Automation Tech Lead (Pharmaceutical or Biopharmaceutical Industry)

Role – Automation Technical Lead

In this role, you will:

• Own technical leadership across the automation project
• Act as the primary automation representative in cross-functional program leadership meetings, ensuring alignment between automation, process engineering, digital/MES, and quality teams
• Serve as the key point of contact for client stakeholders and senior leadership regarding automation scope, progress, and risk mitigation
• Collaborate with Program technical offices to ensure the automation solution is aligned with the overall program automation philosophy and standards
• Provide technical leadership to the multiple area leads working on their project for the respective area/node and ensure that applicable standards are followed
• Collaborate with project managers to define automation budgets, resource needs, and vendor engagement strategies.
• Ensure consistency of the automation deliverables (requirements, functional specifications, control strategies, phases, and recipes, etc.)
• Participate in P&ID and lead control strategy design
• Lead in defining the software components that need to be created or modified
• Communicates progress, issues, and needs to automation project manager for the entire workstream/all areas of the project
• Lead input, review, and approve of functional requirements and specifications
• Lead design of Parameter and Recipe Specification philosophy
• Respond to system integrator technical queries and provide design guidance.
• Lead and collaborate on the development of software testing strategies
• Identification of any remediation effort required on process control software
• Identify and analyze risks of technical nature particular to the area and planning responses
• Lead review and approval of functional specifications, control strategies, and software components.
• Collaborate with integrators on software testing and validation plans.
• Ensure integrator compliance with technical standards and program architecture.
• Provide technical leadership during Factory Acceptance Testing and commissioning.
• Maintain compliance with training requirements
• Provide training and support to junior engineers and other team members.
• Champion the adoption of emerging technologies, tools, and methodologies that improve automation efficiency, reliability, and maintainability.

We strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a remote position open to qualified applicants in the United States. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs.

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you’re engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.

What you need to have to be considered

• 10+ years of hands-on automation experience within the pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical industry—preferably in API/bulk manufacturing, monoclonal antibody, or bioconjugate environments.
• Proven expertise in leading Process Automation projects using the DeltaV platform, including architecture design, system configuration, testing, and deployment.
• Deep familiarity and demonstrated ownership of full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and Agile methodologies in automation projects.
• Strong understanding of ISA-88 batch control standards and GAMP guidelines.
• Clear understanding of automation compliance requirements, including GMP and validation principles.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, mentor engineers, and drive technical decision-making.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across engineering, quality, and digital/MES teams and with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders in a dynamic project environment.
• Experience with SCADA, PLCs, HMI, APIs, SQL software and other OT systems is not required but desirable.

We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role.

Salary and Other Compensation:

Applications will be accepted until October 1st, 2025.

The annual salary for this position is between $100,000 - $153,000 depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.

This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.

Benefits: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.