At SGP Technology, we’re seeing a shift in what companies want from their hires. Across industries like manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and energy, our clients are hunting for a rare breed: professionals who can handle both regulatory compliance and automation tech. It’s a tough ask, and it’s changing how businesses approach recruitment.
Why It’s Hard to Find the Right Talent
The problem is, most candidates are either compliance experts or tech wizards—not both. When we recruit for these roles, we’re pulling from different pools:
- Quality assurance pros who’ve dabbled in tech.
- Automation engineers who’ve worked in regulated settings.
- IT folks familiar with compliance software.
- Process engineers who’ve tackled regulatory reporting.
The real challenge for companies is figuring out what they actually need. We often see job descriptions evolve mid-search as businesses get a clearer picture of what’s out there.
What Companies Want
From the job specs we’re getting, it’s clear companies are after a unique mix of skills that’s hard to find in one person. While needs differ by industry, a few things keep coming up:
Bridging Two Worlds
Employers want people who can talk compliance and automation fluently. You don’t need to be a coding genius, but you’ve got to understand enough to connect the dots between tech and regulations.
Solving Problems Creatively
Being able to spot a compliance issue and come up with a tech-driven fix is huge. Companies value this kind of thinking over niche technical know-how that can be picked up later.
Speaking Everyone’s Language
These roles require translating between tech teams and compliance officers. If you can make both sides understand each other, you’re gold.
Rolling with Changes
Regulations never stand still, so companies prize people who can adapt fast and build solutions that flex with new rules.
When we work with clients, we push them to focus on these big-picture skills rather than hyper-specific tech expertise that can be taught on the job.
How Needs Vary by Industry
Different sectors have different priorities:
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices
In these tightly regulated fields, knowing rules like FDA 21 CFR Part 11 (for electronic records) often matters more than broad automation skills.
Manufacturing
Here, it’s about understanding quality management systems and production workflows, paired with automation experience.
Energy
Energy companies focus on environmental compliance and specific reporting needs, alongside tech know-how.
These differences mean one-size-fits-all hiring doesn’t work. Each industry needs a tailored approach.
Building Teams, Not Chasing Unicorns
Instead of holding out for that perfect candidate who checks every box, many companies are finding success by building teams with complementary skills. We’ve helped clients try a few strategies:
- Pairing compliance experts with automation engineers.
- Forming cross-functional teams with IT, operations, and compliance staff.
- Creating training programs to teach techies about regulations or compliance pros about tech.
- Bringing in consultants while growing internal talent.
This team approach often gets better results than endless searches for a single “perfect” hire.
Opportunities for Professionals
If you’re a professional eyeing this space, the outlook is bright. We’re seeing strong demand in the US, UAE, and Europe, especially in regulated manufacturing and critical infrastructure. These jobs come with great pay and room to grow, given how critical they are to businesses.
Want to break into this field? Get experience where tech and regulations overlap—it’ll set you up well.
How SGP Technology Can Help
At SGP Technology, we get how tricky it is to recruit for specialized roles like these. Our focus on automation, OT cybersecurity, SAP, process controls, and Industry 4.0 gives us a clear view of what’s needed. We help clients nail down realistic job specs, find the right talent pools, and craft recruitment plans that work.
With experience across the US, UAE, and Europe, we understand how regulations and talent markets differ by region. Whether you’re a company building your compliance automation team or a professional looking to jump into this growing field, we can guide you through the process.
Ready to tackle your recruitment needs or explore career opportunities in compliance automation? Reach out to SGP Technology to talk about how we can help.
