Automation Support Engineer

2. Req Story / Context This requirement is to build out a dedicated night and weekend automation support team for Lilly’s Concord facility, where RoviSys already serves as the on-site Automation expert. The focus is not on greenfield development, but on live production support for formulation and filling lines in a GMP environment, with an emphasis on pharma process understanding, uptime, and compliance over pure “PLC programming.” RoviSys currently supports Lilly Concord with a team of ~8 engineers, blending senior veterans and newer staff who are being mentored on-site. The new hires will expand coverage to 7–8 additional contractors focused on nights and weekends, with work expected to continue at least through 2026. The core technical environment is Rockwell Automation: Allen-Bradley PLCs and FactoryTalk HMIs/SCADA, requiring strong real-time troubleshooting skills. The work is high-stakes production support: issues must be resolved quickly but always within strict SOPs, change control, and GMP/compliance boundaries. Lilly prioritizes candidates with explicit pharma/life sciences experience to reduce deviation risk; generic industrial automation experience alone is not sufficient. The schedule centers on flexible 4x10 shifts covering Friday–Monday weekends and aligned evening/night coverage to support second shift handoff. Flexibility and ownership are essential: engineers may need to stay past scheduled hours when production demands it and must be comfortable being the “go-to” on-shift resource. Engagement model is contractor with expectation of at least a 12-month commitment and potential for conversion to full-time RoviSys employment depending on performance and fit. Target pay range ($100–$110/hr) reflects the premium for nights/weekends and the demand for senior, self-sufficient pharma automation talent. 3. TS Relationship RoviSys has a high-trust, long-term partnership with Lilly at the Concord site and is given broad autonomy to design and staff the automation support model as long as uptime and compliance expectations are met. Decisions about who to hire, how to structure shifts, and how to blend senior and junior talent are owned by RoviSys leadership, with Lilly primarily involved in oversight and results rather than day-to-day hiring. Primary internal stakeholders are Andrew Coburn and Craig Watts, who co-own defining the role requirements and making hiring decisions. RoviSys, not Lilly, conducts the interviews and owns the selection process; Lilly may review resumes but does not directly interview candidates. The existing model of veterans plus newer engineers has been successful and is the basis for expanding the team; senior staff mentor newer hires while maintaining production reliability. Lilly views RoviSys as the Automation expert on-site, relying on them for troubleshooting, response, and risk management around automation changes. As long as RoviSys continues to meet performance expectations, Lilly is flexible on staffing and structure, supporting long-term growth and additional lines beyond 2026. The hiring process is intentionally streamlined, with a single interview including multiple RoviSys managers to accelerate decisions. RoviSys expects timely, proactive communication from recruiting regarding pipeline status, risks, and market feedback on rates and availability. There is openness to adjust experience mix and pay within reason based on what the market can provide while still meeting Lilly’s requirements. 4. Experience (Must-Haves) The ideal candidate profile is a self-sufficient pharma automation engineer with solid Rockwell experience, who has already operated in GMP environments and is comfortable being the primary support resource on off-shifts. Technical strength must be matched by the ability to navigate procedures and communicate with production teams under pressure. 5+ years of hands-on automation experience in pharma or closely related life sciences manufacturing (GMP required). Demonstrated experience supporting formulation, filling, packaging, or other sterile/regulated production lines (not just lab or utilities, if possible). Strong background with Rockwell / Allen-Bradley PLCs (e.g., ControlLogix, CompactLogix) in live production support environments. Proven troubleshooting skills with FactoryTalk-based HMI/SCADA (e.g., FactoryTalk View SE/ME) and related automation components. Clear history of working under SOPs and within change control, deviation, and validation frameworks. Prior exposure to off-shift support (nights, weekends, on-call, or 24/7 operations) and comfort making decisions with limited immediate supervision. Strong verbal and written communication skills for interacting with operators, maintenance, and site leadership, as well as for documentation and shift handoffs. Ability to work methodically and conservatively in a regulated environment (no “cowboy coding” on live systems). Self-starting personality with a track record of taking ownership of issues, following through, and knowing when to escalate. 5. Logistics The logistics for these roles are shaped by the need for on-site presence, consistent off-shift coverage, and adherence to onboarding and compliance requirements at a major pharma production site. Candidates must be able to commit to the schedule, location, and duration expectations from the outset. Location is 100% on-site at Lilly’s Concord facility in North Carolina. Candidates must be local or willing to relocate at their own expense; standard relocation assistance is not offered, with rare exceptions for exceptional talent. Shift model is 4x10, primarily targeting: Weekend coverage from Friday to Monday, roughly 7:00am–6:00pm (exact times to be validated). Evening/night coverage starting around 8:00–9:00pm and ending around 6:00–7:00am, aligned to second shift handoff (exact times to be validated). Flexibility is required, including willingness to stay beyond scheduled hours when production or troubleshooting deman