Automation Technical Lead – Utilities & Building Management Systems (BMS)

Validation & Engineering Group, Inc. (V&EG) a Pinnaql company is a leading services supplier who provides solutions for the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Chemical, Food, and Medical Devices industries in the following areas: Laboratory, Compliance, Computer, Engineering, Project Management, Validation, and other services.

We are seeking a talented, dedicated individual committed to work under the highest ethics standards for the following position:

• Automation Technical Lead – Utilities & Building Management Systems (BMS)

Summary:

Technical lead in industrial automation, focused on Building Management Systems (BMS) and utilities integration. The position is responsible for defining automation requirements, overseeing system design and vendor coordination, and ensuring successful commissioning and startup of facility systems such as HVAC and critical utilities. It involves collaboration with engineering, operations, and IT/OT teams to ensure compliance, system performance, and cybersecurity standards. The role also supports troubleshooting, continuous improvement, and mentoring of technical staff, with occasional travel for site support and project activities.

Description:

• Technical lead for automation scope supporting Utilities and Building Management Systems (BMS), including HVAC, central plant, critical utilities monitoring, and facility integration points.
• Own automation/BMS technical requirements: URS/FRS, control narratives, I/O lists, points lists, network architecture, and cybersecurity requirements in coordination with IT/OT.
• Develop and review design deliverables (P&IDs, control diagrams, sequences of operation, panel designs, wiring schematics, and specifications) from integrators and EPC partners.
• Lead vendor/integrator selection support, technical bid evaluation, and scope-of-work definition; manage technical interfaces and clarify RFI responses.
• Drive commissioning readiness: review test protocols, support FAT/SAT/IOQ, oversee functional testing, manage punch lists, and ensure turnover packages are complete.
• Coordinate cutovers, downtime planning, and operational readiness with Facilities/Operations; provide troubleshooting support and root cause analysis.
• Ensure compliance with applicable standards and site procedures (e.g., GMP where applicable), including change control, documentation practices, and validation deliverables.
• Mentor engineers/technicians and establish standards for alarms, trending, graphics, naming conventions, and CMMS/EMS integrations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Mechanical/Controls Engineering (or equivalent experience).
• 8+ years of experience in industrial/facilities automation with at least 3 years in a technical lead or senior engineer role.
• Hands-on experience with BMS and automation platforms (e.g., Siemens Desigo, Rockwell Automation/Allen-Bradley) and integrations/protocols such as BACnet/IP, Modbus TCP/RTU, OPC, EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, and Fieldbus (as applicable).
• Experience with data historians and OT data collection (e.g., OSIsoft/AVEVA PI), including tag standards, data quality, and basic analytics/trending.
• Strong understanding of HVAC systems, central utilities, and building systems (AHUs, chillers, boilers, pumps, VFDs, cooling towers, steam, compressed air, WFI/RO where applicable).
• Ability to produce/review sequences of operation, control narratives, and commissioning/functional test documentation.
• Knowledge of OT networks, segmentation, and secure remote access; ability to collaborate with IT/cybersecurity teams on standards and risk mitigations.
• Proven experience supporting commissioning, startup, and troubleshooting in operating facilities.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills; able to coordinate across Facilities, Operations, IT/OT, EPC, and vendors.

Additional Preferences:

• Experience in regulated environments (GMP, GxP), including validation (CSV), commissioning & qualification (C&Q), and data integrity practices.
• Experience integrating BMS to SCADA/EMS, historians, CMMS, or energy management platforms; KPI dashboards and analytics.
• Familiarity with ISA-95/ISA-88 concepts and Purdue model; industrial cybersecurity frameworks (IEC 62443, NIST).
• Ability to develop or review BMS graphics/HMI standards and alarm management best practices.
• PE license, PMP, or relevant vendor certifications (nice-to-have).

At Validation & Engineering Group, people always come first. We believe that when you're empowered to do your best work, bold ideas thrive and real progress happens. This isn't just a job - it's an opportunity to make a meaningful difference by shaping the future of healthcare and technology alongside a purpose-driven, supportive team.

Excited to build something meaningful together? We look forward to hearing from you.

Validation & Engineering Group is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status.

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