Lead Calibration Engineer

Catalent; Swindon; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Site performance bonus

Pension scheme (8% match)

Life assurance

Generous holiday entitlement

Job summary

Catalent Swindon is seeking a Lead Calibration Engineer to join our site. The role blends hands-on calibration work with leadership, ensuring safety and GMP compliance while mentoring a small team of engineers and technicians.

You will oversee calibration activities, review records, and drive continuous improvement in equipment reliability within a busy pharmaceutical manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Hands-on calibration experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing or GMP environments is essential.
• Ability to lead and coordinate a small technical team.
• Strong GMP and data integrity understanding.

Responsibilities

• Perform hands-on calibration, testing, fault finding, and troubleshooting of pharmaceutical equipment.
• Lead and coordinate day-to-day activities of the Calibration team.
• Provide mentoring and support to calibration engineers and technicians.

Skills

Calibration

Team leadership

GMP knowledge

Problem solving

Documentation

Instrumentation

Tools

Calibration equipment

Job description

Our Swindon facility houses our Zydis® fast dissolving tablet development and manufacturing operation as well as a CMC pharmaceutical analytical lab services unit that offers ASAP stability.

Position Summary

We have an opportunity for a Lead Calibration Engineer to join our team. This role combines hands‑on calibration work with leadership responsibilities, ensuring all activities are completed safely and in compliance with GMP standards. You will act as a technical expert and mentor, supporting a small team of engineers and technicians. This is a key position for maintaining equipment reliability and driving team performance in a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment.

Shift: Monday to Friday plus call out

Location: Swindon, UK

100% Onsite

The Role

• Perform hands‑on calibration, testing, fault finding and troubleshooting of pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment, ensuring compliance with site procedures and GMP requirements.
• Lead and coordinate the day‑to‑day activities of the Calibration team, allocating and prioritising workloads to meet business needs.
• Provide technical guidance, mentoring and support to calibration engineers and technicians, fostering team capability and development.
• Ensure all calibration activities are completed safely, accurately and within agreed timescales, maintaining equipment calibration status at all times.
• Investigate and resolve calibration failures, deviations and equipment‑related issues, escalating risks where appropriate.
• Maintain and review calibration records and documentation, ensuring compliance with GMP, data integrity and quality standards.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Maintenance and Quality teams to coordinate activities, minimise downtime and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor team performance, support training and audits, deputise for management when required, and remain actively involved in the execution of calibration work.

The Candidate

Minimum Requirements

• Previous experience in a hands‑on calibration role, preferably within a pharmaceutical manufacture, GMP or similarly regulated environment is essential.
• Strong practical knowledge of calibration principles, instrumentation and associated equipment.
• Previous experience leading, coordinating or supervising a small technical team desirable.
• Comfortable balancing hands‑on technical work with people leadership and day‑to‑day coordination.
• Good understanding of GMP, data integrity and pharmaceutical engineering standards.

Preferred Skills & Background

• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and respond effectively to operational requirements.
• Strong problem‑solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Good communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive approach to continuous improvement.
• Ability to lead by example and work effectively as part of a wider engineering/operations team.

Why You Should Join Catalent

• Our Swindon facility houses our Zydis® fast dissolving tablet development and manufacturing operation as well as a CMC pharmaceutical analytical lab services unit that offers ASAP stability.
• Competitive Salary – Reflecting your experience and skills.
• Bonus & Benefits – Includes a site performance bonus, a pension scheme matching up to 8% and life assurance. Enjoy a generous holiday entitlement that increases with tenure, with the option to purchase additional leave. Plus, gain access to Reward Gateway, offering discounts at many national retailers.
• Career Development – Access high‑quality training, mentoring, and cross‑functional opportunities within Catalent’s global network. Benefit from a subscription to LinkedIn Learning, providing access to 10,000+ online courses.
• Health & Wellbeing – Includes an employee assistance programme, on‑site canteen facilities, and an active safety and “Patient First” culture. Take advantage of a Cycle to Work Scheme and an Electric Vehicle car scheme.
• Excellent Location – Just a two‑minute drive from J16 of the M4, with free on‑site parking.

Catalent offers rewarding opportunities to further your career! Join the global drug development and delivery leader and help us bring over 7,000 life‑saving and life‑enhancing products to patients around the world. Catalent is an exciting and growing international company where employees work directly with pharma, biopharma and consumer health companies of all sizes to advance new medicines from early development to clinical trials and to the market. Catalent produces more than 70 billion doses per year, and each one will be used by someone who is counting on us. Join us in making a difference.

personal initiative. dynamic pace. meaningful work.

Catalent is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any characteristic protected by local law.

If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, you may submit your request by sending an email, and confirming your request for an accommodation and include the job number, title and location to [e-mail]. This option is reserved for individuals who require accommodation due to a disability. Information received will be processed by a U.S. Catalent employee and then routed to a local recruiter who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the application or hiring process.

Notice to Agency and Search Firm Representatives: Catalent Pharma Solutions (Catalent) is not accepting unsolicited resumes from agencies and/or search firms for this job posting. Resumes submitted to any Catalent employee by a third party agency and/or search firm without a valid written & signed search agreement, will become the sole property of Catalent. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral. Thank you.