Staff Automation Engineer

Work Schedule

First Shift (Days)

Environmental Conditions

Able to lift 40 lbs. without assistance, Adherence to all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Safety Standards, Cleanroom: no hair products, jewelry, makeup, nail polish, perfume, exposed piercings, facial hair etc... allowed, Cold Room/Freezers -22degreesF/-6degrees C, Laboratory Setting, Loud Noises (Equipment/Machinery), Office, Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.), Strong Odors (chemical, lubricants, biological products etc.)

As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.

DESCRIPTION:
Join our team as a Staff Engineer, Systems Design at Thermo Fisher Scientific, is a senior technical leader responsible for architecting, designing, and overseeing complex automation systems across product development, bioprocessing platforms, laboratory automation, and/or manufacturing environments. This role drives end-to-end system design from requirements definition through deployment and lifecycle support, ensuring scalable, compliant, and high-performance automation solutions.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in distributed control systems, batch automation, and PLC-based controls with strong systems engineering discipline and cross-functional leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

System Architecture & Design

• Lead the design and development of complex automation systems including DCS, PLC, supervisory control, and software-integrated platforms.
• Architect integrated solutions involving DeltaV, Unicorn, KFCOM, and PLC-based control systems.
• Design systems aligned with ISA-88 (S88) batch control standards and ISA-95 (S95) enterprise-control integration models.
• Define system architecture, interface specifications, equipment models, data flows, and control strategies.
• Translate product, process, and business requirements into scalable and standardized automation solutions.

Batch Control & Standards Implementation:

• Design and implement batch control strategies, including equipment modules, control modules, phases, operations, and recipes in accordance with ISA-88.
• Ensure proper separation of procedural and physical models.
• Support integration of manufacturing execution systems (MES) and higher-level business systems in alignment with ISA-95.
• Lead recipe design, batch sequencing, exception handling, and state management strategies.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, 21 CFR Part 11, and data integrity standards in batch environments.

Platform & Controls Expertise

• Provide hands-on and architectural leadership in:
• Emerson DeltaV DCS
• Cytiva Unicorn platform
• KFCOM communication framework
• Industrial PLC systems (Rockwell, Siemens, Beckhoff, etc.)
• Oversee system integration between process equipment, chromatography systems, skids, sensors, actuators, MES, and supervisory software.
• Ensure robust communication using OPC-UA, Modbus, Ethernet/IP, Profinet, and related protocols.
• Support alarm management, historian integration, and data contextualization.

Technical Leadership

• Serve as the subject matter expert for automation system design and batch architecture.
• Lead cross-functional design reviews and ensure adherence to automation standards.
• Mentor engineers in S88 modeling, structured programming, and scalable architecture practices.
• Drive standardization of automation frameworks across platforms.

Compliance & Validation

• Ensure systems meet applicable regulatory and industry standards (GMP, FDA, GAMP 5).
• Support validation efforts including IQ/OQ/PQ and computerized system validation (CSV).
• Conduct risk assessments (FMEA, hazard analysis) and ensure functional safety and cybersecurity compliance.

Project Execution & Integration

• Lead technical execution of complex, multi-system automation projects.
• Define automation roadmaps and platform standardization strategies.
• Support commissioning, startup, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis.
• Collaborate closely with product management, quality, manufacturing, and external partners.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Advanced Degree plus 6 years of experience, or Bachelor's Degree plus 8 years of experience in systems engineering, product development, and technical leadership for complex scientific instrumentation
• Preferred Fields of Study: Engineering, Physics, Computer Science or related technical field
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and implementing collaborative solutions within project schedules
• Strong analytical skills with ability to perform statistical analysis, DOE, FMEA, and root cause analysis
• Experience with verification and validation planning, test development, and systems integration
• Demonstrated expertise in architecting and designing complex electro-mechanical systems
• Project management abilities to coordinate cross-functional teams and deliver on schedule
• Strong communication skills to effectively present technical concepts to diverse audiences
• Experience mentoring engineers and providing technical leadership
• Knowledge of quality systems and regulatory requirements for scientific instruments
• Experience with agile development methodologies preferred
• Ability to travel up to 20% as needed
• Strong problem-solving capabilities and attention to detail
• Interpersonal skills and ability to influence through collaboration
• Strong experience designing and implementing batch control systems aligned with ISA-88 (S88).
• Working knowledge of ISA-95 (S95) enterprise integration frameworks.
• Experience integrating DCS, PLC, and MES systems.
• Proven ability to architect complex, multi-platform automation environments.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range estimated for this position based in Massachusetts is $118,600.00–$177,800.00.

This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:

• A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs

• Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement

• At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy

• Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan

• Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount

For more information on our benefits, please visit: