Equipment Automation Engineer

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.