Senior Level Pharmaceutical Jobs
Senior level pharmaceutical jobs put seasoned professionals in charge of drug development programs, regulatory strategy, and the cross-functional teams that bring therapies from pipeline to market. Roles are concentrated in Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, Manufacturing, and Science & Research, with a mix of on-site, hybrid, and remote opportunities, and employers like Alcon, Alcami, and Cytiva hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 9+ Senior Level Pharmaceutical jobs
Sr. Pharmaceutical Automation Engineer
Onsite 5 days per week 11810 Clayton, NC
Duration: 12 months
WebEx and Onsite Interview
Summary
We are seeking an experienced Senior Pharmaceutical Automation Engineer to support the implementation, commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational readiness of automated manufacturing systems for a major Fill Finish Expansion (FFEx) project within a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. This role will provide technical automation support across multiple production and packaging systems, ensuring automation platforms are installed, tested, validated, and transitioned into reliable manufacturing operations while meeting FDA, cGMP, GAMP 5, and corporate quality standards. The ideal candidate possesses strong PLC, SCADA, MES, and pharmaceutical manufacturing automation experience with demonstrated success supporting highly automated production environments.
Primary Responsibilities
- Provide automation engineering support for pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging equipment throughout installation, commissioning, qualification, startup, and production support.
- Troubleshoot and resolve automation-related issues impacting manufacturing operations.
- Support Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), Commissioning, Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), and Performance Qualification (PQ) activities.
- Review, troubleshoot, and modify PLC, HMI, SCADA, MES, and industrial network configurations as required.
- Coordinate automation activities with engineering, validation, manufacturing, quality assurance, vendors, and system integrators.
- Support change controls, deviations, CAPAs, and root cause investigations related to automation systems.
- Participate in startup planning and execution while minimizing production downtime.
- Develop and maintain automation documentation including:
- Functional Specifications
- Design Specifications
- Software Change Documentation
- Test Protocols
- SOPs
- System Configuration Documentation
- Assist in cybersecurity, backup, disaster recovery, and system lifecycle management.
- Ensure automation systems comply with FDA 21 CFR Part 11, cGMP, GAMP 5, and data integrity requirements.
- Support long-term reliability improvements and continuous process optimization.
Manufacturing Equipment Supported
The Automation Engineer will support automation systems associated with highly automated pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging equipment including:
- Assembly Operations FlexTouch (FxT) Assembly Lines
- Mikron Assembly FlexCells
- Mikron Handling Units
- HUGP - Good Pen
- HUMM - Motor Module
- HUSA - Sub Assembly
- Automated Palletizer
- SDD Assembly Line
- Cell 10 & 20 - Load SU/FA & Laser Mark
- Cell 30 & 35 - Load Syringe
- Cell 38 & 40 - Device Assembly
- Cell 50 - Load RA
Packaging Operations
Support multi-vendor automated packaging equipment including:
- Pester Depalletizer
- Bausch + Stroebel Labeler
- Fargo (Koerber) Transfer Unit
- Dividella Cartoner
- Robomat NeedlePak
- Uhlmann Unit Serialization Platform (USP)
- Uhlmann Track & Trace
- Pester End-of-Line Palletizer
Automation Systems
Candidates should have experience with several of the following technologies:
PLC Platforms
- Schneider Electric
- B&R Automation
- Allen-Bradley ControlLogix
- Siemens PLCs
SCADA HMI
- FactoryTalk View
- FactoryTalk Services
- SCADA troubleshooting
- Industrial HMI development
Manufacturing Systems
- PAS-X Manufacturing Execution System (MES)
- Historian systems
- SQL Server
- AVEVA PI System
Vision Systems
- Cognex
- Keyence
- Vision Automation
Serialization
- Uhlmann Track & Trace
- Pharmaceutical serialization systems
Infrastructure
- ThinManager
- Octoplant
- Industrial Ethernet networks
- Virtualized automation environments
- Windows Server administration (automation-related)
Sr. Pharmaceutical Automation Engineer
Onsite 5 days per week 11810 Clayton, NC
Duration: 12 months
WebEx and Onsite Interview
Summary
We are seeking an experienced Senior Pharmaceutical Automation Engineer to support the implementation, commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational readiness of automated manufacturing systems for a major Fill Finish Expansion (FFEx) project within a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. This role will provide technical automation support across multiple production and packaging systems, ensuring automation platforms are installed, tested, validated, and transitioned into reliable manufacturing operations while meeting FDA, cGMP, GAMP 5, and corporate quality standards. The ideal candidate possesses strong PLC, SCADA, MES, and pharmaceutical manufacturing automation experience with demonstrated success supporting highly automated production environments.
