Senior DCS Systems Engineer

Location: Monksland, Athlone

37.5 per week (Mon–Fri, 09:00–17:00, flexible)

Competitive salary and benefits

Opening date: 14/04/2026

Closing date: midnight 20/04/2026

Introduction to role:

The Senior DCS Systems Engineer plays a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability, compliance and cybersecurity of GMP‑critical manufacturing systems. You will own the site Distributed Control System (DCS), safeguarding batch execution, control applications, servers and workstations, while enabling secure integration with historians, MES, utilities and facility systems.

Working at the interface of Automation and IT, this role supports digitalisation, analytics and AI‑enabled optimisation aligned with Industry 4.0, directly protecting patient supply and product quality.

Accountabilities:

• Own availability, performance and reliability of the site DCS and supporting OT infrastructure
• Maintain DCS systems in a validated, audit‑ready state (cGMP, GAMP 5, 21 CFR Part 11, data integrity)
• Govern change control for control logic, recipes, integrations and infrastructure
• Lead DCS cybersecurity controls in line with ISA/IEC 62443, including patching, segmentation and incident response
• Manage lifecycle and obsolescence strategies, leading DCS upgrades from design through validation and cutover
• Ensure resilient business continuity, backup, restore and disaster recovery arrangements
• Coordinate secure integration with PI System and enterprise platforms to enable analytics and AI initiatives
• Lead or support DCS projects and NPI readiness, managing vendors and system integrators
• Provide technical guidance and training across Automation, Manufacturing, QA, IT and Security teams

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Significant experience in DCS engineering within GMP pharmaceutical or regulated manufacturing
• Proven integration of DCS with AVEVA/OSIsoft PI and SQL Server in validated environments
• Solid understanding of DCS infrastructure, virtualization, Windows hardening and OT networking
• Experience implementing OT cybersecurity controls and vulnerability management
• Deep understanding of cGMP, GAMP 5, change control and IQ/OQ/PQ support
• Consistent track record delivering complex DCS upgrades and integrations
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to produce clear, audit‑ready documentation

Desirable Skills & Experience:

• Degree in Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent experience
• Advanced DCS batch, redundancy and lifecycle management expertise
• PowerShell or vendor automation tools
• Experience supporting analytics, data platforms or AI/ML initiatives
• GICSP or related cybersecurity certification

At AstraZeneca’s Alexion Rare Disease unit, work connects directly to people living with rare and devastating conditions, turning advanced science into meaningful impact every day. Colleagues collaborate in an open, inclusive environment that blends the agility of a biotech with the reach and resources of a global biopharma, enabling bold ideas in digitalisation, AI and advanced manufacturing to move quickly from concept to reality. Learning is continuous, with opportunities to grow skills, broaden experience and contribute to pioneering therapies that address areas of high unmet need while staying grounded in integrity, transparency and ethical decision-making.

If this opportunity resonates, apply now to help shape the future of manufacturing for people living with rare diseases!

Date Posted

14-Apr-2026

Closing Date

20-Apr-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.