Sr Automation Engineer
Thermo Fisher Scientific · Florence, SC
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Controls
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 8+ years
- Industry
- Pharma & life sciences
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior controls role at Thermo Fisher Scientific (pharma & life sciences) in Florence, SC. You will optimize production processes, implement new automation technologies, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
- They ask for
- 8+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- FDA / GMP, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), PLC, Automation
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in South Carolina: typical posted base $97k–$125k.
Median of the low and high ends of 8 live postings that list pay, out of 21 controls engineer openings in South Carolina, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
South Carolina plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 20 other live controls postings in South Carolina.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (8+ vs 5+)
Typical $97k–$125k, from 8 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 76%
- ✓ Automation 76%
- Root cause 38%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 38%
- Robotics 33%
- ✓ Team leadership 33%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for FDA / GMP, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific
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 does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- 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: Thermo Fisher Scientific in Florence
2 other open roles at this site.
- Process Technician I · Process · Technician
- Process Technician I- 12hr rotating shift · Process · Technician
Full description from Thermo Fisher ScientificAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Key Responsibilities
Troubleshooting & Support: Provide rotating on-call (24/7) technical support, troubleshooting, and optimization for manufacturing systems, including but not limited to: Allen-Bradley (Rockwell) family products, Emerson DeltaV, WonderWare, Honeywell, current DCS, and data historians.
- ◆System Design & Implementation: Contribute to automation and control system design; oversee contractors during implementation, commissioning, and validation of systems for both production and utility systems.
- ◆Documentation: Develop, review, and maintain documentation including, but not limited to functional design specifications (FDS), software design documentation, and validation protocols.
- ◆Compliance & Validation: Ensure all systems comply with cGMP, GAMP 5, and FDA regulatory requirements.
- ◆Project Execution: Partner with cross-functional teams (Process Engineering, Operations, Validation, Quality, IT) to execute automation projects, manage vendors, and support system upgrades and lifecycle management.
responsibilities
and mentorship of less-experienced engineers may be required.
Education
- ✓BS in Engineering, Computer Science or related Engineering/ Science field with 8 years of experience within regulated industries (pharmaceutical, medical device, or similar).
Experience
- ✓Proven experience applying S88 in an automated environment and development of control system standards aligning with S88 methodology is required.
- ✓Experience developing and supporting either Rockwell PlantPAx or Emerson DeltaV as a commercial Distributed Control System including is required.
- ✓Hands-on experience with some of a broad range of Allen-Bradley PLCs and PanelView display products is preferred.
- ✓Experience with data historian program development, configuration, and maintenance with at least one of the following historians is required: OSI (AVEVA) PI, Rockwell FTHistorian, DeltaV continuous historian is required.
- ✓Experience with virtual machine environment and hypervisor software is preferred.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions
Able to lift 40 lbs. without assistance, Office, Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.)
Job Description
Title: Senior Automation Engineer
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.
Division/Site Specific Information
Position will sit onsite at the Florence, SC site and will support the Drug Substance Division (DSD) at Thermo Fisher Scientific. This role, reporting to the Automation Manager, ensures the flawless support, maintenance, and implementation of automated systems at our Florence, South Carolina location.
Work schedule will be standard 8-5, M – F fully onsite
Discover Impactful Work
As a Senior Automation Engineer at Thermo Fisher Scientific, you will optimize production processes, implement new automation technologies, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. You'll work with cross-functional teams to ensure the efficient manufacture of high-quality products while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements. This position offers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully by enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer through innovative manufacturing solutions.
A Day in the Life
- •You will provide design, configuration, installation, and maintenance of automation software and associated hardware; including interacting with other teams as necessary.
- •Working with IT, Quality, Production, and other departments, you'll optimize existing automated processes while ensuring consistent product quality and regulatory compliance.
- •Your analytical skills and engineering expertise will help drive cost reductions, improve efficiency, and enhance manufacturing capabilities across our operations.
- •Design, configure, and troubleshoot industrial I/O systems, including sensors, actuators, and field instrumentation, ensuring accurate signal mapping and reliable integration with control systems.
Supervision
- •Leads multidisciplinary project teams and manages third-party contractors and engineering service providers as required. Supervisory
Preferred
- +Experience would include at least 5 years of hands-on experience with the Emerson DeltaV or Rockwell PlantPAx commercial Distributed Control System.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- •Experience developing and supporting either Rockwell PlantPAx or Emerson DeltaV as a commercial Distributed Control System.
- •Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and technical drawings with working knowledge of basic electrical circuits as related to I/O specification, selection and configuration
- •Exhibited knowledge of S88 batch control and configuration
- •Exhibited knowledge of batch reporting is required
- •Working knowledge of database structure including SQL Server, with experience in data queries, support, and basic database management
- •Working knowledge of IT/OT networking including managed switch, VLAN and firewall configuration and management
- •Strong knowledge of GMP and life sciences regulatory requirements.
- •Proficiency in PLC programming, HMI/SCADA systems, DCS platforms, and industrial networking.
Benefits
We offer competitive remuneration, annual incentive plan bonus, healthcare, and a range of employee benefits. Thermo Fisher Scientific offers employment with an innovative, forward-thinking organization,