Systems Engineer in Ormond Beach, Florida at Germfree Laboratories Inc
Job Description
Job Description
Job Title: Systems Engineer III Effective Date: 05NOV2026
Department: Engineering
Reports to: Team Lead – Systems Engineering
Location: 4 Sunshine Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL 32174
Work Schedule: Full-time, salaried exempt; occasional travel for customer meetings, installation or commissioning support; overtime may be required
Role purpose
The Systems Engineer III is a senior individual contributor who leads the design, integration and testing of complex control systems for Germfree's standard and custom equipment and facilities, directs root-cause work, writes Germfree controls practices and mentors less experienced engineers.
Germfree Engineering designs the products the plant builds: containment and aseptic equipment (biosafety cabinets, isolators, gloveboxes, laminar flow workstations, pass-throughs) and turnkey modular and mobile facilities (BSL-2 to BSL-4 biocontainment labs, cGMP cleanrooms and compounding pharmacies) with integrated HVAC, electrical, plumbing and controls. Much of the work is engineered-to-order for regulated customers, so designs must be buildable in the Ormond Beach plant, code-compliant, and documented well enough to pass customer and certifier review.
Systems Engineering owns the controls and low-voltage systems that make a Germfree product work: PLCs, smart relays, VFD/motor controls, building management system (BMS), HMIs, access control, fire and security, CCTV; and the IT infrastructure that ties them together — servers, virtual machines, network switches, routers and firewalls. Most systems are built from commercial off-the-shelf components, packaged into modules and trailers that ship worldwide and must be reassembled and recommissioned quickly.
Germfree facility automation is more than just typical BMS. Germfree provides turnkey automation solutions that encompass all project development disciplines: specification; sequence of operations, room pressurization, temperature and humidity; alarm management and notification; trending, data logging, reporting, operator graphics and workstations; user access and security; remote monitoring; and the integration of Germfree equipment and third-party systems via BACnet and Modbus into one supervised facility.
E3s take the controls work where requirements are incomplete or new: a BSL-3 pressure cascade with door interlocks and alarms, integration with a customer's existing building management system, or a new equipment control platform. The difference from E2 is not project size — it is handling the unknowns without a template.
What success looks like
Everyone at Germfree is reviewed on the same four expectations — Performance, Technical Proficiency, Credit & Accountability, and Communication & Conflict — judged against this rung, not against other people.
- Performance. Delivers quality work on schedule and picks up cross-training where it helps the team. For an E3 that means complex controls scope delivered to requirement, schedule and budget; systems that pass FAT and commissioning with few controls findings; at least one Germfree controls standard or program library module written and in use; and measurable growth in the engineers and technicians they mentor.
- Technical Proficiency. Meets the technical proficiency list below on their own.
- Credit & Accountability. Owns complex outcomes end to end and never shifts blame; makes the people they mentor look good.
- Communication & Conflict. Explains controls issues clearly to other disciplines and customers; handles tense moments early and calmly.
The two teamwork expectations stand on their own — strength in one does not make up for falling short on the other.
Year-one accomplishments
- Leads the controls design of a complex job — cGMP/BSL-3 facility, customer BMS integration or new equipment platform — through FAT.
- Publishes a Germfree controls standard, template or program library module.
- Has begun elevating the team — mentees taking on work they could not do a year earlier.
Key responsibilities
Technical ownership
- Lead design, development, integration and testing of complex electrical and control systems: control architecture, panel design, logic, alarms and communications.
- Design containment controls — room pressure cascades, airlock and door interlocks, alarm philosophy — and integrate them with customer systems.
- Troubleshoot problem BMS networks and integrations — BACnet, Modbus and mixed-vendor systems — and define integration methods, including alarm handling, trending and data recording.
- Write and test structured text for BMS applications that meets the written objectives of the SOO.
- Build and configure the IT infrastructure behind controls and BMS systems: servers and virtual machines, network switches and routers, routing and firewall rules, and secure remote access; test firewalls and network security before FAT.
- Ensure designs comply with UL, NFPA and other applicable codes.
Standards and quality
- Develop and maintain Germfree controls standards: panel standards, a standard program library, and alarm conventions.
- Review redlines, ECRs and ECNs to keep production methods consistent and accurate.
- Direct root-cause analysis with audits and cross-functional follow-through until fixes are implemented.
- Review system design and performance with regulatory agencies where oversight exists.
Customer and project
- Translate client requirements into technical solutions; support proposals and customer design reviews.
- Lead complex projects and help manage resources to hold schedule.
