Automation Support Engineer

2. Req Story / Context

This requirement is to build out a dedicated night and weekend automation support team for Lilly's Concord facility, where Rovi Sys already serves as the on-site Automation expert. The focus is not on greenfield development, but on live production support for formulation and filling lines in a GMP environment, with an emphasis on pharma process understanding, uptime, and compliance over pure "PLC programming."

• Rovi Sys currently supports Lilly Concord with a team of ~8 engineers, blending senior veterans and newer staff who are being mentored on-site.

• The new hires will expand coverage to 7-8 additional contractors focused on nights and weekends, with work expected to continue at least through 2026.

• The core technical environment is Rockwell Automation:
  Allen-Bradley PLCs and Factory Talk HMIs/SCADA, requiring strong real-time troubleshooting skills.

• The work is high-stakes production support: issues must be resolved quickly but always within strict SOPs, change control, and GMP/compliance boundaries.

• Lilly prioritizes candidates with explicit pharma/life sciences experience to reduce deviation risk; generic industrial automation experience alone is not sufficient.

• The schedule centers on flexible 4x10 shifts covering Friday-Monday weekends and aligned evening/night coverage to support second shift handoff.

• Flexibility and ownership are essential: engineers may need to stay past scheduled hours when production demands it and must be comfortable being the "go-to" on-shift resource.

• Engagement model is contractor with expectation of at least a 12-month commitment and potential for conversion to full-time Rovi Sys employment depending on performance and fit.

• Target pay range ($100-$110/hr) reflects the premium for nights/weekends and the demand for senior, self-sufficient pharma automation talent.

3. TS Relationship

Rovi Sys has a high-trust, long-term partnership with Lilly at the Concord site and is given broad autonomy to design and staff the automation support model as long as uptime and compliance expectations are met. Decisions about who to hire, how to structure shifts, and how to blend senior and junior talent are owned by Rovi Sys leadership, with Lilly primarily involved in oversight and results rather than day-to-day hiring.

• Primary internal stakeholders are Andrew Coburn and Craig Watts, who co-own defining the role requirements and making hiring decisions.

• Rovi Sys, not Lilly, conducts the interviews and owns the selection process;
  Lilly may review resumes but does not directly interview candidates.

• The existing model of veterans plus newer engineers has been successful and is the basis for expanding the team; senior staff mentor newer hires while maintaining production reliability.

• Lilly views Rovi Sys as the Automation expert on-site, relying on them for troubleshooting, response, and risk management around automation changes.

• As long as Rovi Sys continues to meet performance expectations, Lilly is flexible on staffing and structure, supporting long-term growth and additional lines beyond 2026.

• The hiring process is intentionally streamlined, with a single interview including multiple Rovi Sys managers to accelerate decisions.

• Rovi Sys expects timely, proactive communication from recruiting regarding pipeline status, risks, and market feedback on rates and availability.

• There is openness to adjust experience mix and pay within reason based on what the market can provide while still meeting Lilly's requirements.

4. Experience (Must-Haves)

The ideal candidate profile is a self-sufficient pharma automation engineer with solid Rockwell experience, who has already operated in GMP environments and is comfortable being the primary support resource on off-shifts. Technical strength must be matched by the ability to navigate procedures and communicate with production teams under pressure.

• 5+ years of hands-on automation experience in pharma or closely related life sciences manufacturing (GMP required).

• Demonstrated experience supporting formulation, filling, packaging, or other sterile/regulated production lines (not just lab or utilities, if possible).

• Strong background with Rockwell /…