Automation Engineer – Packaging & Process Automation

The Role

Joining Moderna means advancing mRNA science to transform medicine. Work with exceptional global teams on a broad pipeline and build a career that makes a real difference for patients.

Moderna is establishing a leading research, development, and manufacturing facility at Harwell to support onshore mRNA vaccine production for respiratory diseases in the UK.

This long term investment will create skilled jobs and strengthen collaboration with academic, NHS, and government partners. We welcome experts ready to help expand access to life saving vaccines.

At Moderna's Harwell manufacturing facility, you will play a pivotal hands-on engineering role in introducing, commissioning, and optimising sophisticated automation systems supporting drug product packaging and drug substance manufacturing. You will help establish new automated labelling and secondary packaging capabilities while ensuring the reliability, compliance, and continuous improvement of existing Emerson DeltaV and Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLC-based process control systems. Working independently as a technical specialist and collaborating across manufacturing, engineering, quality, validation, and digital teams, you will help translate advanced automation technology into safe, efficient, validated manufacturing operations, with opportunities to explore emerging digital and Generative AI-enabled solutions.

Here’s What You’ll Do

• Drive packaging automation and manufacturing performance: Provide hands-on, day-to-day automation engineering support across drug product packaging and existing Drug Substance (DS) manufacturing operations. Troubleshoot and optimise PLCs, Emerson DeltaV distributed control systems, HMIs, instrumentation, industrial networks, machine controls, servo and motion systems, vision technologies, and equipment interfaces to maintain reliable manufacturing operations.
• Become a technical expert in automated packaging technologies: Support the introduction, operation, and continuous improvement of automated labelling and secondary packaging equipment, including labelers, cartoners, case packers, serialization and aggregation systems, vision inspection equipment, printers, scanners, conveyors, robotics, and material-handling systems. Develop a detailed understanding of equipment functionality, control architectures, and interfaces with wider manufacturing systems.
• Support packaging line configuration and operational readiness: Partner with manufacturing teams to manage equipment setup, format changes, line clearance, recipe management, and changeovers across different products and packaging configurations. Identify opportunities to simplify operations, reduce changeover times, and improve packaging-line consistency, flexibility, and throughput.
• Deliver automation projects from design through manufacturing start-up: Support new and modified automation systems throughout their complete engineering lifecycle, including design, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), commissioning, qualification, validation, start-up, and handover to routine manufacturing. Contribute to new-equipment introduction, technology transfer, scale-up, and commercial manufacturing readiness.
• Strengthen process automation and control systems: Provide technical support for existing drug substance manufacturing automation, with particular emphasis on Emerson DeltaV and Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLC-based systems. Diagnose complex control-system issues spanning instrumentation, electrical systems, industrial communications, automation logic, and mechanical equipment interfaces.
• Develop robust automation engineering documentation: Create, review, and maintain automation lifecycle documentation, including User Requirement Specification (URS) inputs, functional and design specifications, control strategies, configuration records, engineering drawings, risk assessments, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), troubleshooting guides, and engineering standards. Ensure documentation supports effective system operation, maintainability, and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with equipment manufacturers and system integrators: Work directly with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), automation suppliers, and system integrators to support equipment design, technical troubleshooting, upgrades, modifications, and performance improvements. Help ensure vendor-delivered solutions meet Moderna's operational, technical, safety, and quality expectations.
• Lead technical investigations and sustainable problem resolution: Independently investigate automation failures, recurring equipment downtime, quality events, and manufacturing process deviations. Apply structured root cause analysis to complex multidisciplinary problems, developing and implementing effective corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) that address underlying causes and prevent recurrence.
• Use manufacturing data to improve equipment performance: Analyse equipment and process data to identify recurring failures, performance trends, and opportunities to improve equipment reliability, throughput, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), changeover performance, and operational robustness. Leverage manufacturing historians, MES, CMMS, and available analytics capabilities to support evidence-based engineering decisions.
• Maintain validated and compliant automation systems: Support GxP activities, including formal change controls, deviations, CAPAs, risk assessments, qualification, and validation. Partner closely with Quality and Validation to ensure packaging and process automation systems remain in a controlled and validated state throughout their operational lifecycle, with appropriate consideration of electronic records, data integrity, and computerized system requirements.
• Optimise equipment and systems integration: Troubleshoot interactions between packaging equipment, automation platforms, industrial networks, and plant-level digital systems. Contribute to robust communication and data exchange across operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) environments, supporting equipment connectivity, serialization, and manufacturing-system integration.
• Drive reliability and lifecycle improvements: Contribute to equipment lifecycle management, preventive maintenance strategies, spare-parts planning, and technology obsolescence management. Apply reliability engineering principles to improve equipment availability, reduce unplanned downtime, and strengthen long-term manufacturing performance.
• Explore digital innovation and emerging technologies: Identify opportunities to leverage digital manufacturing tools, advanced analytics, and approved Generative AI-enabled solutions to support troubleshooting, technical knowledge management, engineering documentation, and equipment performance optimisation while maintaining appropriate GxP and data integrity controls.
• Collaborate across a multidisciplinary manufacturing environment: Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Maintenance, Quality, Validation, Supply Chain, Automation, Digital, and external technical partners to deliver integrated packaging and process automation solutions that meet operational requirements, business objectives, and patient needs. Communicate complex technical findings clearly to manufacturing colleagues, technical stakeholders, leadership, and equipment vendors.
• Provide flexible manufacturing support: Take ownership of technical issues through resolution in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, balancing competing priorities and working independently. Provide occasional off-hours, weekend, and holiday support as manufacturing operations require.

