Location: Pau, France
Experience: 5–10 years
Length of Assignment: 5 months+
Job Description:
Our client is seeking a hands-on Automation Engineer to support their production & operations site. This role is embedded in a highly regulated ATEX environment, requiring strong collaboration with process engineers and daily interaction with automation systems that support chemical API manufacturing, including TFF, Chromo Skids, Exchange Tables, and Polypeptide processing units.
The ideal candidate will be the lead for field-level troubleshooting, using Siemens PLC/SCADA programming, and automation system optimization, ensuring that control systems are reliable, safe, and compliant.
Key Responsibilities:
- Hands-on configuration, programming, and debugging of Siemens automation systems (TIA Portal, S7, WinCC).
- Directly interact with equipment on the production floor, including TSF, chromo skids, exchange tables, and process skids.
- Actively support process engineers to develop and oversee chemical production.
- Manage alarm responses and system behavior in real-time; troubleshoot automation faults and anomalies.
Ensure all automation systems are compliant with ATEX (ATmosphères EXplosibles) directives and GMP standards. - Lead automation efforts during equipment changes, upgrades, and new system commissioning.
- Maintain detailed and accurate documentation: P&IDs, logic diagrams, functional specs, and risk assessments.
- Support FAT/SAT, validation, and cross-departmental coordination with HSE, maintenance, and quality teams.
- Provide training and technical support to operations and maintenance teams
Required Qualifications:
- Degree in Automation, Instrumentation, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent.
- 5–10 years of hands-on experience in automation within an ATEX-classified industrial environment.
- Proficiency with Siemens PLCs, SCADA, and HMI systems (TIA Portal, S7-300/400/1500, WinCC).
- Strong understanding of chemical or pharmaceutical processes, ideally with polypeptide production knowledge.
- Familiarity with skid-based process systems and their integration into plant control architecture.
- Knowledge of functional safety (SIL), interlock systems, and HAZOP methodology.
- Comfortable working in live production settings, wearing PPE, and collaborating directly with operators.
- Fluent in French and English
EU: Automation Engineer (237833)
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