The Director – Instrumentation and Automation is responsible for leading the strategic direction, design, deployment, and lifecycle management of instrumentation and automation systems across manufacturing or laboratory facilities. This role ensures the integration of reliable and compliant process controls, advanced instrumentation, and digital automation platforms to optimize quality, efficiency, and scalability.
The Director will lead multidisciplinary engineering teams, collaborate with operations, quality, and IT, and drive innovation in automation technologies including PLC/DCS systems, SCADA, robotics, and IoT.
Lead development and execution of the instrumentation and automation strategy across plants, labs, or production sites.
Oversee design, programming, and integration of PLC, DCS, SCADA, and HMI systems for new and existing processes.
Ensure instrumentation selection, calibration, and configuration meets process, regulatory, and safety requirements.
Manage cross-functional teams including automation engineers, controls specialists, and technicians.
Oversee vendor selection, system validation, FAT/SAT, commissioning, and lifecycle support for automation projects.
Ensure automation systems are aligned with GMP, GAMP5, FDA 21 CFR Part 11, and cybersecurity best practices.
Implement advanced automation solutions including IoT integration, predictive maintenance, and AI-based process optimization.
Drive standardization of instrumentation and control architectures across facilities.
Serve as automation SME for CAPEX planning, audits, expansions, and digital transformation initiatives.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, training, and cross-functional collaboration.
Automation Strategy & Governance
Define and align long-term automation vision with business and operational goals
Establish corporate standards, procedures, and templates for automation systems
Instrumentation Lifecycle Management
Oversee specification, procurement, calibration, and maintenance of sensors and transmitters (e.g., temp, pressure, flow, pH, conductivity)
Ensure metrological traceability and compliance with quality systems
Process Control Systems (PCS) & SCADA
Architect scalable PLC/DCS systems (e.g., Siemens, Rockwell, DeltaV) and SCADA platforms
Ensure reliable, secure, and performant control and monitoring infrastructure
System Validation & Compliance
Lead IQ/OQ/PQ, change control, and documentation in alignment with regulatory standards
Support data integrity, audit trails, and electronic records compliance
Digitalization & Industry 4.0
Integrate automation systems with MES, LIMS, ERP, and cloud analytics platforms
Lead initiatives in smart manufacturing, IIoT, and real-time analytics
Team Leadership & Technical Development
Build, mentor, and lead high-performing automation and instrumentation teams
Promote continuous upskilling, certification, and cross-disciplinary collaboration
Education:
Bachelor’s or Master’s in Instrumentation Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation, Control Systems, or related field
Experience:
10+ years in industrial/process automation and instrumentation roles
Minimum 5 years in a leadership role, preferably in life sciences, chemicals, oil & gas, food & beverage, or biotech sectors
Technical Expertise:
Strong knowledge of PLCs (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Schneider), DCS (DeltaV, Honeywell), SCADA (Wonderware, Ignition), and industrial communication protocols (Modbus, OPC UA, Profibus)
Deep understanding of sensor technologies, control loop tuning, and PID control
Familiarity with automation-related cybersecurity, ISA-88/95, and GAMP5
Soft Skills:
Excellent communication, vendor management, and cross-functional leadership
Strategic thinking with a strong execution mindset