Senior HVAC Maintenance Technician

AstraZeneca•Santa Monica, CA

11d•$71,750 - $107,624•Onsite

About The Position

This role is responsible for leading preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance across various HVAC systems including AHUs, chillers, boilers, heat exchangers, VAVs, exhaust, dehumidifiers, and split systems. The technician will ensure temperature, humidity, airflow, and pressurization in GMP spaces are maintained. A key aspect of the role is ensuring cleanroom compliance with ISO 14644 standards, supporting aseptic areas and gowning zones. The position involves optimizing and troubleshooting BMS/EMS/SCADA systems, coordinating calibration, and supporting validation processes. The Senior HVAC Maintenance Technician will drive investigations and CAPA using RCA methods, maintain cGMP/GDP records, and champion audit readiness. The role also focuses on improving energy efficiency, planning and executing outages, leading safety culture, and managing spares and CMMS workflows. Collaboration with Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Validation, and Operations is essential. The role offers direct support to compliant manufacturing and product quality, with opportunities for complex system ownership, cross-functional collaboration, continuous improvement, and mentorship.

Requirements

High school diploma/GED
6–10+ years in HVAC maintenance, including 3–5 years in pharma/biotech or regulated GMP environments
Cleanroom HVAC experience is essential.
GMP know‑how: ISO cleanroom classifications, airflow visualization/smoke studies, pressurization cascades, aseptic requirements.
Technical strengths: AHUs/chillers/boilers/hydronics, humidity control, HEPA; strong controls/BMS proficiency (PID, trends, data integrity).
Validation: Sensor calibration, IQ/OQ/PQ, GDP, CAPA, Change Control.
Diagnostics: Advanced troubleshooting, basics of vibration analysis and thermography; instrumentation (anemometers, micromanometers, particle counters, data loggers).
Soft skills: Clear communication, teamwork, stakeholder management, decisive under time pressure, meticulous documentation.
Physical: Lift 50 lbs, ladders/heights/mechanical spaces, PPE for labs/cleanrooms, after-hours/on-call rotation.

Nice To Haves

Technical diploma/apprenticeship in HVAC/Mechanical/Building Services
Bachelor’s in Mechanical/Building is a plus.
Certifications: Safety training preferred; manufacturer training on chillers/controls and GxP/cleanroom courses are a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead preventive/predictive/corrective maintenance across AHUs, chillers, boilers, heat exchangers, VAVs, exhaust, dehumidifiers, and split systems—owning temperature, humidity, airflow, and pressurization in GMP spaces.
Ensure cleanroom compliance with ISO 14644: HEPA integrity, airflow patterns, recovery times, and differential pressures; support aseptic areas and gowning zones.
Optimize and troubleshoot BMS/EMS/SCADA (Siemens, Allen-Bradley, Johnson Controls): tune PID loops, rationalize alarms, adjust sequences of operation, and document via change control.
Coordinate calibration (temperature, RH, pressure, flow) and support IQ/OQ/PQ with solid validation documentation.
Drive investigations and CAPA using RCA methods (5-Why, Fishbone) and maintain impeccable cGMP/GDP records and SOPs.
Champion audit readiness (FDA/EU GMP) and keep systems in a validated state.
Improve energy and performance: VFDs, heat recovery, demand-based ventilation, and smart control strategies.
Plan and execute outages/turnarounds/capital projects with contractors, materials, and risk assessments.
Lead safety culture (LOTO, confined space, hot work, arc-flash; EPA 608 refrigerants) and mentor junior techs.
Manage spares and CMMS workflows; partner closely with Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Validation, and Operations.