Director, Automation Engineering

Director, Automation Engineering – Remote (United States)

Build your future at Curia, where our work has the power to save lives.

This position is responsible for leading the strategic design, implementation, and standardization of automation systems across our global manufacturing footprint. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for driving operational excellence, ensuring regulatory compliance, and spearheading the digital transformation of our production facilities to support Curia’s strategic capital initiatives.

As the global lead, you will bridge the gap between high-level corporate strategy and site-level execution, ensuring that our automation infrastructure is scalable, secure, and optimized for the next generation of life-saving medicine. This position interfaces with Curia’s manufacturing plants and other departments within Curia’s network and reports to the Senior Director of Project Engineering.  

Curia is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with over 30 years of experience partnering with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to provide life-saving treatments to patients. At Curia, we are on a mission to advance our customers’ therapies from curiosity to cure and ultimately to improve patients’ lives.

We proudly offer
•    Generous benefit options (eligible first day of employment) 
•    Paid training, vacation and holidays (vacation accrual begins on first day of employment)
•    Career advancement opportunities 
•    Education reimbursement
•    401K program with matching contributions
•    Learning platform
•    And more!

Responsibilities
•    Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a multi-year global automation roadmap, aligning with Industry 4.0 standards and corporate growth objectives
•    Global Standardization: Establish and enforce global engineering standards for PLC, SCADA, DCS, and robotics to ensure consistency across all international sites
•    Project Oversight: Serve as the lead technical authority for large-scale capital projects, overseeing the design, installation, and commissioning of complex automation suites
•    Digital Transformation: Drive the integration of Electronic Batch Records (EBR) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) to move toward paperless manufacturing
•    Process Optimization: Utilize advanced automation data to identify bottlenecks, reduce cycle times, and improve yield through continuous process improvement
•    Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Quality, IT, and Operations to maintain a robust validated state while driving technological innovation
•    Vendor Management: Manage strategic partnerships with global automation vendors and system integrators to ensure high-quality delivery and cost-effectiveness
•    Up to 40% of travel, including international

Qualifications
•    BS in Electrical Engineering or a related engineering discipline
•    Minimum 15 years in automation engineering within a heavy industrial or manufacturing environment
•    Minimum 5 years in a senior management or director-level role, ideally managing global or remote teams
•    Proven track record in leading large-scale automation projects from concept through validation
•    Strong experience in Electronic Batch Records (EBR), MES integration, and process control optimization
•    Expertise in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and GAMP5 standards within a regulated environment preferred
•    Ability to navigate diverse cultural and regulatory landscapes (FDA, EMA, etc.)
•    Exceptional ability to translate complex technical concepts for executive stakeholders
•    Demonstrated aptitude and attitude to become immersed in the resolution of technical challenges and technological advancements
•    Excellent relationship management, communication, and presentation skills 
•    Ability to effectively manage and influence cross-functional teams
•    Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
•    Demonstrated ability to plan, implement, and achieve significant, complex goals and objectives
•    Demonstrated leadership with proven success in challenging the status quo
•    Strong organizational and planning skills, as well as a high energy level and initiative

Other Qualifications
•    Must pass a background check
•    Must pass a drug screen
•    May be required to pass Occupational Health Screening
•    May be required to obtain and maintain gowning certification 
•    May be required to obtain and maintain media qualification

Pay Range: $167,000-$209,000/year

Education, experience, location and tenure may be considered along with internal equity when job offers are extended.

We do not accept unsolicited assistance from any headhunters or recruitment firms for any of our job openings. All resumes or profiles submitted by search firms to any employee at Curia, in any form without a valid, signed search agreement by an authorized signatory in place for the specific position, approved by Talent Acquisition, will be deemed the sole property of Curia. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Curia because of the unsolicited referral.

All interested applicants must apply online. Please be aware of scammers. Curia will only send offer letters and requests for sensitive personal information from a Curiaglobal.com email address. Curia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Curia is an E-Verify employer.