, testing, commissioning, FAT/SAT activities, and system turnover as required.
• Communicate project status, risks, dependencies, and action items to key stakeholders.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineering team members as needed.

Soft Skills

• Logical, systematic problem-solving
• Ability to manage multiple priorities based on business needs
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration
• Availability and flexibility to support a 24/7 operation