Principal Automation Systems & Controls Engineer

Principal Automation Systems & Controls Engineer

Clearwater, FL

$140,000 - $170,000 plus bonus, excellent health coverage, 401k, PTO

The Company

Working with a leading global eye health company dedicated to protecting and enhancing the gift of sight for millions of people around the world.

Their comprehensive portfolio of over 400 products is fully integrated and built to serve customers across the full spectrum of their eye health needs throughout their lives. Their iconic brand is built on the deep trust and loyalty of our customers established over a 170-year history. They have a significant global research, development, manufacturing and commercial footprint of approximately 13,000 employees and a presence in approximately 100 countries, extending their reach to billions of potential customers across the globe.

Job Overview

The Principal Automation Systems & Controls Engineer is a senior technical leader responsible for the design, development, and implementation of advanced automation systems and manufacturing equipment used in the production of medical devices. This position combines hands-on engineering, system architecture leadership, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver robust, scalable manufacturing solutions. The Principal Engineer serves as the technical lead for automation and controls projects from concept through validation and production deployment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and drive automated process equipment and systems integration projects, including design, development, software programming, integration, and system qualification.
• Work in conjunction with site operations to develop user and functional requirements for manufacturing equipment and integration. Lead internal and external design reviews to ensure timely execution of project plans.
• Identify and recommend controls and automation improvements for current and emerging manufacturing platforms.
• Facilitate collaboration between internal resources and external suppliers to develop technical solutions for custom automated equipment.
• Develop and manage project charters, schedules, and detailed work plans to meet stated goals. Communicate project status to management on a regular basis.
• Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, and Operations to successfully validate software systems, including writing and executing software test scripts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in automation systems, controls engineering, and equipment development.
• Extensive experience developing automated equipment for regulated manufacturing environments (medical devices, pharmaceutical, or similar).
• Strong expertise in PLC programming; HMI/SCADA systems; motion control; industrial robotics; machine vision; industrial networks/fieldbus systems; and safety guarding.
• Experience with automation architecture, system integration, and complex equipment development.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing process development and automation design principles.