Primary Responsibilities
- Provide automation engineering support for pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging equipment throughout installation, commissioning, qualification, startup, and production support.
- Troubleshoot and resolve automation-related issues impacting manufacturing operations.
- Support Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), Commissioning, Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), and Performance Qualification (PQ) activities.
- Review, troubleshoot, and modify PLC, HMI, SCADA, MES, and industrial network configurations as required.
- Coordinate automation activities with engineering, validation, manufacturing, quality assurance, vendors, and system integrators.
- Support change controls, deviations, CAPAs, and root cause investigations related to automation systems.
- Participate in startup planning and execution while minimizing production downtime.
- Develop and maintain automation documentation including:
- Functional Specifications
- Design Specifications
- Software Change Documentation
- Test Protocols
- SOPs
- System Configuration Documentation
- Assist in cybersecurity, backup, disaster recovery, and system lifecycle management.
- Ensure automation systems comply with FDA 21 CFR Part 11, cGMP, GAMP 5, and data integrity requirements.
- Support long-term reliability improvements and continuous process optimization.
Manufacturing Equipment Supported
The Automation Engineer will support automation systems associated with highly automated pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging equipment including:
- Assembly Operations FlexTouch (FxT) Assembly Lines
- Mikron Assembly FlexCells
- Mikron Handling Units
- HUGP - Good Pen
- HUMM - Motor Module
- HUSA - Sub Assembly
- Automated Palletizer
- SDD Assembly Line
- Cell 10 & 20 - Load SU/FA & Laser Mark
- Cell 30 & 35 - Load Syringe
- Cell 38 & 40 - Device Assembly
- Cell 50 - Load RA
Packaging Operations
Support multi-vendor automated packaging equipment including:
- Pester Depalletizer
- Bausch + Stroebel Labeler
- Fargo (Koerber) Transfer Unit
- Dividella Cartoner
- Robomat NeedlePak
- Uhlmann Unit Serialization Platform (USP)
- Uhlmann Track & Trace
- Pester End-of-Line Palletizer
Automation Systems
Candidates should have experience with several of the following technologies:
PLC Platforms
- Schneider Electric
- B&R Automation
- Allen-Bradley ControlLogix
- Siemens PLCs
SCADA HMI
- FactoryTalk View
- FactoryTalk Services
- SCADA troubleshooting
- Industrial HMI development
Manufacturing Systems
- PAS-X Manufacturing Execution System (MES)
- Historian systems
- SQL Server
- AVEVA PI System
Vision Systems
- Cognex
- Keyence
- Vision Automation
Serialization
- Uhlmann Track & Trace
- Pharmaceutical serialization systems
Infrastructure
- ThinManager
- Octoplant
- Industrial Ethernet networks
- Virtualized automation environments
- Windows Server administration (automation-related)
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Manufacturing
- Science & Research
- Technology & Software
Senior Level Pharmaceutical Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level pharmaceutical job?
Employers hiring at the senior level look for candidates who have owned significant outcomes, not just contributed to them. That means leading regulatory submissions, managing clinical programs, or directing manufacturing operations end to end. A strong application at this stage highlights decisions you made, results you drove, and how you developed the people around you. Depth in a specific therapeutic area or function tends to differentiate candidates more than breadth alone.
Which companies hire senior level pharmaceuticals?
Companies hiring senior level pharmaceuticals right now include Alcon, Alcami, and Cytiva, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Hiring at this level covers large integrated pharma companies, specialty biotechs, and contract research and manufacturing organizations that need experienced professionals to lead high-stakes programs.
Are there remote senior level pharmaceutical jobs?
Yes, though availability varies by function. About 14% of senior level pharmaceutical openings are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with roles in regulatory affairs, medical writing, pharmacovigilance, and market access most likely to offer location flexibility. Laboratory, manufacturing, and clinical site roles typically require on-site presence.
What makes a pharmaceutical role senior level?
Senior level pharmaceutical roles are defined by ownership and scope rather than task execution. Professionals at this stage set technical direction, make independent judgment calls on complex scientific or regulatory questions, and are accountable for program outcomes. They also mentor junior and mid-level colleagues, represent their function in cross-functional decision-making, and often manage vendor relationships or external stakeholders without day-to-day supervision.
Which industries hire the most senior level pharmaceuticals?
Senior level pharmaceutical roles concentrate in Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals, Manufacturing, and Science & Research, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they operate large, complex product pipelines that require experienced professionals to own regulatory, clinical, and commercial workstreams from strategy through execution.