Equipment Automation Engineer
First seen by Alion on Oct 2, 2026. SIRE Life Sciences scores B on the Alion truth index.
Company
A leading global organization in the life sciences sector is expanding its manufacturing operations in the Netherlands. The site works in a highly regulated environment, with a strong focus on quality, compliance, and continuous improvement. The organization is investing in new and upgraded production and packaging equipment and is strengthening its engineering capabilities to support long-term operational readiness.
Job Description
For a production site in Breda, we are looking for an Equipment Automation Engineer to support the automation scope of new and upgraded manufacturing equipment. The Equipment Automation Engineer (Packaging & Inspection) will take ownership of automation deliverables across the full equipment lifecycle-design, installation, commissioning, and ongoing support-working closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and external equipment suppliers.
Responsibilities
- Leading automation activities for equipment projects in Device Assembly, Inspection, Labelling, and Packaging areas
- Writing and/or reviewing key automation and engineering documentation (e.g., URS, FDS, HDS, SDS)
- Supporting installation, testing, commissioning, and qualification activities (including vendor testing phases where needed)
- Ensuring systems align with site and network security requirements (e.g., domain settings, firewall considerations)
- Implementing internal automation standards for both hardware and software
- Installing required monitoring tools and supporting data integrity assessments
- Performing or supporting automation preventive maintenance assessments
- Advising on automation spare parts and contributing to asset spare parts lists
- Creating, testing, and maintaining backup/restore procedures and work instructions for configurable components
- Creating parameter management and audit trail review work instructions
- Creating and updating Asset Parameter Lists (APLs)
- Supporting integration to a PI data historian (or similar data platform)
- Training maintenance/engineering teams and relevant operators on automation-related topics
- Providing “hypercare” support on the shop floor after implementation as required
- Providing progress updates and reporting to (project) management and key stakeholders
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Industrial Automation Engineering, Industrial Information Systems, or similar
- At least 5 years’ experience delivering automation / process control / information systems support in a regulated manufacturing environment (biotech, pharma, or similar)
- Proven experience running workstreams independently within cross-functional project teams
- Experience with labelling and packaging equipment is essential
- Working knowledge of industrial automation technologies such as PLC, HMI, SCADA, industrial - PCs, and vision systems (e.g., Cognex)
- Strong understanding of working in regulated environments (e.g., GMP)
- Fluent in English (written and spoken)
- Willingness to occasionally work outside office hours when project activities require it
Other Information
This position is based on-site in Breda, the Netherlands, and offers the opportunity to contribute to high-impact equipment projects within a modern, regulated production environment.
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