HVAC/Refrigeration Sr Principal Engineer - Berkeley, CA

Bayer•Berkeley, CA

45d•$131,600 - $197,400•Onsite

About The Position

As the HVAC/Refrigeration Sr Principal Engineer, you are responsible for leading and coordinating technical initiatives across the organization to drive innovation and operational excellence; this position involves overseeing project engineering, maintenance strategies, and process improvements to ensure optimal performance and compliance with industry standards; you will emphasize the development of effective technical teams, foster collaboration, and promote knowledge sharing to enhance capabilities; your role includes identifying and implementing best practices, managing technical integrity, and ensuring all engineering activities align with organizational goals for safety, quality, and efficiency. Serve as the site-wide technical authority for all HVAC and refrigeration systems across GMP and non-GMP facilities, providing expert-level guidance on design, operation, maintenance, qualification, and compliance of HVAC and refrigeration infrastructure critical to pharmaceutical manufacturing, including sterile Class A and B filling environments and critical temperature-controlled storage environments.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in a relevant engineering or technical discipline
Demonstrated technical expertise in HVAC and industrial refrigeration systems and operations in regulated environments
Strong knowledge of GMP, OSHA, environmental requirements, and permit-to-work processes applicable to HVAC and refrigeration systems
Proven ability to coordinate and oversee contractor/vendor activities in the field, ensuring safe work execution and adherence to approved procedures
Exceptional troubleshooting and problem-solving skills to diagnose equipment or system failures, identify deviations or risks, and drive corrective actions
Proficiency with CMMS platforms such as SAP PM, Maximo, or equivalent for work order management and maintenance data integrity
Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, mechanical drawings, equipment manuals, and technical documentation to support maintenance and system decisions
Strong communication and collaboration skills to interface effectively with Maintenance, Engineering, Operations, Quality, EHS, and external vendors
Excellent planning, organization, and execution ownership to manage multiple priorities and ensure work is completed to specification

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree with 8+ years’ experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
HVAC or Refrigeration certificated program with 12+ years’ experience
5+ years’ experience in maintenance, reliability, or manufacturing operations within a regulated environment (pharmaceutical, biotech, food, or chemical)
Experience supporting HVAC qualification, validation, temperature mapping, and environmental monitoring in GMP facilities
Familiarity with building automation systems (Desigo, DeltaV) and industrial control integration for HVAC systems

Responsibilities

Serve as the site technical authority for all HVAC and refrigeration systems, including chillers, air handling units (AHUs), cooling towers, boilers, cleanroom air systems, exhaust systems, humidification/dehumidification systems, building automation systems (BAS/DeltaV/Desigo), compressors, evaporators, condensers, control systems, alarm systems, and associated utilities supporting +5°C and -30°C cold rooms
Lead and ensure the reliability, compliance, and continuous improvement of HVAC and refrigeration systems and GMP-critical infrastructure, including chilled and hot water systems, HEPA certification and air balancing programs, ISO 8 and sterile Class A/B environments, and SAP work order processes
Ensure HVAC and refrigeration systems maintain required environmental conditions and operate in full compliance with GMP, quality, regulatory, and environmental requirements applicable to a pharmaceutical manufacturing site
Provide expert troubleshooting and technical support for HVAC and refrigeration system failures, excursions, and performance issues, including root cause analysis, corrective action development, and recurrence prevention
Lead the development, optimization, and continuous improvement of preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance strategies for all HVAC and refrigeration assets, including spare parts management, lifecycle planning, and standardized maintenance procedures and SOPs
Maintain the technical integrity of HVAC and refrigeration asset information in the CMMS, including equipment records, PM plans, spare parts, and failure code strategy
Support the qualified state of controlled-temperature and GMP HVAC environments through qualification, requalification, temperature mapping, environmental monitoring review, and quality system activities including deviations, CAPAs, change controls, and risk assessments
Monitor and trend HVAC and refrigeration performance, alarm history, temperature data, energy use, and system reliability metrics to proactively identify risks, drive continuous improvement, and respond to environmental and utility excursions
Provide technical leadership and design review for HVAC and refrigeration-related capital projects, system upgrades, obsolescence remediation, and facility modifications, including contractor/vendor oversight
Leverage CMMS, Building Management Systems (Desigo, DeltaV), and industrial automation systems to support maintenance execution, operational excellence, and ongoing improvement efforts