Projects Automation Lead

Make your mark for patients

We are looking for a Projects Automation Lead – Engineering who is strategic, collaborative, and delivery‑oriented to join our team based at our UCB campus in Braine‑l’Alleud, Belgium.

About the role

You are going to define and drive UCB’s automation vision across engineering projects and manufacturing sites. You will translate strategic ambitions into a clear multi‑year automation roadmap and ensure its execution through a dedicated automation team. Combining leadership and hands‑on accountability, you will ensure automation solutions are compliant, standardized where needed, and consistently deployed to support long‑term site performance, digitalization, and sustainability.

Who you will work with

You will work closely with engineering project managers, site manufacturing, utilities and facilities teams. You will collaborate with system integrators and suppliers while animating a cross‑site automation network to share best practices, standards, and reusable solutions.

What you will do

• You will define and maintain the automation vision, strategy, and multi‑year roadmap for engineering projects and sites.


• You will be responsible for building, leading, and developing a central or federated automation team.


• You will act as automation discipline owner across capital projects, from concept to handover.


• You will ensure automation packages, standards, specifications, and architectures are fit‑for‑purpose and compliant.


• You will govern automation initiatives, balancing project delivery with long‑term standardization and sustainability.


• You will act as the single point of accountability for automation with internal and external stakeholders.

Interested? For this role, we are looking for the following education, experience, and skills

• Master’s degree in Engineering (Automation, Electrical, Industrial, Chemical, or similar).


• 10+ years of experience in industrial automation within regulated manufacturing environments.


• Proven experience leading automation teams or disciplines within capital projects.


• Strong understanding of automation systems, validation principles, and project lifecycles.


• Ability to translate strategy into execution with a pragmatic, delivery‑focused mindset.

• Clear and impactful communication skills, translating complex technical topics for diverse audiences.

• Excellent stakeholder management and matrix leadership skills.


• Fluent in French and English + willing to travel to UK, Switzerland, Japan (20% of the time).

Are you ready to ‘go beyond’ to create value and make your mark for patients? If this sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you! 

About us 
UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company, focusing on neurology and immunology. We are over 9.000 people in all four corners of the globe, inspired by patients and driven by science. 

Why work with us? 
At UCB, we don’t just complete tasks, we create value. We aren’t afraid to push forward, collaborate, and innovate to make our mark for patients. We have a caring, supportive culture where everyone feels included, respected, and has equal opportunities to do their best work. We ‘go beyond’ to create value for our patients, and always with a human focus, whether that’s on our patients, our employees, or our planet. Working for us, you will discover a place where you can grow, and have the freedom to carve your own career path to achieve your full potential. 

At UCB, we’ve embraced a hybrid-first approach to work, bringing teams together in local hubs to foster collaborative curiosity. Unless expressly stated in the description or precluded by the nature of the position, roles are hybrid with 40% of your time spent in the office.

UCB is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions will be made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable laws. 
 
Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on [email protected]. Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments; we will not be able to support you through this channel.