Principal Manufacturing Automation Engineer

AbbVie

Confirmed live yesterday High trust

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Branchburg, NJ
Salary: $109,500–$208,500 / yr
Posted: 65 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live yesterday
Closes: Jul 8, 2126
Nearby: 99+ roles within 25 mi

Market check

Salary context

Competitive pay

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $179k

This role $159k

$98k most similar roles pay here $221k

This role pays less than 62% of similar roles. Most pay $148,750–$208,800 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $159k versus about $179k for comparable roles.

Based on 240 similar postings.

Employer

About AbbVie

AbbVie is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and delivering innovative medicines and solutions in immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care. Its products include Humira, Skyrizi, and Rinvoq.

AbbVie currently has 297 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $109,500–$208,500 across 271 roles with salary data.

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At a glance

TL;DR · Principal Manufacturing Automation Engineer

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As the Principal Manufacturing Automation Engineer, you will serve as the technical lead and subject matter expert for manufacturing control systems to improve site productivity, quality, and safety. You will identify automation opportunities, develop complex control configurations, and lead initiatives involving digitalization, AI, robotics, and Factory of the Future technologies. Your daily work involves integrating vision inspection hardware with track and trace systems, ensuring seamless data flow between PLCs, SCADA, and enterprise software like ERP or MES. You will manage OT systems lifecycles, including validation activities and troubleshooting networking issues for DCS and Data Historian systems. The role requires expertise in ladder logic, HMI graphics, machine vision platforms like Cognex or Keyence, and serialization technologies. This position addresses critical manufacturing challenges within the pharmaceutical and medical device industries while ensuring compliance with 21 CFR Part 11 requirements.

Skills

PLC SCADA HMI Ladder Logic Machine Vision Robotics Data Historian ERP MES Track and Trace 21 CFR Part 11 Computerized Systems Validation Automation AI Machine Learning RFID Serialization OT Systems

What you'll do

Identify and develop automation technologies to improve manufacturing productivity, quality, and safety performance.
Develop complex control configurations and programming based on design documents to meet functional requirements.
Serve as the Subject Matter Expert for automated visual systems, aggregation, and track-and-trace systems.
Integrate vision inspection hardware with track-and-trace components to create cohesive identification systems.
Ensure seamless data flow between manufacturing equipment and enterprise-level software like ERP or MES.
Lead the development of OT Systems lifecycle deliverables, including validation activities and technical documentation.
Manage OT System administration tasks such as OS updates, antivirus management, and critical data backups.
Diagnose and troubleshoot hardware, software, and networking issues for PLC, SCADA, and Data Historian systems.

What we're looking for

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
Minimum 10 years of experience developing and maintaining automation software, equipment, and PLC systems in a manufacturing environment.
Experience with AI and machine learning, including new technology development for new product introductions.
Direct experience with system development and validation, including specification development (DS, FS, URS) and risk-based validation strategies.
Demonstrated knowledge of 21 CFR Part 11 requirements for automated systems in pharmaceutical or medical device industries.
Ability to provide technical program leadership, including vendor management and leading cross-functional teams.
Experience with SCADA and PLC programming in ladder logic and instructional texts (preferred).
Experience with HMI graphics, data historians, machine vision platforms, robotics, and serialization/aggregation systems (preferred).

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