Engineering Director

ASTRAZENECA UK LIMITED; Macclesfield; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company in Macclesfield seeks an experienced Engineering Director responsible for maintaining over 20 assets in their production facility. This role requires strategic leadership, fostering team collaboration, and driving continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment. Ideal candidates will have a relevant engineering degree and substantial experience in leading engineering teams, maintenance strategies, and project management. Join us to transform healthcare manufacturing!

Qualifications

• Proven ability to develop and implement business strategy for maintenance, obsolescence, and spares management.
• Demonstrated experience with TPM and lean manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of Safety, Health & Environment legislation.

Responsibilities

• Devise and execute an engineering strategy for compliance and maximum uptime.
• Lead a diverse team of engineers and technicians.
• Provide expert technical guidance for operations and capital projects.
• Champion change management and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Set direction for Engineering Team with KPIs that support production goals.

Skills

Expertise in production equipment maintenance

Leadership of large multidisciplinary teams

Budget management

Project and change management

Digital tools and data analysis

Lean Leadership and problem solving

Education

BEng/MEng Degree in relevant Engineering discipline

Job description

Overview

We're seeking an experienced Engineering Director who will be responsible for maintaining and improving over 20 assets in our Global Packing Centre and Tablet Manufacturing Facility. This role demands strategic and technical leadership, and excellence in both operations and project delivery. You will thrive in a fast-paced environment, leveraging innovative thinking and a hands-on, supportive approach to team engagement, problem solving and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Devise and execute an engineering strategy that ensures full compliance with regulatory, legal, and company standards, maximizing equipment uptime and fostering continuous improvement through the use of data and insights.
• Lead and inspire a diverse, high-performing team of Maintenance Managers, Automation Engineers and Technicians, engaging with team members, developing technical skills, and fostering a collaborative environment to maximize productivity and meet operational demands in a digital environment.
• Act as the Senior Engineer and Duty Holder, providing expert technical guidance for daily operations and capital projects, overseeing planning, budgeting, solution development, and supplier/contractor relationships.
• Champion change management, guiding the team through periods of transformation and process improvement, building consensus, and communicating goals and expectations to facilitate the rollout of new systems, technologies, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Set direction and standards for the Engineering Team, establishing KPIs that support production goals, including OEE, MTBS, MTBF and spares management.
• Apply problem-solving skills and an innovative mindset to challenge existing processes, champion new technologies, and implement transformative improvements in a fast-paced manufacturing setting.

Essential Skills & Experience

• BEng/MEng Degree in a relevant Engineering discipline (or equivalent experience)
• Expertise in production equipment maintenance
• Experience in leading a large multidisciplinary team of Engineering professionals creating a culture of continuous improvement
• In-depth knowledge of Safety, Health & Environment legislation (including Safe Systems of Work)
• Full understanding of Good Manufacturing Practice legislation (including Change Control)
• Proven ability to develop and implement business strategy for maintenance, obsolescence, and spares management
• Budget management experience
• Proven expertise in project and change management, especially in engaging teams to drive and embed operational transformations
• Demonstrated ability to leverage digital tools and data analysis to boost equipment reliability including CMMS
• Demonstrated Lean Leader with experience of TPM and significant practical experience with problem solving tools

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience with Tablet Batch Processing and Tablet/Device Packing Lines
• Chartered Engineer status
• Previous experience of working in a unionised environment

Our ambition is to deliver more medicines to patients faster and more affordably while maintaining our commitment to excellence and innovation. Everything we do is driven by our promise to accelerate growth for AstraZeneca and improve people’s lives globally. We are determined to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market and continually seek innovative ways to deliver medicine to patients. Resilience, positivity, and a dedication to progress define our workplace. At AstraZeneca, your ideas are valued and your contributions are rewarded.

If you are ready to break new ground and leave a lasting legacy, now is the time to take ownership and help reshape our ecosystem—driving technological advances and ethical standards in everything we do. Ready to make a difference? Apply now to join our dynamic Operations team and help transform the future of healthcare manufacturing at AstraZeneca.