The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role:

• “We behave like owners. The solutions we’re building go beyond any job description.”
• "We digitize everywhere possible using the power of code to maximize our impact on patients.”

Here’s What You’ll Need (Minimum Qualifications)

• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Packaging Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 3+ years of automation engineering experience supporting manufacturing equipment, preferably within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or another highly regulated industry.
• Demonstrated experience troubleshooting and supporting automated manufacturing or packaging equipment.
• Experience working within a GMP/GxP-regulated manufacturing environment.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex equipment problems involving multiple disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, controls, and automation systems.
• Experience supporting equipment changes through formal engineering and quality-system processes.
• Clear communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical information in an understandable manner to manufacturing personnel, technical teams, leadership, vendors, and Quality stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and independently drive technical issues to resolution.
• Flexibility to occasionally provide off-hours, holiday, and weekend support as manufacturing needs require.

Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications)

• Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical drug product packaging operations and packaging-line equipment.
• Experience with packaging OEMs and technologies such as Marchesini, Optima, Syntegon/Bosch, Körber, Antares Vision, Cognex, Keyence, Zebra, Videojet, Domino, Rockwell Automation, or similar systems.
• Proficiency with Allen-Bradley/Rockwell PLCs, HMIs, servo systems, industrial networks, and machine controls.
• Experience with machine vision and automated inspection systems.
• Knowledge of serialization and aggregation requirements and associated Level 1–4 packaging architecture.
• Familiarity with 21 CFR Part 11, electronic records/electronic signatures, data
  integrity, and computerized system lifecycle principles
• Understanding of packaging-related quality considerations such as label control, reconciliation, vision inspection, barcode grading, tamper evidence, container/closure integrity interfaces, and product traceability.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, structured problem solving, FMEA, RCA, and reliability engineering methodologies.
• Experience using manufacturing data, historians, MES, CMMS, or analytics tools to improve equipment performance.
• Understanding of IT/OT networking and the ability to troubleshoot communication issues between equipment and plant systems.
• Knowledge of equipment lifecycle management, preventive maintenance, spare-parts strategies, and obsolescence management.
• Experience supporting new-equipment introduction, technology transfer, scale-up, and commercial manufacturing readiness.
• Ability to quickly learn new equipment, technologies, and manufacturing processes.
• A desire to make an impact as part of a high-growth, transformational company that is Bold, Relentless, Curious, and Collaborative, consistent with the language in the existing role.

As part of Moderna’s commitment to workplace safety, this role may require an enhanced pre-employment check.

Our Working Model

As we build our company, we have always believed that an in-person culture is critical to our success. This role is 100% onsite, reflecting the importance of being physically present to support the work, collaborate closely with colleagues, and contribute to our site-based operations.

Working onsite enables real-time collaboration, strong team connections, direct mentorship, and the hands-on partnership needed to deliver our mission. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.

Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment.

Pay & Benefits

At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work.  That’s why our benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

• Competitive healthcare, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
• A holistic approach to well-being with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
• Family building benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown
• Savings and investments to help you plan for the future
• Location-specific perks and extras

The benefits offered may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Moderna and the country where you work.

About Moderna

Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.  

By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture. Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities. 

We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S. 

If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit modernatx.com/careers to learn more about our current opportunities. 

Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply! 

Moderna is committed to equal opportunity in employment and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. 

We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best. 

Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodation or adjustments to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation or adjustment in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations and Adjustments team at leavesandaccommodations@modernatx.com. 

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