Automation Jobs in Durham, NC
Automation jobs in Durham are in strong demand, concentrated in Research Triangle Park, the Chesterfield district, and the Brier Creek corridor, across advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and technology. Employers actively hiring include Novartis, BD, and ENFOS. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Summary
About the Role
Location:
- This position will be located in Durham, NC and will be an onsite role.
- Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own and evolve the site robotics strategy and multi-year automation roadmap.
- Identify and prioritize robotics opportunities across manufacturing, laboratory, warehouse, quality, and support operations.
- Lead technology assessments, POCs, pilot programs, and implementation planning.
- Develop compelling business cases demonstrating operational, financial, compliance, and productivity benefits.
- Serve as the site SME for robotics, machine vision, digital twins, and autonomous systems.
- Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, EHS, and IT/OT teams.
- Align local initiatives with global automation standards, strategies, and best practices.
- Manage relationships with technology vendors, system integrators, and engineering partners.
- Ensure solutions meet GMP, GxP, validation, cybersecurity, and FDA compliance requirements.
- Communicate roadmap progress, risks, achievements, and value realization to site leadership.
Essential Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Robotics, Automation, Mechatronics, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
- 8+ years of experience in robotics, automation, OT, manufacturing technology, or digital manufacturing.
- Proven success leading robotics, automation, or Industry 4.0 initiatives from concept through deployment.
- Experience developing technology roadmaps, business cases, and value realization strategies.
- Strong knowledge of robotics, machine vision, digital twins, autonomous systems, or advanced automation technologies.
- Experience influencing cross-functional stakeholders and driving results without direct authority.
- Knowledge of GMP, GxP, validation, FDA compliance, cybersecurity, and quality system requirements.
- Strong analytical, project management, and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Novartis Compensation and Benefit Summary:
The salary for this position is expected to range between $108,500 and $201,500 annually
The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.
Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.
US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.
#LI-Onsite
Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture
Benefits and Rewards: Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally.
Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB)
EEO Statement:
The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Accessibility & Reasonable Accommodations
The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to us.reasonableaccommodations@novartis.com or call +1(877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.
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Find Automation JobsAutomation Job Market in Durham
Who's Hiring
- Novartis103

- ENFOS26

- BD13

- IQVIA13

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
Automation Jobs in Durham: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a automation job in Durham?
The strongest path into Durham's automation market runs through its life sciences manufacturing, semiconductor, and industrial technology sectors, which cluster around Research Triangle Park and the Brier Creek area. Candidates who combine hands-on PLC or SCADA experience with familiarity in regulated manufacturing environments stand out most. Targeting employers in pharmaceutical production and contract manufacturing gives you the best concentration of open roles in this specific market.
Which companies hire automations in Durham?
Companies currently hiring automations in Durham include Novartis, BD, and ENFOS, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Durham's employer mix leans heavily toward life sciences manufacturers, advanced electronics firms, and research-driven operations with continuous-process or cleanroom environments.
Are there remote automation jobs in Durham?
Yes, though automation roles that involve hands-on equipment programming, commissioning, or on-site troubleshooting are largely on-site by nature. About 9% of automation openings tied to Durham are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those tend to be systems integration, controls design, or automation engineering roles where design and documentation work can be done off-site.
How can I get a automation job in Durham with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point in Durham is a technician or associate automation role inside one of the area's contract manufacturing or life sciences facilities, which regularly hire candidates from community college electromechanical or industrial technology programs, including those at Durham Technical Community College. Entry-level controls technician and maintenance automation roles offer lateral movement into higher-level programming positions once you build time with industrial equipment in a regulated production environment.
Which industries hire the most automations in Durham?
Durham automation roles concentrate in Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Durham's position within Research Triangle Park draws high-volume hiring from pharmaceutical manufacturers, biomanufacturing operations, and semiconductor-adjacent firms that depend on continuous process control and automated quality systems.
Related Jobs in North Carolina
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