Automation Engineer, Manufacturing (Evening Shift)
Elanco · Elwood, KS
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Controls
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Pharma & life sciences
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level controls role at Elanco (pharma & life sciences) in Elwood, KS. Within a GxP environment, use PLC and HMI programming software to improve existing and support new equipment under Change Control and Computer System Validation requirements.
- They ask for
- 3+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), PLC, Automation
- Day to day
- relocation help
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in Kansas: typical posted base $105k–$160k.
Median of the low and high ends of 3 live postings that list pay, out of 7 controls engineer openings in Kansas, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Kansas plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 734 other live controls postings in the US.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 5+)
Typical $97k–$141k, from 248 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Automation 74%
- ✓ PLC 68%
- Robotics 42%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 27%
- Root cause 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Controls team at Elanco
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Elanco in Elwood
11 other open roles at this site.
- Sr. Process Engineer, Manufacturing · Process · Senior
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- Quality Control Specialist, Biochemistry · Quality · Specialist
- Manufacturing Supervisor – Downstream Bioprocessing (Night Shift) · Process · Supervisor
- Process Engineer, Biologics Manufacturing · Process
Full description from ElancoAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Your Role: Automation Engineer, Manufacturing
The Automation Engineer is part of the Process Engineering Team and is responsible for providing technical support for manufacturing process controls systems. The Automation Engineer will oversee Automated Equipment networking and integration into the larger site SCADA-OT network for data retrieval and equipment management. The Automation Engineer will work with the Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering teams.
Your
Responsibilities
- ◆Support Operations and Maintenance by implementing improvements and troubleshooting electronics and process automation failures.
- ◆Work with Engineering and IT teams to find and implement improvements to the Automation SCADA/OT network, equipment, and facilities.
- ◆Lead or participate with teams consisting of Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and/or Operations to investigate process failures.
- ◆Within a GxP environment, use PLC and HMI programming software to improve existing and support new equipment under Change Control and Computer System Validation requirements.
to Succeed (minimum qualifications)
- ✓BS Engineering, or equivalent (Majors in: Electronics Engineering, Automation Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Chemical Engineering, etc.) with minimum 3 years of experience working in automation.
- ✓In lieu of BS Degree, AS with Technical School Certificate in Industrial Controls or Industrial Electrical fields with minimum 5 years experience working in automation.
- ✓Must have experience with industrial electrical controls including, but not limited to, VFDs, PLCs, HMIs, etc.
What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications)
- ✓Experience working in a regulated, GxP, manufacturing environment; prior pharmaceutical manufacturing experience preferred.
- ✓Experience with Rockwell Studio5000 and FactoryTalk View SE Distributed and Local applications and programming environment.
- ✓Experience working with historian databases, specifically Aveva PI and/or Rockwell Historian.
- ✓Familiarity with other programming software environments including Siemens TIA Portal, Mitsubishi, or Schneider PacDrive programming software also beneficial.
- ✓Experience communicating with and configuring transmitters to function with 4-20 mA, 0-10 VDC, and EtherNet/IP.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!
As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.
At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.
Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!
Additional Information
- •This role is at the Elanco Elwood Manufacturing Facility
- •This is a Monday – Friday second-shift/evening role. 4:00 P.M. to Midnight.
- •The equipment at the Elwood facility is in a cleanroom environment, which requires strict adherence to cleanroom gowning, sterility, and GxP requirements.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!
Elanco Benefits and Perks
We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:
- •Multiple relocation packages
- •8-week parental leave
- •9 Employee Resource Groups
- •Annual bonus offering
- •Flexible work arrangements
- •Up to 6% 401K matching
Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status
Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.