Senior Equipment Engineer, Cell Therapy

Typical Accountabilities

• Support operational teams as the trusted technical owner and subject matter expert for 700+ manufacturing, laboratory, facility, and utility assets, shaping priorities and fit-for-purpose solutions aligned with site governance and standards.
• Guide the complete equipment lifecycle—from user requirements, risk assessment, technology selection, and procurement through installation, digital integration, commissioning, qualification, release, operation, maintenance, calibration, reliability improvement, relocation, and decommissioning.
• Turning complex equipment challenges into lasting improvements by leading troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, technical investigations, change management, and sustainable corrective actions for equipment failures, deviations, data-integrity, reliability, and performance risks, informed by asset, maintenance, alarm, historical, quality, and vendor data.
• Raise the standard for engineering excellence by establishing and sustaining requirements for automation/OT, alarm management, critical operating parameters, reliability, maintenance strategies, and engineering drawings while ensuring compliance with cGMP, quality, validation, data integrity, SHE, documentation, audit, and inspection expectations.
• Lead high-impact equipment and capital projects from concept through closeout, owning the business case, technical scope, schedule, cost, risk, resources, vendors, qualification and validation interfaces, turnover, benefits realization, and approved budgets within delegated authority.
• Inspire and align engineers, technicians, contractors, and cross-functional teams through matrix leadership, reviewing deliverables, mentoring colleagues, influencing decisions, and partnering across the site to achieve operational readiness and reliable return to service.
• Drive exceptional service and accountability across 60+ vendor agreements supporting critical manufacturing, quality control laboratory, and warehouse equipment by defining requirements, setting expectations, monitoring KPIs, leading escalations, and ensuring delivery against AstraZeneca standards.
• Help shape the future of the cell therapy manufacturing network by standardizing equipment, specifications, digital integration, lifecycle practices, and technical solutions, while enabling technology and equipment transfers, lessons learned, training, knowledge sharing, and adoption of network standards.
• Apply artificial intelligence and system and equipment data to uncover root causes, anticipate risk, strengthen reliability, and advance real-time process control.

Qualifications and Skills

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum of 5 years working in a cGMP biotechnology, pharmaceutical, cell therapy, or other regulated manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of engineering principles and equipment lifecycle management, including validation, automation/OT interfaces, digital integration, maintenance, calibration, reliability, change management, and decommissioning.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, navigate competing priorities, solve technical problems, and lead cross-functional delivery with sound judgment, influence, and coordination.

Desirable:

• Hands-on experience with robotic systems integrated with third-party manufacturing equipment; experience applying artificial intelligence to process execution is highly valued.
• Experience contributing to cross-site standardization, equipment or technology transfer, network change management, or other multi-site technical initiatives.