Process Automation Engineer III, Manufacturing Engineering
Thermo Fisher Scientific · St. Louis, MO
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Controls
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Industry
- Pharma & life sciences
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
A senior controls role at Thermo Fisher Scientific (pharma & life sciences) in St. Louis, MO. You will optimize production processes, implement new technologies, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
- They ask for
- 2+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- FDA / GMP, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), PLC, Automation, MES
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · relocation help
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 26, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in Missouri: typical posted base $94k–$140k.
Median of the low and high ends of 3 live postings that list pay, out of 15 controls engineer openings in Missouri, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Missouri plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 14 other live controls postings in Missouri.
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (2+ vs 5+)
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 87%
- ✓ Automation 67%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 47%
- Root cause 47%
- Robotics 40%
- Lean 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
We found 7 people at this company and state: 6 in this kind of role, 1 recruiters. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See 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.
Write to Brian → (free) - 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 St. Louis
2 other open roles at this site · 7 people we found in controls roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific.
- Quality Engineer III · Quality · Senior
- Lead Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician
Full description from Thermo Fisher ScientificAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Work Schedule
Standard Office Hours (40/wk)
Environmental Conditions
Able to lift 40 lbs. without assistance, Adherence to all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Safety Standards, Office, Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.)
Job Description
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.
Description
As a Manufacturing Engineer III at Thermo Fisher Scientific, you will optimize production processes, implement new 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.
The Process Automation Engineer III is a key member of the site Engineering team, reporting to the Manufacturing Engineering Automation Manager. This role is responsible for supporting and enhancing the site’s Operational Technology (OT) infrastructure and automation systems used in GMP manufacturing.
You will provide technical leadership for process control systems, support manufacturing equipment reliability, and lead automation initiatives that improve system performance, data visibility, compliance, and operational efficiency.
This role also supports capital projects, including system design and review, installation, commissioning, qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ), and lifecycle management. Success requires strong technical expertise, cross-functional collaboration, and structured problem-solving in a regulated environment.
What will you do?
- •Design, implement, and maintain process control systems in compliance with corporate standards and site GMP requirements.
- •Provide technical ownership of DeltaV, PLC, SCADA, and associated automation platforms.
- •Lead troubleshooting efforts for control systems, networked devices, and data acquisition platforms.
- •Develop and implement system enhancements to improve equipment reliability, throughput, and data integrity.
- •Ensure compliance with software lifecycle management, patching strategies, licensing, and cybersecurity standards.
- •Support validation documentation including URS, FRS, SDS, IQ/OQ protocols, and change control documentation.
- •Integrate manufacturing data sources (PLCs, historians, MES, etc.) to improve operational visibility and reporting.
- •Develop monitoring and alerting tools to proactively detect system issues.
- •Participate in and support regulatory inspections and audits.
- •Collaborate with Corporate IT to maintain secure and compliant OT/IT network integration.
- •Provide on-call support for critical manufacturing systems as required.
How will you get here?
- •Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field is highly preferred. Associate Degree or equivalent is required.
- •Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
- •2+ years of experience supporting automation systems in a regulated manufacturing environment (pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device preferred).
- •Hands-on experience with DCS and PLC platforms (DeltaV, Rockwell, Siemens, etc.).
- •Experience with system commissioning, loop tuning, and startup activities.
- •Experience supporting GMP change control and validation processes.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Technical Knowledge
- •Strong understanding of PLC and DCS programming, including ladder logic and function block programming.
- •Knowledge of industrial networking (TCP/IP, VLANs, firewalls, managed switches).
- •Experience with data historians, SQL databases, and manufacturing data integration.
- •Familiarity with 21 CFR Part 11, data integrity principles, and GMP automation requirements.
- •Experience with SCADA system configuration and maintenance.
- •Understanding of ISA-88 batch control concepts (preferred).
Behavioral Competencies
- •Demonstrated ability to lead technical problem-solving efforts.
- •Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- •Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced GMP environment.
- •Proactive mindset with focus on continuous improvement.
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, and outstanding career and development prospects. We offer an exciting company culture that stands for integrity, intensity, involvement, and innovation!
Other
Relocation assistance is not provided.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States now and in the future, without sponsorship.
Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, which includes a drug screening.
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