Automation Engineer

Location: Puurs, Belgium

Internal job title: Automation Engineer

This role is based in Belgium. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.

About the Role

As an Automation Engineer, you will contribute to delivering our investment projects on time and within budget, while ensuring reliable production of our products with high operational reliability and performance. In parallel, you will maintain existing automation systems across various levels—from daily troubleshooting (corrective maintenance) to planned activities such as major hardware and/or software upgrades, patching, and efficiency improvements. These activities are part of the overall computer system lifecycle management.

Key Responsibilities

• Executing and following up on automation projects across the entire production site
• Managing various automation systems (production, buildings, and utilities) and contributing to automation planning
• Developing projects, including preparing technical specifications, creating detailed project plans, performing risk analyses and ensuring proper documentation, coordinating and supervising installation and software development in line with specifications, transferring completed projects to end users (production and maintenance)
• Collaborating closely with different stakeholders (production, engineering, IT)
• Delivering projects for operational validation with complete documentation, managing project documentation and software backups (software archive)
• Supporting validation activities
• Troubleshooting automation system issues (during and outside office hours)
• Organizing internal training sessions and supporting onboarding of new automation colleagues
• Aligning and maintaining up-to-date automation procedures
• Recommending improvements and upgrades to existing equipment to enhance efficiency

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a technical field (e.g., Industrial Engineering with specialization in automation, IT, Electromechanics, etc.)
• 6+ years’ experience in automation within an industrial environment
• Strong interest and experience in PLC development (Schneider, Siemens), HMI, SCADA systems (iFix), and databases
• Analytical and detail-oriented, with strong communication skills and a team-oriented mindset, with a strong passion for learning new technologies
• Excellent knowledge of Dutch and English, both spoken and written

Desirable Requirements

• Project management skills
• Experience in the pharmaceutical industry

Please note this role will require on call support on a rotational basis.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Accessibility and accommodation

Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e‑mail to and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.