- Support CQV during FAT and commissioning on complex jobs.
Scope of this level
Area | Expectation at this level |
Direction received | Minimal; sets own technical approach within project goals. |
Work complexity | Complex, multi-disciplinary or novel control systems. |
Problem solving | Solves complex problems; anticipates risk. |
Influence on others | Technical mentor; shapes project outcomes and controls practices. |
Technical proficiency
What fully doing this rung means:
- Designs the full control architecture for a multi-module containment facility and carries it through FAT.
- Programs and validates pressure cascade control, interlocks and alarm handling that hold up in commissioning.
- Writes and tests structured text BMS code that meets a written SOO without supervision.
- Diagnoses intermittent network and communication faults on mixed-vendor systems.
- Builds a controls/BMS server and network — virtual machines, routers, routing and firewall rules — and proves it working and secure before FAT.
- Translates cGMP and BMBL requirements into controls decisions, including where data must be recorded and protected.
- Writes clear standards and work instructions others can follow.
- Matrix targets: AutoCAD 3 · Airflow Balancing 2 · GF Product Knowledge 2 · cGMP/BMBL 2 · Project Management 2 · Technical Writing 2 · MS Office 2.
Qualifications
- BS in Electrical, Computer, Controls or Mechatronics Engineering, or related field.
- 5–8 years of electrical and controls design experience.
- Proficient programming of PLCs, DDC or similar (IDEC, Keyence, Allen-Bradley, or similar), plus VFDs and HMIs.
- Writes and tests structured text (IEC 61131-3) for BMS applications.
- Detailed BMS experience — BACnet and Modbus integration, alarm management, trending and front-end configuration — including defining methods and troubleshooting problem systems.
- Hands-on IT infrastructure skills: building servers and virtual machines, configuring routers and firewall rules, and testing network security.
- Fluent in AutoCAD 2D; strong drafting.
- Skilled in project planning, milestones and resource management.
- Mentors and leads technical teams.
Preferred experience
- Biocontainment, cleanroom or pharmaceutical facility controls experience.
- Understanding of ventilation and HVAC design.
- Familiarity with 21 CFR Part 11 for systems that record GMP data.
- Experience with emergency vehicles, coaches or boats.
- Solid Edge or other 3D design software.
Tools and standards
Tools: AutoCAD, PLC, HMI, drive and BAS software, BMS front-end, network diagnostic, virtualization and router/firewall configuration tools, Global Shop Solutions ERP, Microsoft Office, test instruments.
Standards: Germfree controls standards; UL 508A; NEC/NFPA 70; NFPA 70E; NFPA 72; BACnet (ASHRAE 135) and Modbus; IEC 61131-3; ISA-5.1 symbols; 21 CFR Part 11; ISO 14644, CDC/NIH BMBL, cGMP and EU GMP Annex 1 as they bear on controls.
Core capabilities
Top five traits, ranked: 1 Analytical Skills · 2 Precision / Attention to Detail · 3 Teamwork · 4 Problem Solver · 5 Tenacity. Core values: Grit, Ownership, Innovation, Integrity.
Work environment
- Office environment with regular time on the production floor, at test benches and in test areas.
- Extended computer, CAD and programming work; occasional lifting up to 25 lbs.
- Required PPE on the production floor.
- Occasional travel for customer meetings, installation or commissioning support. Overtime may be required.
Growth path
Staff Systems Engineer (E4) on the technical path, or Team Lead – Systems Engineering on the people-leadership path. Promotion is based on consistently doing next-rung work, separate from the annual review.
Supervision Required: Minimal – Sets own technical approach within project goals.
Supervisory Responsibilities: None. Leads complex projects technically and mentors E1–E2 engineers and technicians.
Why You’ll Love Germfree:
Germfree is committed to employee well-being, growth, and work-life balance. We provide a supportive environment, strong benefits, and the tools you need to succeed.
- Insurance & Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Short- and long-term disability
- Company-paid life insurance
- Optional pet insurance
- Pay & Financial Perks
- 401(k) with company match
- Employee referral bonuses
- Shoe and prescription safety-glasses reimbursements
- Time Off & Leave
- 80 hours of paid holidays, including year-end shutdown
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Two paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO) days annually
- Paid paternity leave after one year
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We value and celebrate the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of all individuals, and we believe that diversity drives innovation and growth. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.
We also maintain a drug-free workplace. Offers of employment may be contingent upon the successful completion of a drug screening, in accordance with applicable laws and company policies.
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