Associate Director – Central Automation Engineering

Position

The Associate Director - Central Automation Engineering leads the Central Automation team supporting daily manufacturing operations at LKC, covering process automation systems, data historians, building management systems, and site infrastructure for parenteral filling and packaging lines. Ensures reliable and compliant control applications/systems are used in drug product manufacturing. Partners with process control and cross-functional teams to support the automation technical agenda, business priorities, and compliance objectives, collaborating with Lilly global automation and IT organizations.

Responsibilities

Administrative Leadership

• Supervise and lead the Central Automation team (performance reviews and development plans)
• Recruit, plan resources, and develop succession plans
• Manage the automation portfolio (milestones, projects, lifecycle management)
• Review/monitor financial performance and meet targets
• Manage compliance for site automation infrastructure (data historians, PLCs, HMIs, DCS, building management systems)

Operational Excellence

• Demonstrate commitment to EHS
• Track and report functional performance indicators
• Ensure the team operates in a compliant state
• Ensure filling/packaging lines use latest supported software (cybersecurity and data integrity)
• Own and ensure LKC automation cybersecurity and data integrity

Organizational Capability

• Set/reinforce rigor standards for automation work products (with consultants)
• Ensure critical assignments are completed with monitoring/reporting
• Influence LKC automation functional strategy
• Support day-to-day engineering and 3-6 month planning
• Participate in site flow leadership/management sub-teams
• Interact with regulatory agencies during inspections as needed

Basic Requirements

• Minimum B.S. in Engineering or related technical field
• Minimum 5 years in automation/process control engineering (pharma/parenteral preferred)
• Supervisory experience or demonstrated technical leadership

Additional Preferences

• Experience with automated parenteral filling/packaging equipment (PFS, filling lines, device assembly/packaging)
• Automation platform expertise (e.g., Rockwell Automation, Emerson DeltaV, data historians)
• Vendor relationship management
• CGMP knowledge in process/automation engineering
• Network across Lilly's global automation community
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills
• Strong coaching and people development skills