AstraZeneca Posted August 9, 2026

Senior Engineer, Automation Controls – Facilities & Engineering

Tarzana, California, United States of America Full time
Manufacturing & CMC Senior

AstraZeneca is the source of truth for this posting and owns the application process. We surface normalized context and market comparison you won't find on the original listing.

About this opportunity

We are seeking a Senior Engineer, Automation Controls to lead facilities and process automation within a pharmaceutical environment. This role drives engineering projects, validation, and capital investments while ensuring systems meet GMP and regulatory standards. You’ll provide expert technical guidance, oversee complex projects, and enhance operational efficiency across critical facilities, labs, and production areas.

Accountabilities:

The Senior Engineer will play a pivotal role in leading automation/controls across facilities, engineering, and capital projects. Key responsibilities include:

Leadership & Oversight: Guide technical teams in automation/controls development, validation, and engineering solutions; mentor junior staff; collaborate cross‑functionally to align projects with organizational goals.

Facilities Management: Serve as asset owner for automation/control systems across critical facilities, labs, and production areas; drive strategies for upgrades and efficiency improvements; ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards.

Validation Management: Lead validation strategies, protocols, and documentation for automation/controls assets; ensure compliance with FDA, EMA, and internal standards; manage complex validation projects from design through reporting.

Automation/Controls Oversight: Ensure reliability of systems including electrical components, software, and field devices; implement maintenance and inspection programs; uphold industry and regulatory standards.

Engineering Leadership: Direct design, installation, and commissioning of systems/equipment; ensure GMP compliance; develop preventive and predictive maintenance programs to maximize reliability.

Capital Projects Management: Manage automation/controls upgrades, expansions, and new installations; oversee budgets, schedules, and stakeholder/vendor coordination to deliver projects on time and within budget.

Documentation & Reporting: Prepare and review documentation for validation, engineering procedures, and capital projects; generate detailed reports ensuring accuracy and compliance.

Compliance & Safety: Maintain adherence to regulatory requirements and industry standards; enforce safety protocols and emergency response plans; conduct audits and inspections to address issues proactively.

Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve reliability; stay current with industry trends, technology, and regulatory changes.

Essential Skills & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical preferred); Master’s a plus.

7–10 years in automation/controls, validation, facilities engineering, and capital projects.

Experience in pharmaceutical or regulated industries.

Strong knowledge of GMP, FDA regulations, and compliance standards.

Proven success leading automation/controls processes, asset ownership, and engineering projects.

Strong project management, problem‑solving, and communication skills.

Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Electrical Engineering preferred, or a related engineering field; Master’s degree preferred.

7-10 years of experience in automation/controls software and equipment systems, with background in qualification/validation, facilities engineering, and capital projects. Significant experience in a pharmaceutical or regulated industry is preferred.

Extensive knowledge of GMP, FDA regulations, and other relevant compliance requirements.

Proven experience in leading complex automation/controls processes, asset ownership, engineering projects, and capital investments.

Strong project management skills with experience in budgeting, scheduling, and resource allocation.

Desirable Skills:

Cell Therapy experience.

Working Conditions:

Office and on‑site facilities environment, with occasional travel.

May require evening or weekend work for urgent projects.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

AstraZeneca is a place where every day brings new challenges. We lead from the front to ensure everyone's voice is heard on site while building trust and respect with our teams. Our adaptable nature allows us to draw on diverse expertise across functions to overcome obstacles. We champion ideas from anyone on our site with a drive to see things through. Our supportive team environment ensures we succeed together by looking out for each other. With opportunities for growth beyond your role in a stable company committed to eliminating emissions by 2025, AstraZeneca is where you can make a real impact.

Ready to take on this exciting challenge? Apply now!

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $ 146,721.60 - $220,082.40 . Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Date Posted

09-Aug-2026

Closing Date

30-Aug-2026 Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.

Job details

Seniority
Senior
Function
Manufacturing & CMC
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
Tarzana, California, United States of America
Employment type
Full time

How this role compares

Computed from every other active Manufacturing & CMC role in our database, not just this employer's listings.

We currently track 373 comparable Senior Manufacturing & CMC roles across 53 biopharma companies.

373Comparable roles tracked
345Currently active
53Companies hiring similar roles
20Countries represented

Salary context

175 of 373 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)

Peers share this role's job function and a matching or adjacent seniority level -- not necessarily the same therapeutic area or country.

This roleSubject Not listed on this posting
Lowest disclosed · Senior Scientist II – CMC Developmental Sciences · AbbVie $0/hr – $0/hr (≈ $0–$0/yr)
Peer group range $0 – $222,900 (median $142,325)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 373 comparable roles

United States267
India37
Ireland10
Singapore10
Netherlands7
Switzerland6

+ 14 more countries

Seniority mix

373 of 373 peers have a known seniority level

Senior250
Principal79
Associate Director44

Therapeutic area mix

0 of 373 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

No peers with a known therapeutic area yet.

Similar opportunities

The closest matches from our peer group, ranked by how similar they are, not how well you'd qualify for them -- treat this as market context, not a guaranteed shortlist; a weak match is labeled as one below.

60%similar
Lilly San Diego, California, United States of America Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Merck Rahway, New Jersey, United States of America Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Seagen Inc Washington – Bothell, United States Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Pfizer Groton, United States Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
AbbVie North Chicago, IL Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
AbbVie North Chicago, IL Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country

How we calculate "similar"

No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.

Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.

60%
Sr. Scientist - Lab Automation Scientist
Lilly · San Diego, California, United States of America · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Senior Scientist, Process Development
Pfizer · Groton, United States · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Senior Scientist, Biologics Purification II
AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Senior Electrical Engineer, Combination Product Development
AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
Unmatched or unknown dimensions score exactly the same: 0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.