Meet Chris Birnie: Leading Automation & Technical Excellence at AES
From the Floor to the Frontlines: Chris Birnie on Leading with Curiosity, Building Cross-Functional Teams, and Driving Automation for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturers Forward at AES
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Chris Birnie, Director of Technical Solutions at AES, brings nearly 30 years of biotech expertise to leading global automation teams. Known for his collaborative mindset, broad technical scope, and dedication to mentorship, Chris is helping shape the future of automation in bioprocessing.
Q: How did you get your start in automation, and what drew you to AES?
I started in biotech right out of university, doing everything from operations to process sciences. What pulled me toward automation was the ability to really see how things worked. During a large capital project, I discovered I had a knack for automation. That insight, along with my early partnership with Leo, who shared a similar mindset, led me to AES. We both believe great automation engineers should be well-rounded—understanding process, equipment, and controls holistically.
Q: How has your background shaped your approach to leading highly technical teams?
I’ve done nearly every job in biotech, and that helps me meet engineers where they are. I try to be a mentor who encourages exploration across disciplines—not just siloed expertise. And I’ve grown from the “introverted engineer” stereotype to someone who values collaboration, human connection, and emotional intelligence in project execution.
Q: What does "technical solutions" mean at AES?
To me, it’s just engineering—solving real-world problems by applying experience across process, controls, and equipment. AES exposes engineers to a range of client challenges, helping them grow by solving different types of problems, from standardization to site-specific customization.
Q: What types of challenges are automation engineers solving at AES today, especially in regulated bioprocessing?
The range is huge. Engineers might be working on OEM software that needs to be flexible across clients, APW projects with strict regulatory needs, or global capital projects requiring standardized design across multiple facilities. Others support FDA audits at a site level. There’s also variation across tasks—some focus on testing, others on system architecture. That diversity is one of AES’s strengths.
“Automation isn’t just about making something work once—it’s about making it work reliably, repeatably, and with quality.”
Christopher Birnie
VP of Technical Solutions
Q: Where do you see automation in bioprocessing heading in the next 5–10 years?
AI is going to be big, especially in areas like drug discovery and data interpretation. We’ll also likely see continued momentum toward personalized medicine—which means more process variation, and that’s where automation thrives.
Q: How is AES staying ahead of automation trends?
By being deeply embedded in real-world innovation. Our engineers work on cutting-edge capital projects, and we share lessons across teams. That knowledge transfer—tools, libraries, process improvements—is what keeps us nimble.
Q: What excites you most about the future of AES?
We’re still small enough to stay agile but big enough to pursue large-scale execution. I see us growing into a biotech-first integrator—owning more of the project pie from panel design to project management. That creates powerful opportunities for our engineers to develop careers without switching companies every few years.
Q: Why is AES a compelling place to build a career in biotech automation?
Exposure, mentorship, and hands-on learning. From building in our Oceanside facility to supporting global projects, AES engineers gain a breadth of experience in a structured, supportive environment.
As Chris Birnie’s journey shows, automation is more than just technology, it’s about people, problem-solving, and building resilient systems that move biotech forward. At AES, his leadership is shaping the next generation of engineers to think holistically, collaborate across disciplines, and deliver solutions that are not only innovative but reliable and compliant. With a culture rooted in mentorship and technical excellence, Chris and the AES team are paving the way for the future of automation in bioprocessing.