Your role
Do you have a background in industrial automation and are you accustomed to working in an industrial environment? Are you adept at diagnosing issues and formulating solutions in unforeseen scenarios in co-operation with other experts? Do you proactively seek information and feel comfortable contacting the right people when needed? Do you strive to stay one step ahead by anticipating, for example, spare-part needs, the production schedule, and other variables, so that you can help ensure the machines keep running?
We are looking for a solution-oriented and proactive Automation Engineer for Orion's pharmaceutical production at our Salo site to support Orion's growth goals. The Salo site serves as Orion's logistics center, where tablets are packaged on several continuously fed packaging lines. As production volumes increase, ensuring reliable equipment operation and proactive lifecycle management becomes increasingly important, and we want to invest in this by bringing in more skilled hands.
The Automation Engineer is responsible for troubleshooting automation-related problems and ensuring smooth operations from an automation point of view, managing the lifecycle of production equipment, and performing or coordinating HW and SW changes and updates. You will work on-site in close collaboration with Salo's technical team, with strong support from the Orion Automation team. Although production runs in three shifts, this full-time, permanent position is primarily a day-shift role.
Responsibilities
- Support production when needed in automation-related questions and troubleshooting HW/SW-related issues
- Participate in production development and identify, design, and implement lifecycle management of production equipment from an automation perspective
- Implement and/or coordinate HW and SW changes to devices
What you can expect from us
The automation team has a relaxed, down-to-earth culture where people feel comfortable speaking up, asking questions, and supporting one another - helping ensure a safe environment for everyone. The team possesses extensive expertise in automation, electrical work, and various systems, providing support in almost any topic, and we are also willing to provide training opportunities to support your professional growth. Our team collaborates closely with a wide range of stakeholders, enhancing comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the pharmaceutical industry. Flexibility and maintaining a healthy balance between free time and work are important to us. No two days are the same, and there are always diverse challenges and projects to solve.
In this role, you will gain great insight into production at Orion, which will give you the opportunity - if you wish - to later move on to other tasks within Orion.
At Orion, your work creates true impact and well-being for our customers, patients and society at large. Our culture of friendliness, respect, mutual appreciation and diversity creates a safe working environment where you can strive for excellence. We offer a wealth of career paths and development opportunities that support the development of innovative solutions and improving the quality of life.
Please visit our website to find further information about our values and Orion as an employer https://www.orion.fi/en/careers/orion-as-an-employer/.
What are we looking for
Success in this role requires:
- Suitable education and sufficient work experience to work in tasks requiring electrical competence
- Understanding of the overall operation of PLC- and servo-controlled machines
- Knowledge of automation systems (e.g. Siemens S7/PCS7, Schneider, Systech, machine vision systems)
- Skills and experience in both HW and SW, with the capability to make small changes independently
- Proficiency in both spoken and written Finnish and English, as we work in both languages
- A positive attitude towards teamwork and open communication
Moreover, experience in working in a regulated environment is considered an advantage, as well as an electrical qualification (S2/S3).
How to apply
Please apply through Orion Careers site by Sunday, May 3, 2026. Tomi Pitkäniemi (Head of Automation) tel. +358 50 966 7295, is happy to answer any questions you may have. You may call at any time; however, he is most easily available on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
We typically review applications already during the application period and may start interviewing candidates before the application deadline. Therefore, we invite you to send your application as soon as possible.
Approved medical examination which also includes drug testing is required prior to the employment. We will also carry out a security clearance prior to the employment for the selected person.
Your new team
Orion's Global Operations covers the entire pharmaceutical manufacturing process, from sourcing of raw materials to the manufacture of products, packaging and delivery to customers. We are also responsible for the industrialization of new products and product life cycle management.
In Global Operations we have approximately 1,600 professionals working in Production, our external supplier network (Externally Sourced Operations) and Fermion Oy (API manufacturing and marketing). In addition, the organization includes Supply Chain & Procurement, Technical Operations, Facility Management, EHS (Environment, Health and Safety), CPD&LCM (Commercial Product Development & Product lifecycle management) and Operations Development.
The Automation Team at Orion Pharma is responsible for process, machine automation, and factory systems at all Orion Pharma factory locations. Within the Automation Department, we operate in small teams, each with its own areas of responsibility. In total we have more than thirty technicians and engineers to do our core job, keep production up and running. However, main allocation of our work time goes to many investment and modernization projects that support Orion growth strategies and build capabilities to further develop operations.
About Us
Orion Pharma is a globally operating Nordic pharmaceutical company - a builder of well-being for over a hundred years.
We're home to more than 4,000 Orionees around the world, and we're proud to be known as a responsible employer and a great place to work. At Orion Pharma, people are truly valued and trusted, encouraged to grow, and supported by a culture where every voice is heard. We appreciate each other, strive for excellence, and build the future.
Together we develop, manufacture, and market human and veterinary pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Our extensive portfolio includes proprietary and generic medicines as well as consumer health products. The core therapy areas of our pharmaceutical R&D are oncology and pain. Proprietary products developed by Orion Pharma are used to treat cancer, neurological diseases, respiratory diseases, and more.
We offer careers with a clear purpose: empowering people to live their lives to the fullest.