Senior Equipment Engineer, Cell Therapy

AstraZeneca • Rockville, MD

4d

About The Position

Join RMC at a pivotal stage in its growth and help shape the engineering systems that enable reliable, compliant, and resilient commercial cell therapy manufacturing. In this highly visible role, you will provide engineering leadership and lifecycle ownership for manufacturing, laboratory, facility, utility, and GMP infrastructure assets—translating complex challenges into practical solutions that protect product quality, patient supply, safety, capacity, and business continuity. You will lead technical and capital initiatives and collaborate across the cell therapy network to advance common standards, digital integration, and engineering excellence. Because these capabilities support continuous manufacturing operations, the role participates in a shared 24/7 on-call support model.

Requirements

• 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.
• Ability to work independently, navigate competing priorities, solve technical problems, and lead cross-functional delivery with sound judgment, influence, and coordination.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Support operational teams as the trusted technical owner and subject matter expert for more than 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.
• Lead troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, technical investigations, change management, and sustainable corrective actions addressing equipment failures, deviations, data-integrity risks, reliability, and performance, informed by asset, maintenance, alarm, historical, quality, and vendor data.
• Establish and sustain engineering requirements for automation/OT, alarm management, critical operating parameters, reliability, maintenance strategies, and engineering drawings, 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.
• Provide matrix leadership to engineers, technicians, contractors, and cross-functional teams by reviewing deliverables, mentoring colleagues, influencing decisions, and supporting operational readiness and reliable return to service.
• Manage service and accountability across more than 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.
• Support cell therapy manufacturing network improvements by standardizing equipment, specifications, digital integration, lifecycle practices, and technical solutions, and 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.

Benefits

• Eligibility for short-term incentive bonuses.
• Equity-based awards for salaried roles.
• Qualified retirement programs.
• Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and leaves.
• Health coverage.
• Dental coverage.
• Vision coverage.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior