Senior Critical Utilities & Controls Engineer (GMP Environment)

Allegiance Industries•Wilson, NC

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Allegiance Industries is a facilities services and full-service electrical contractor serving the commercial, industrial, and retail markets in the southeast United States. The Senior Critical Utilities & Controls Engineer is responsible for the technical oversight, reliability, and lifecycle management of site critical utilities and control systems within a GMP-regulated environment. This role serves as a lead role for building automation systems (BAS/BMS), PLC/HMI platforms, and central utilities including boilers, chillers, HVAC, and associated infrastructure. The position drives system performance, compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives while ensuring alignment with GMP, GDP, and GLP standards. This role partners closely with Facilities, Quality, Validation, and Engineering teams and provides technical leadership and direction to site technicians and vendors. Reporting to the Technical Manager, this individual plays a key role in ensuring audit readiness, system reliability, and long-term asset strategy.

Requirements

5–10+ years of experience in a GMP-regulated environment (pharma, biotech, or life sciences)
Strong hands-on experience with critical utilities systems (boilers, chillers, HVAC, etc.)
Experience with BAS/BMS platforms and PLC/HMI troubleshooting
Proven experience with EAM/CMMS systems (Maximo, SAP, or similar)
Strong understanding of GMP documentation practices and data integrity (ALCOA principles)
Demonstrated experience leading troubleshooting and reliability initiatives

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Controls, or related field)
Experience with validated systems and change control processes
Familiarity with regulatory inspections (FDA, EMA, etc.)
Experience in project engineering or capital project support
Knowledge of cybersecurity considerations for control systems

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & System Ownership Serve as a lead for critical utilities systems including boilers, chillers, HVAC, compressed air, and water systems (e.g., WFI, clean steam where applicable)
Own and support BAS/BMS and PLC/HMI control systems, ensuring system integrity, performance, and cybersecurity awareness
Provide technical direction and mentorship to facilities technicians and third-party vendors
Lead troubleshooting of complex system issues and drive resolution to minimize operational impact
Support system design reviews, upgrades, and capital projects
Reliability Engineering & Maintenance Strategy Develop and optimize preventative and predictive maintenance strategies for critical systems
Analyze system performance, trends, and failures to drive reliability improvements
Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA)
Ensure critical spares strategy and asset lifecycle planning are in place
Drive uptime, efficiency, and energy optimization initiatives
EAM / CMMS Governance Oversee execution and quality of maintenance activities within the EAM/CMMS system (e.g., SAP)
Ensure accuracy of asset hierarchy, job plans, and maintenance records
Review and approve work orders, ensuring completeness and compliance with data integrity standards (ALCOA)
Support planning and scheduling activities in coordination with maintenance teams
GMP Compliance / Validation / Documentation Ensure all systems and activities comply with GMP, GDP, and GLP standards
Support and lead change control, deviation investigations, and CAPA execution
Partner with Validation to maintain systems in a validated state, including support for IQ/OQ/PQ activities
Maintain audit-ready documentation and support internal/external regulatory inspections
Ensure adherence to all controlled procedures and documentation practices
Project & Continuous Improvement Support capital projects involving utilities and control systems from design through commissioning
Identify and implement process improvements to enhance system reliability and compliance
Drive standardization of maintenance practices and documentation
Support digitalization and smart facilities initiatives (e.g., data analytics, remote monitoring)
Cross-Functional Collaboration Interface with Quality, Manufacturing, Validation, and Engineering teams to ensure alignment on system performance and compliance
Act as the technical liaison for audits, inspections, and client interactions
Support training and development of site personnel on systems, procedures, and GMP expectations