Director of Engineering, Facilities, and Validation

Catalent Pharma Solutions; Maryland; On-site; USD 220,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

8 paid holidays

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Catalent, a leading gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization, seeks a Director of Engineering, Facilities, and Validation to lead multi-disciplinary teams across Maintenance, Metrology, Clean Utilities, and Validation. You will drive reliability, compliance, and capital expenditure programs while enabling 24/7 operations at the Harmans, MD site.

Location: Harmans, MD; Onsite. The role requires strategic and operational leadership with a focus on continuous improvement and

Qualifications

• Experience in biotech or a regulated environment is required.
• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or Science discipline.
• 10+ years of industrial maintenance in a cGMP setting.
• Strong experience with capital expenditure & project work.
• Knowledge of automation control, data collection, and retention systems.
• Understanding of HVAC and clean utility systems.
• Familiarity with FDA healthcare compliance rules.
• Leadership experience within Catalent preferred or equivalent leadership programs.

Responsibilities

• Oversee management of buildings, equipment, and grounds with GMP recordkeeping.
• Attract, recruit, develop, and retain talent to meet business goals.
• Manage capital and non-capital projects to improve capacity, quality, and efficiency.
• Lead long-term capital planning, forecasting, and budgeting.
• Implement lean initiatives to reduce waste.
• Develop maintenance optimization to improve reliability and reduce costs.
• Drive projects to maximize output and minimize cost and improve EHS.
• Collaborate with site, business unit, corporate, and supplier personnel.
• Ensure compliance with cGMP and environmental requirements.
• Maintain planned maintenance and calibration schedules.
• Keep the Computerized Maintenance Management System current.
• Ensure equipment and facilities availability with Manufacturing and Quality teams.
• Evaluate best practices across network and external resources.
• Own asset readiness for new product introduction.
• Serve on Site Leadership Team and align with business goals.
• Address emerging compliance trends with stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Budget planning

Negotiation

Prioritization

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS in Engineering or Science

Tools

Automation control systems

HVAC & clean utilities

cGMP regulatory know-how

Job description

Director of Engineering, Facilities, and Validation

About Site

Our FDA-licensed, state-of-the-art CGMP manufacturing facility for Gene Therapies is located on the Harmans/BWI campus. The campus, featuring two manufacturing facilities, is located 5 miles from the Baltimore Washington International (BWI) airport and 13 miles from our Baltimore location. The campus is close to Washington, DC’s I-270 Technology Corridor, top universities, and government agencies. The Harmans/BWI-1 EMA and FDA approved facility, at approximately 200,000 sq. ft., houses 10 CGMP manufacturing suites, fill/finish, central services, testing labs, and a warehouse. The Harmans/BWI-2 facility, at approximately 145,000 sq. ft., is under development and will house 8 CGMP manufacturing suites and cold storage warehousing. Both facilities support Phase 3 through commercial manufacturing of advanced therapeutic products including AAV and other viral vector-based therapies and vaccines.

Position Summary

We have an opportunity for a Director of Engineering, Facilities, and Validation to join our team. This role leads a multi-disciplinary group responsible for maintaining and advancing our state-of-the-art gene therapy development and manufacturing facilities. The Director provides strategic and operational leadership across Facilities Maintenance, Metrology, Clean Utilities, Project Engineering, Automation, and Equipment & Facility Validation. The position ensures reliability, compliance, and continuous improvement for all site assets while managing the site’s Capital Expenditure program. As a key member of the Site Leadership Team, the Director collaborates cross‑functionally to align engineering strategy with business goals and support 24/7 operations across multiple facilities.

Location: Harmans, MD - BWI 100% Onsite

The Role

• Oversee management of buildings, equipment, and grounds, maintaining all files, drawings, and records required for GMP operations.
• Attract, recruit, develop, and retain talent to achieve business goals.
• Manage capital and non‑capital projects to improve capacity, quality, efficiency, utilization, and environmental health and safety.
• Lead long‑term capital planning, forecasting, and departmental budgeting.
• Implement lean transformation initiatives focused on waste reduction.
• Develop maintenance optimization initiatives to improve reliability and reduce costs.
• Drive projects to maximize output, minimize cost, and enhance efficiency and EHS performance.
• Collaborate with site, business unit, corporate, and supplier personnel to maintain effective communication and relationships.
• Ensure compliance with cGMP regulations and environmental requirements at all levels.
• Maintain compliance with planned maintenance and calibration schedules.
• Ensure the Computerized Maintenance Management System remains current.
• Work with Manufacturing and Quality teams to ensure equipment and facilities are available and reliable.
• Evaluate best practices across the network and external resources.
• Own asset readiness as part of the new product introduction process.
• Serve as a member of the Site Leadership Team and demonstrate ownership of business unit goals and objectives.
• Act as the primary resource for emerging compliance trends and partner with stakeholders to address them.

The Candidate Minimum Requirements

• Experience in the biotech industry required.
• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or Science discipline.
• Extensive (10+ years) industrial maintenance experience involving mechanical, electrical, and electronics in a cGMP regulated environment.
• Strong experience with capital expenditure and project‑related work.
• Working knowledge of automation control, alert, and data collection/retention systems.
• Working knowledge of HVAC and clean utility systems.
• Understanding of financial concepts impacting capital investment and business EBITDA.
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects effectively.
• Knowledge of FDA healthcare compliance rules and regulations.
• Demonstrable leadership experience at Catalent (including but not limited to participation in Catalent‑sponsored leadership programs such as NGGL, GOLD, LEAD Now, GM Excellence, and GROW) may be considered in place of external experience.
• Must be able to work in different areas of the building, including office spaces, technical spaces, manufacturing areas, and warehouse environments.

Preferred Skills & Background

• Experience in gene therapy preferred.

Pay

• The anticipated salary range for this position in MD is $ $220,000 to $290,000 plus bonus.
• The final salary offered to a successful candidate may vary and will depend on factors such as experience, skillset, education, and business needs. Catalent is a multi‑state employer, and this salary range may not reflect positions that work in other states.

Why You Should Join Catalent

• Defined career path and annual performance review and feedback process.
• Diverse, inclusive culture.
• Potential for career growth on an expanding team within an organization dedicated to preserving and bettering lives.
• Competitive paid time off plus 8 paid holidays.
• Community engagement and green initiatives.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits effective day one of employment.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• 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. Visit Catalent Careers to explore career opportunities.

Catalent is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and veterans.

Catalent, Inc. is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) whose mission is to develop, manufacture, and supply products that help people live better and healthier lives. Catalent is dedicated to delivering unparalleled service to pharma, biotech, and consumer health customers, supporting product development, launch, and full life‑cycle supply. With time‑tested experience in development sciences, delivery technologies, and multi‑modality manufacturing, Catalent supports the acceleration of development programs and the launch of more than a hundred new products every year. Powered by thousands of scientists and technicians and the latest technology platforms at more than 40 global sites, Catalent supplies billions of doses of life‑enhancing and life‑saving treatments for patients annually.