TN Visa Pharmaceutical Jobs
Pharmaceutical roles qualify for TN visa sponsorship under USMCA for Canadian and Mexican professionals with degrees in pharmacy, chemistry, or closely related sciences. Canadians can secure status at the border without a cap; Mexican nationals apply at a U.S. consulate. Your employer must confirm the role meets the specialty occupation standard.
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Get Access To All JobsSr. 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)
See all TN Visa Pharmaceutical Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding TN Visa Sponsorship in Pharmaceutical
Align your degree to the role
TN visa approval hinges on a direct match between your credential and the pharmaceutical position. A chemistry or pharmacy degree supports formulation or regulatory roles, but a biology degree alone may not satisfy CBP if the job description skews heavily toward clinical chemistry.
Target employers with regulatory affairs teams
Pharmaceutical companies with dedicated regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, or quality assurance divisions file TN petitions routinely. Identifying employers whose job postings require a specific science degree signals they understand the TN specialty occupation standard and can support your application.
Request a support letter covering SOC classification
Ask your employer to specify the Standard Occupational Classification code and degree requirement in your TN support letter. CBP officers assess specialty occupation against that criteria, and vague letters citing only 'pharmaceutical experience' draw the most requests for additional evidence.
Prepare credential documentation for Canadians at the port
Canadian nationals applying at the land border or airport must carry original transcripts, the employer support letter, and your job offer. CBP does not accept digital-only documents at primary inspection, so bring physical copies of all credential and employment records.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsoring employers
Search by pharmaceutical role and filter for employers with active TN visa sponsorship history. Migrate Mate surfaces companies already familiar with USMCA professional categories, cutting out the cold outreach to employers who have never navigated a TN filing.
Confirm Mexican national consulate appointment timing
Mexican nationals must schedule a consular interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate rather than applying at the border. Appointment availability varies significantly by location, so factor four to eight weeks of lead time into your start date negotiation with your employer.
Pharmaceutical TN Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a pharmaceutical role qualify for TN visa status?
Yes, if the position requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in pharmacy, chemistry, or a closely related life science and your credential directly matches that requirement. Roles such as pharmaceutical chemist, pharmacist, or regulatory affairs specialist commonly qualify. General sales or manufacturing operations roles without a specific degree requirement typically do not meet the specialty occupation standard CBP applies.
How does the TN visa compare to H-1B for pharmaceutical professionals?
TN offers a clear procedural advantage: Canadians can receive status at a port of entry the same day, and there is no annual lottery. H-1B visa requires petitioning USCIS months in advance and passing a random selection. For pharmaceutical professionals whose degree aligns with their role, TN is faster to obtain and easier to renew, though it does not put you on a direct path to a green card the way H-1B visa does.
What documents does your employer need to provide for a TN pharmaceutical filing?
Your employer must supply a support letter on company letterhead stating the specific job title, a description of duties, the degree field required for the position, and the duration and terms of employment. For pharmaceutical roles, the letter should reference the scientific or technical nature of the work and confirm you hold the qualifying credential. This letter is the foundation CBP or a consular officer will use to assess eligibility.
Where can Canadian and Mexican pharmaceutical professionals find TN sponsorship jobs?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for Canadian and Mexican professionals seeking TN visa sponsorship. You can search pharmaceutical roles filtered by employers with recent visa filings, so you spend your time on opportunities where the employer already has experience sponsoring work visas rather than educating hiring managers from scratch.
Can a Mexican national on TN status change pharmaceutical employers mid-year?
Yes, but the process requires a new TN filing at a U.S. consulate before you begin work with the new employer. Unlike some visa categories, TN status does not carry a portability provision that lets you start immediately upon filing. You and your new employer should account for consulate appointment lead time, which can range from a few weeks to over a month depending on the post.