Factory Automation Staff Engineer

About the role

• Work Schedule
• Standard (Mon-Fri)
• Environmental Conditions

Office, Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.)

About the role

• We are seeking a hands-on Factory Automation Staff Engineer to join the Life Sciences Group (LSG) Advanced Engineering team and help build an operations-led automation acceleration capability. You will personally design, prototype, build, integrate, and deploy automated manufacturing equipment across our global sites. Your work will turn priority manufacturing problems into reliable, reusable solutions that improve safety, quality, capacity, and productivity, supporting Thermo Fisher Scientific's mission to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer.

Location/Division Specific Information

• Preference for candidates near Thermo Fisher facilities in Frederick, MD; Austin, TX; Carlsbad, CA; Pleasanton, CA; Eugene, OR; Rockford, IL. Remote candidates will also be considered.

A day in the Life

• Partner with site Operations and process owners to select lighthouse projects, define requirements, acceptance criteria, quantify expected benefits, project cost, deployment time, and lifecycle support needs.
• Personally design and build automation prototypes for labeling, pick-and-place, assembly, vision inspection, liquid handling, and material handling. Develop mechanisms, fixtures, component selections, and electrical/control designs appropriate to each application.
• Program, integrate, and debug PLCs, HMIs, robots, motion systems, sensors, and machine vision. Assemble and test equipment, troubleshoot physical and controls issues, and prove performance with production materials and operators.
• Own system integration while selecting internal build, reuse, purchased equipment, or outsourced subassemblies based on complexity, economics, risk, and supportability. Direct suppliers and OEMs where specialized expertise is needed.
• Lead cross-functional design reviews at key project stages, including concept, detailed design, and pre-release. Document decisions and actions, and resolve design risks related to safety, quality, maintainability, and performance before equipment build or release.
• Plan and lead equipment installation and site acceptance testing (SAT), commissioning, production ramp-up, and operator training. Coordinate site resources and manage schedule, cost, and open issues through handover to production.
• Partner with Quality to assess equipment risks and define risk-based validation and qualification activities. Develop or contribute to protocols and documentation, including IQ/OQ where applicable, in alignment with the site validation master plan and established Quality approval processes.
• Partner with the Digital Automation Engineers and Group IT to define equipment interfaces, reliable production data, and secure connectivity to manufacturing applications within approved architecture and cybersecurity requirements.
• Create reusable machine designs, controls libraries, component standards, and deployment playbooks. Collaborate with engineering teams world-wide on proven designs, co-development, sourcing, and knowledge transfer that enables local ownership.
• Establish sustainable handover through drawings, source code, bills of materials, spares, maintenance procedures, training, and a clear support model.
• Measure production results against agreed baselines, improve reliability, cycle time, and share demonstrated wins across LSG.
• Mentor site engineers and apply approved AI tools to accelerate engineering with technical review and testing.

Keys to Success: Education

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Industrial, or Systems Engineering, or equivalent qualified experience.

Experience

• 7+ years in manufacturing automation, with hands-on equipment design, build, controls programming, and integration through commissioning and sustained production. Experience with a system integrator, OEM, or equipment-development team is preferred, particularly developing equipment for life sciences, biotechnology, or medical-device manufacturing. Experience supporting multiple sites is also preferred.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
• Practical expertise in mechanical systems, electrical controls, and equipment integration, with factory-floor troubleshooting using drawings, code, and diagnostic tools.
• Knowledge of machine safety, maintainability, design reviews, root-cause analysis, and risk-based equipment qualification.
• Sound build vs buy judgment, supplier technical leadership, and communication with operators, engineering, Quality, and IT; ability to support global on-site builds and deployments.

Hands-on experience with

• CAD, fixtures, prototyping, component selection, and mechanical/electrical documentation.
• PLC/HMI programming, industrial robots, servo motion, and industrial networks; platforms such as Rockwell, Beckhoff or Siemens.
• Machine vision, sensors, pneumatics, and application-specific equipment such as labeling or liquid handling systems.
• Equipment acceptance testing, commissioning, fault recovery, and data interfaces such as OPC UA or MQTT.
• SCADA systems and manufacturing historians, including configuring equipment connectivity, process monitoring, data collection, and troubleshooting; familiarity with platforms such as Ignition is preferred

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range estimated for this position based in California is $115,000.00-$150,000.00.

This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:

• A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs
• Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement
• At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy
• Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan
• Employees' Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount