SCADA & Automation Engineer – Operational Technology

Why this role matters

Douglas is investing in its next generation of manufacturing technology: connecting equipment, unlocking process data, and laying the foundations for electronic batch records. This role makes sure that capability is built and owned inside our business, rather than relying on external contractors.

As our internal SCADA engineer, you’ll be the technical voice in the room while system integrators design and build on our Ignition platform. You’ll shape the standards it’s built to, challenge solutions that won’t stand the test of time, and own what’s delivered once it goes live.

In your first year, success looks like a platform that’s consistent, well documented and supportable in-house, vendor knowledge captured and shared across the team, and your technical input shaping what comes next, from programmable logic controller (PLC) connectivity to manufacturing execution systems (MES) and electronic logbooks. You’ll report to the OT Programme Manager and work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Validation and Quality.

What you’ll do

• Act as Douglas’s internal SCADA engineer across platform builds, migrations, upgrades and new integrations, and contribute to PLC development projects
• Partner with integrators through design, build, factory and site acceptance testing (FAT/SAT), commissioning, parallel run and cutover, so every system is qualified, documented and understood in-house
• Review integrator designs and deliverables, and flag anything that doesn’t meet our standards, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) requirements or long-term supportability
• Help set platform engineering standards, including architecture, naming conventions, tag and data structures, and screen and alarm design
• Lead internal engineering for approved OT initiatives, from connecting PLCs and extracting process data in a governed way to supporting MES build
• Provide technical input into business cases for new OT capability, covering options, feasibility, effort and risk
• Deliver first and second level support across OT systems, resolving issues quickly to minimise production downtime, and manage software and firmware upgrades
• Share your expertise through cross-training, mentoring and clear documentation
• Drive improvements in reliability, cybersecurity and efficiency, and keep OT asset registers and standards current

What you’ll bring

• A degree in Engineering, Computer Science or a related field
• Around five years’ OT experience, including hands-on SCADA and PLC development
• Experience working with Ignition will be a great advantage
• Strong machine and systems troubleshooting skills
• Experience managing small projects and writing clear technical documentation, such as functional descriptions
• A curious, structured approach to problem solving, and the confidence to influence integrators and stakeholders
• Experience in a highly regulated environment, such as pharmaceuticals, food, healthcare or aviation
• Discrete manufacturing experience
• Manufacturing process analysis and reporting development
• Ignition certification

Why join us?

• Award-winning culture – Join a team that’s genuinely a great place to work (and we’ve got the awards to prove it).
• Career growth – We’re big on developing our people and promoting from within.
• Extra leave – After six years with us, you’ll get five weeks of annual leave.
• Parental perks – Get 16 weeks of top-up payments during your parental leave.
• Security matters – We’ve got you covered with life and income protection insurance.
• Feel good with THRIVE – Our wellbeing program helps you be your best, inside and out.
• Exclusive discounts – Enjoy special deals on big-name brands like Clinicians, BraveFace, Avene, Ego, and more.

At Douglas, we’re more than just a company – we’re a community of people driven to make a difference. We’re proud to be one of New Zealand’s biggest pharmaceutical success stories, and we’re growing globally. Privately owned and future-focused, our team of 500 includes scientists, engineers, and all kinds of experts, working together to create high-quality healthcare products that help people around the world.

Come join us on this mission to improve lives!