Senior MES Platform Engineer (Manufacturing Execution System)

1054 GlaxoSmithKline Services Unlimited; Ware; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

GlaxoSmithKline plc in the United Kingdom is seeking a Technical Specialist (Senior MES Platform Engineer) to lead lifecycle, reliability, compliance and evolution of global MES platforms such as Siemens Opcenter and AspenTech. You will translate roadmaps into designs, coordinate upgrades, and ensure secure, validated deployments across manufacturing IT and OT environments.

Working with cross‑functional teams you will drive engineering standards, risk management and validation evidence, while

Qualifications

• Relevant Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, or related technical discipline.
• Strong experience with MES, manufacturing data technologies and platform engineering in regulated environments.
• Experience collaborating with stakeholders, contractors and suppliers; validation and change-control awareness.

Responsibilities

• Translate MES roadmaps into solution designs and engineering work packages.
• Design and review platform upgrades across application, database, OS, and hosting layers.
• Provide senior engineering expertise across Azure, on-premises hosting, Windows Server and databases.
• Ensure designs are secure, scalable, validated and aligned with enterprise standards.
• Manage contractor delivery, reviews, and knowledge transfer; act as technical interface with vendors.

Job description

We are looking for a Technical Specialist (Senior MES Platform Engineer) to join our Global Supply Chain (GSC) Digital and Technology function. The GSC Digital and Technology function spearheads the implementation of integrated digital solutions and AI into the supply chain (including Smart Manufacturing, Enterprise Resource Planning – ERP - Evolution and broader supply chain technology and data capabilities). Job Purpose: The Senior MES Platform Engineer provides technical expertise for the lifecycle, reliability, compliance and continuous evolution of global Manufacturing Execution System (MES) platforms and associated manufacturing data technologies. The role turns the technical roadmap and platform backlog into robust designs and executable delivery plans for upgrades, vendor releases, infrastructure changes, remediation and standardisation. It assesses technical options, defines reusable engineering patterns, reviews contractor designs and ensures that solutions are secure, scalable, validated, supportable and aligned with enterprise architecture and manufacturing technology standards. The position works across several platforms, including Siemens Opcenter, AspenTech manufacturing solutions, Emerson Syncade, and Aspen IP.21. Working closely with the Global MES Platform Manager, MES Platform Manager, Product Owners, Architects, Infrastructure and Cloud teams, Computer System Validation, Quality, Cyber Security, Service Management, vendors and delivery partners, the role provides hands‑on technical leadership to coordinates complex engineering activities and lead technical troubleshooting. This includes ensuring effective documentation and knowledge transfer from external contractors to the internal organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate the MES technical roadmap and platform backlog into solution designs, engineering work packages, implementation plans and technical acceptance criteria. Manage technical assessment of vendor releases, patches, support requirements, infrastructure dependencies and obsolescence risks.
• Design and review platform upgrades and major changes across application, database, operating system, integration and hosting layers. Define and maintain reusable platform configurations, engineering standards, reference patterns, installation approaches and technical documentation.
• Provide senior engineering expertise across Azure, virtual machines, on‑premises hosting, Windows Server, databases, networks, backup, recovery, monitoring and platform integrations.
• Partner with Solution and Enterprise Architects to ensure designs are integrated, scalable, resilient, secure, supportable and aligned with enterprise standards. Work with Computer System Validation and Quality teams to assess validation impact and ensure that design, build, test and release evidence supports GxP, Good Automated Manufacturing Practice (GAMP) and applicable quality requirements.
• Ensure platform changes follow required controls for cyber security, data protection, change management, service readiness, operational resilience and records management.
• Manage technical delivery performed by contractors, system integrators and specialist suppliers, including design reviews, quality checks, issue resolution, documentation and knowledge transfer. Act as a technical interface with software vendors and delivery partners, challenge proposed solutions and clarify product behaviour, defects, limitations and upgrade requirements.
• Manage complex troubleshooting across application and infrastructure layers, identify root causes and drive sustainable remediation. Support release planning, environment readiness, installation, configuration, testing, cutover, hypercare and transition into support.
• Maintain visibility of technical risks, dependencies, technical debt, supportability and lifecycle status, and escalated material issues to the MES Platform Manager.
• Coach the MES Platform Engineer and contractor resources, sharing knowledge and promoting consistent engineering practices. Identify opportunities for standardisation, automation, simplification and reuse across MES, historian and manufacturing data platforms.
• Use approved AI tools in day‑to‑day work to improve personal productivity and the team’s ways of working, sharing effective practices and applying sound judgement, including validating outputs and following GSK’s Responsible AI, privacy and security requirements. Automate and version‑control installation, configuration and environment builds, and test upgrades and patches before release.
• Protect site operations through platform availability, upgrade success and inspection readiness, measured by uptime and reduced obsolescence risk.

About You: This role would suit a highly motivated person who has strong experience of designing, developing, and validating AI‑enabled digital solutions and Smart Manufacturing capabilities within complex manufacturing and business environments. You will have strong technical knowledge obtained from working in a highly‑regulated industry. You will have demonstrably strong people skills, be resilient and calm under pressure, have a strong continuous improvement mindset, and a proven ability to drive performance while managing multiple stakeholders.

CLOSING DATE for applications: Monday 30th of November 2026 (COB).

Basic Qualifications: Relevant Degree (eg; Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Engineering, Information Technology, Manufacturing Systems, or related technical discipline). Strong experience in manufacturing technology, Manufacturing Execution System (MES), industrial software, platform engineering, infrastructure and / or a related discipline. Experience with MES, historian or manufacturing data technologies (eg; Siemens Opcenter, AspenTech manufacturing solutions, Emerson Syncade, Aspen IP.21 or comparable platforms). Experience operating within regulated manufacturing environments and applying GxP, GAMP, computer system validation and change‑control expectations. Experience working directly with business stakeholders to identify, shape, and deliver technology solutions (including directing technical work performed by contractors, system integrators or specialist suppliers. Practical experience using approved AI tools to improve productivity and ways of working, with sound judgement in validating outputs and compliance with Responsible AI, privacy and security requirements. We welcome people who bring curiosity, humility and a practical approach. We are committed to inclusion and to creating a supportive environment where everyone can grow.

GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), military service or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law.

We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles.

If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us at [e-mail] where you can also request a call.

Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments, we will not be able to support you through these channels.

We have created a Recruitment FAQ guide.

If you would like to learn more about our company wide benefits and life at GSK we would suggest looking at our webpage Life at GSK | GSK.

#AGTech Skills

• Agile Methodology
• API Management
• CI/CD
• Cloud Based Services
• Computer Programming
• Configuration Management (CM)
• Containerization
• Database Management
• Infrastructure As Code (IaC)
• Microservices Architecture
• Network Security
• Operating Systems (OS)
• System Monitors
• Version Control System

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive. We get ahead of disease by preventing and treating it with innovation in specialty medicines and vaccines. We focus on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases – to impact health at scale. People and patients around the world count on the medicines and vaccines we make, so we’re committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive and focus on what matters most. Our culture of being ambitious for patients, accountable for impact and doing the right thing is the foundation for how, together, we deliver for patients, shareholders and our people.

We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are. Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us at [e-mail] where you can also request a call. Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments, we will not be able to support you through these channels.