Senior Automation Engineer (Warehouse & AMR)

Senior Automation Engineer (Warehouse & AMR) | Wilson, North Carolina

Project: Major pharmaceutical manufacturing investment project involving automated warehousing, material handling and AMR integration

Duration: Inital 12month contract scope w/ extensions

Working Arrangement: Primarily on-site, particularly during integration, commissioning and startup.

Summary:

Blackfield Associates are seeking an experienced Senior Automation Engineer to support the delivery of a hyper-scale pharmacetucial investment project in Wilson, North Carolina.

The successful candidate will lead the integration and delivery of automated warehouse and material transport systems, combining AS/RS, WMS/WCS platforms, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and manufacturing equipment.

Working alongside Manufacturing, Warehouse Operations, IT/OT, Quality and external suppliers, you will take technical ownership of system interfaces and controls, ensuring safe, reliable and efficient material movement within a cGMP manufacturing environment.

This is an excellent opportunity to play a key role in delivering a complex automation project from design through commissioning and operational handover.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop automation requirements, functional specifications, controls architecture and system interface specifications.
• Lead integration across WMS, WCS, AS/RS, AMR fleet management and manufacturing systems, including SAP EWM and MES.
• Develop and troubleshoot PLC/HMI applications, equipment interfaces, handshakes, permissives and interlocks.
• Integrate conveyors, transfer stations, pallet washers, automatic doors and material airlocks.
• Configure and optimise AMR fleet operations, including mission priorities, traffic management, docking and charging strategies.
• Develop recovery strategies for communication failures, equipment faults, failed transfers and safety stops.
• Lead FAT, SAT, integrated commissioning and startup activities.
• Support qualification and computer system validation (CSV), ensuring traceable requirements and documented test evidence.
• Validate throughput, fleet capacity and critical material delivery requirements alongside simulation and operations teams.
• Collaborate with IT/OT and safety teams on network connectivity, cybersecurity and safe operating practices.
• Coordinate suppliers, resolve integration challenges and maintain technical documentation.
• Provide post-startup support, root cause analysis and continuous system improvement.

Required Technical Expertise:

• Industrial automation, PLC/HMI development and controls engineering.
• Automated material handling systems, including AS/RS and conveyors.
• AMR/AGV integration and fleet management systems.
• WMS/WCS platforms and manufacturing system integration.
• Industrial communication protocols, including APIs, OPC UA and Industrial Ethernet.
• PLC-controlled equipment integration, electrical drawings and interlocks.
• FAT, SAT, commissioning, troubleshooting and system handover.
• Functional specifications, test protocols and system validation.

Candidate Profile:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation, Controls, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum five years' industrial automation or controls engineering.
• Proven experience integrating automated warehouse or material handling systems, including AMR/AGV and PLC-controlled equipment.
• Hands-on PLC/HMI development and troubleshooting experience.
• Experience integrating multiple automation platforms, software systems and equipment suppliers.
• Knowledge of industrial communications, commissioning and startup.
• Experience with FAT, SAT, validation and controlled documentation.
• Strong technical coordination and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable Experience:

• Pharmaceutical or biotechnology manufacturing, including cGMP, CQV and CSV.
• SAP EWM, MES, WMS/WCS and automated warehouse integration.
• Siemens or Rockwell PLCs, SCADA, SQL or scripting.
• AMR fleet deployment, traffic management and simulation.
• Cleanroom material transfers, cold-chain requirements and IT/OT cybersecurity.