Automation Engineer - 12-month Secondment / Fixed Term Contract (FTC)

Job Description

Site Name: UK - County Durham - Barnard Castle

Posted Date: Apr 30 2026

At GSK's Barnard Castle site, we are looking to recruit an Automat Engineer to join our team.

GSK Barnard Castle is a key secondary manufacturing site and has invested heavily in industry 4.0 state‑of‑the‑art, bespoke equipment to support sustained new product introductions and volume increases, and as a key supplier of some of GSK's blockbuster products, the site contributes revenues of $2Bn annually.

The automation engineering team provide technical expertise to support the manufacturing automation and control systems for all production operations across the manufacturing site. This role would predominantly be site‑based (although there are flexible working policies in place). We provide external training where required and support personal development and progression alongside opportunities for further education and professional registration.

Job Purpose

As an Automation Engineer you will provide technical expertise for all automation and control system activities on new and existing equipment and facilities across the site. This will include providing support to members of the team, and making strategic decisions on situations within areas of expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise on advanced automated manufacturing/packaging processes, inputting into user requirement specifications and signing off automation elements of capital projects as system owner.
• Work alongside cross‑functional groups through complex technical challenges and improvement initiatives, ensuring alignment with engineering standards and guides.
• Ensure compliance of owned areas with internal and external standards, including OT Security Standards, and build cybersecurity awareness within engineering/production teams.
• Review and assess obsolescence risks for the allocated Production Business Unit, collaborating with the Capital Projects team to drive facility improvements.
• Maintain and manage the site asset register for automation equipment within the allocated Production Business Unit.
• Liaise with central teams to develop new automation technologies and standards, and review supplier performance on costs, compliance, and milestone delivery.
• Provide technical expertise to engineering technicians, including assisting with complex equipment failures, CAPA implementation and improvement activities.
• Act as the point of contact for production automation support, focusing on equipment performance, with flexibility in working hours as required.
• Participate in Continuous Improvement activities, including DMAIC, RCA, and CAPA processes and input into deviations as automation SME.

Please Note

This secondment / Fixed Term Contract (FTC) is expected to last circa 12 months in duration. Please ensure you have spoken with your line‑manager to ensure they are supportive of your application (this includes a timely‑release from your current responsibilities should you be offered the Secondment).

About You

This role is suited to a motivated person with good influencing, communication, and teamworking skills. A successful candidate will have a passion for understanding and mastering a variety of complex automation systems and must have a keen interest in the development and deployment of emerging technologies into beneficial use.

Closing Date for applications

Friday 15th of May 2026 (COB).

Basic Qualifications / Skills

• Relevant engineering qualification (e.g.; Recognised Apprenticeship in Electrical, Instrumentation/Controls Engineering or Computer Science discipline (or similar) or Engineering degree).
• Experience working in a Pharmaceutical or highly regulated industry including Manufacturing Environments.
• Technical and operational knowledge of Automation systems (SCADA, PLC, HMI, Servo, Vision, Field Instrumentation) for off‑the‑shelf and bespoke process and production equipment.

Preferred Qualifications / Skills

• Knowledge / experience of Siemens equipment including S5, S7, PCS7, TIA portal and WinCC.
• Appreciation of Operational Technology Cyber Security.

GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), military service or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law.

Contact for adjustments: UKRecruitment.Adjustments@gsk.com

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