Principal Automation Engineer

The Position

As part of the Site Operations organization, the Principal Automation Engineer is a member of the Site Automation team that provides technical ownership & support of a wide range of automation systems owned and supported by Site Services at Genentech’s South San Francisco (SSF) and Dixon sites. This role is part of a team that is responsible for the installation, troubleshooting and maintenance of automation infrastructure across a portfolio of 50+ buildings and ~6 million square feet of mixed use space. This role also provides strategic input in the design & planning of campus automation systems, leads communications with key customers and cross-functional partners, and directly supports capital projects, business initiatives, process improvements and regulatory inspections. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong expertise in Rockwell Automation controls platforms, communication protocols (MQTT, BacNet) and Aveeva PI.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Act as Technical System Owner (TSO) for a wide range of building automation platforms, and process control systems.
• This includes Rockwell FactoryTalk SCADA, Building Automation (Siemens Desigo CC), data historian (Aveeva PI), server infrastructure and other GMP assets.
• Identify and resolve hardware and software application issues; manage change control.
• Manage server infrastructure including system patching, operating procedures, and system manuals.
• Customer Support: Work closely with Site Operations customers to proactively identify and address customer needs and provide essential support in a 24×7 environment. (SSF & Dixon)
• Technical leader who influences cross-functional teams on long-term objectives and key strategic initiatives specific to design, system performance
• Next generation smart technologies & automated solutions
• Establish work priorities and timelines under limited supervision.
• Developing and managing vendor-partner relationships, support contracts & vendor resources
• Act as a mentor to develop peers and junior engineers.

Who You Are:

• You have over 10+ years of proven track record in control system design, automation, and integration within research and manufacturing environments
• Bachelor’s or Masters in Engineering such as Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical or equivalent preferred.
• Your exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills set you apart, and you’re a pro at managing multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
• Experience working with systems integrators in the design and build of control systems.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, including equipment/instrument troubleshooting.
• Strong aptitude for learning new technologies related to digital environments & data management
• You excel at working within a team and collaborating with internal customers, team members, and external vendors.
• Strong hands-on technical experience in the following areas is required:
  • PLC/SCADA: Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 & FactoryTalk, Siemens Simatic
  • Data Systems: Aveeva PI, Asset Framework, PI Connectors and Kepware OPC
• Experience in the following areas is a plus:
  • Siemens Desigo CC and ALC WebCTRL.
  • IIS Web Application Configuration
  • Windows server management, database technologies, active directory & group policies with respect to Operational Technologies (OT).
• You are continuously seeking improvement through methodologies such as LEAN/Six Sigma.
• Good understanding of cGMP regulations and Good Engineering Practices (GEP).