Project Manager - Engineering & Automation

Location: On-site

Contract: Until 31 December 2026

Function: Engineering

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager - Engineering & Automation to lead automation and process equipment projects within a highly regulated CAR-T manufacturing environment.

This position sits within the Engineering & Automation department and works closely with the Director and Managers of the Make Asset Management (MAM) function. The role combines technical depth in GxP-compliant automation systems with strong project leadership and stakeholder management capability.

This is a hands-on engineering project management role in a pharmaceutical/biotech setting - not a purely administrative PM position.

Key Responsibilities

Project & Portfolio Leadership

• Manage long-term planning of engineering and automation projects.
• Initiate and deliver projects aligned to departmental strategy and capacity planning.
• Own full project lifecycle (scope, budget, timeline, risk, and reporting).
• Support portfolio-level resource planning and prioritization.
• Represent engineering projects to internal MAM stakeholders and external partners.

Automation & Technical Scope

• Lead design and implementation of GxP-compliant automation systems.
• Oversee historian integration and server-hosted software for equipment connectivity.
• Manage PLC and HMI system design and deployment.
• Ensure compliance with GMP and data integrity standards.
• Resolve complex technical challenges impacting operational priorities.

Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure systems meet regulatory and validation requirements.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support knowledge management, capability development, and training of junior engineers.
• Conduct gap analyses to strengthen departmental performance.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Engineering or equivalent through experience.
• 10+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Minimum 5 years in project management or people leadership roles.
• Proven experience in automation engineering within GMP/GxP-regulated environments.
• Strong knowledge of PLC, HMI, and historian systems.
• Demonstrated stakeholder management experience in a manufacturing environment.

Preferred Experience

• Pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing background.
• Systems engineering expertise.
• Experience with qualification and validation of pharmaceutical systems.
• Exposure to advanced therapy or cell therapy manufacturing environments.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong safety and quality mindset.
• Clear and effective communicator, able to explain complex engineering concepts.
• Structured and solutions-oriented approach.
• Transparent and accountable in project execution.