Associate Director, Automation Engineering
Vertex Pharmaceuticals · Boston, MA
- Level
- Director+
- Team
- Controls
- Base pay
- $166k–$249k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Industry
- Pharma & life sciences
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
A director-level controls role at Vertex Pharmaceuticals (pharma & life sciences) in Boston, MA. Vertex’s Automation of Machinery and Processes (AMP) Team is seeking a high-impact leader to develop cutting-edge manufacturing solutions for its Cell & Genetic Therapies programs.
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- CAPA, ISO 13485, FDA / GMP, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), PLC, Robotics
- Base pay
- $166k–$249k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Controls Engineer roles in Massachusetts: typical posted base $90k–$157k. This one lists $166k–$249k.
Median of the low and high ends of 13 live postings that list pay, out of 28 controls engineer openings in Massachusetts, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Massachusetts plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 27 other live controls postings in Massachusetts.
- Base pay
- About 68% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Typical $90k–$157k, from 12 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ PLC 71%
- ✓ Automation 71%
- ✓ Robotics 39%
- ✓ Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 29%
- Root cause 29%
- ✓ EHS / safety 21%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for CAPA, 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals
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: Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Boston
16 other open roles at this site.
- Associate Director, GxP Operations Support Manufacturing Systems · Production · Director+
- Director, Package Engineering · Manufacturing · Director+
- Operational Excellence & Business Analytics Associate Director · Lean / CI · Director+
- Senior Director Cell & Genetic Therapies Quality - Personalized Medicine · Quality · Director+
- Associate Director, CMC Quality Compliance and Inspection Readiness (Hybrid) · Quality · Director+
- Associate Director, GMP Operational Quality (Biologics and Devices) · Quality · Director+
Full description from Vertex PharmaceuticalsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Lead a team of equipment and automation engineers involved in the design, development, deployment, and qualification of custom automation equipment and operation technology systems used for the development and manufacture of cell and genetic therapies.
- ◆Lead Equipment, System, and Automaton Projects from concept through execution in a dynamic development environment. Ensures user
requirements
are clearly defined and translated into achievable and testable engineering requirements.
- ✓Manage and execute the development of mechanical, electrical, and controls systems for capital equipment. Define automation execution strategy from concept feasibility through commercial deployment. Present to senior leadership as required.
- ✓Responsible for active oversight of the equipment / system design and commissioning process. Collaborate with vendors to produce prototype and production parts. Perform engineering analyses and relevant physical testing on designs.
- ✓Utilize operations simulation tools to identify and quantify automation opportunities.
- ✓Ensures seamless integration of automation control systems into existing enterprise systems.
- ✓Provide hands-on troubleshooting assistance to manufacturing in support of a rapid development cycle and manufacturing sustainability.
- ✓Collaborates with manufacturing engineering to define, manage, and continuously improve equipment performance, preventative maintenance plans, and spare parts lists/inventory.
- ✓Evaluate and recommend automation upgrades to existing equipment or systems. Prioritize projects and assign resources to complete projects on-time and within budget.
- ✓Review and/or draft Equipment Drawings, Electrical Diagrams, System Manuals, Engineering Protocols and Reports, Validation Documentation, and other Quality System Documentation.
- ✓Develop departmental procedures for development and documentation of automated systems, from specifications through operational procedures.
- ✓Support Deviation Management, CAPA, and Change Control activities, as required. Serve as Automation SME to Quality, Manufacturing, and other Functions. Support manufacturing investigations, including OOSs, OOTs, RCAs, etc.
- ✓Execute assigned duties on time and within budget; proactively telegraph delays and other issues to relevant stakeholders.
- ✓Comply with all regulatory, corporate, and Quality System policies and complete other projects and/or assignments as required.
requirements
governing device or combination products.
- ✓Familiarity with equipment safety standards and regulations including OSHA 19 CFR 1910, NFPA 70, NFPA 79, ISO 18849-1.
- ✓Strong interpersonal, project management, technical writing and presentation skills required.
- ✓Sense of urgency, ability to act/escalate promptly, and transparently communicate issues to involved stakeholders and management.
- ✓Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision, multi-task, and support several projects simultaneously.
- ✓Knowledge of business applications such as MS Office, Veeva, Coupa.
- ✓Must demonstrate strong interpersonal, presentation, and teamwork skills.
Education and Experience
- ✓PhD in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, automation engineering or related field and 5 years experience in life sciences, manufacturing, or engineering, or
- ✓Master's Degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, automation engineering or related field and 6 years experience in life sciences, manufacturing, or engineering, or
- ✓Bachelor's Degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, automation engineering or related field and 8 years experien
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Job Description
General Summary
Vertex’s Automation of Machinery and Processes (AMP) Team is seeking a high-impact leader to develop cutting-edge manufacturing solutions for its Cell & Genetic Therapies programs. This pivotal role is at the forefront of automating complex processes in one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving fields in biotechnology. You will work with a passionate team of engineers, scientists, and innovators united by a shared mission: to push the boundaries of what’s possible in Cell & Genetic Therapy. This critical position will lead an interdisciplinary engineering team in novel equipment & systems development, vendor selection, equipment qualification, technology transfer, and continuous improvement to deliver robust and reliable manufacturing systems.
Knowledge and Skills
- •High degree of electromechanical aptitude with prior experience in designing and implementing automated precision manufacturing equipment, including integration of vision systems and robotics, in bioprocessing, medical device, pharmaceutical, automotive, semiconductor, or diagnostic systems.
- •Ability to organize and grow a team through organizational change and personnel development.
- •Experience with automation and equipment business case definition, vendor selection and management, automation and equipment design, development, commissioning, and validation. Experience developing and executing equipment strategy from concept to deployment.
- •Experience working with a variety of automation hardware, software and applications including, but not limited to, custom-fabricated mechanical components and mechanisms, single-use bioreactors and bioprocessing instruments, vision systems, robotics, AMR and AGV, control systems (PLC, DeltaV, PC), AI-enabled systems, and related control system components, pneumatics, automated process instrumentation.
- •Proficiency in AI tools and applications with experience developing for lab and manufacturing applications.
- •Experience qualifying/validating/deploying manufacturing equipment and processes is required. Knowledge and experience in utilizing risk-based approaches to validation process development and validation are highly advantageous.
- •Familiarity with ISO 13485, ISO 14971, 21 CFR 820, 21 CFR 211, and ICH Q7/8/9. Knowledge of global GMP