Equipment Engineer

ACL Digital; Thousand Oaks (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ACL Digital is seeking an Equipment Senior Engineer to support the Thousand Oaks Pilot Plant in a non-GMP environment. The role focuses on reliability, performance, and lifecycle management of bioprocess equipment, including bioreactors and chromatography skids.

The engineer will provide day-to-day on-site technical support to operations, emphasize troubleshooting, maintenance coordination, and data-driven decision-making, and collaborate across Operations, Maintenance, Instrumentation,

Qualifications

• Requires advanced degree levels (Doctorate/Master's/Bachelor's/Associate/High school) with years of experience as listed.
• Experience in reliability, performance, and lifecycle management of process equipment in a biotech setting.
• On-site technical support to operations, troubleshooting, maintenance coordination, and data-driven decisions.
• Independent work with cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced development environment.
• Ability to identify opportunities to leverage digital tools and AI for troubleshooting and efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering support for bioprocess equipment including bioreactors and chromatography skids.
• Troubleshoot equipment issues, lead root cause analyses, and implement solutions for reliability.
• Utilize Maximo CMMS to manage work orders and track asset history.
• Analyze system data using trend analysis and SPC to support decisions.
• Lead or support small scope engineering projects with cross-functional coordination.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Root cause analysis

Data-driven decision making

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Doctorate degree

Master's degree

Bachelor's degree

Associate degree

High school diploma

Tools

Maximo CMMS

Data analysis tools

Job description

Doctorate degree OR Masters degree and 2 years of experience OR

Bachelors degree and 4 years(Can accept 2 years of experience as long as they have a solid experience) of experience

OR Associates degree and 8 years of experience OR

High school diploma / GED and 10 years of experience

This role serves as an Equipment Sr. Engineer supporting manufacturing in the Thousand Oaks Pilot Plant (non-GMP environment). The engineer is responsible for the reliability, performance, and lifecycle management of assigned process equipment (e.g., bioreactors, chromatography skid, single-use and stainless systems).

The position provides day-to-day onsite technical support to operations, with emphasis on troubleshooting, maintenance coordination, and data-driven decision-making. The engineer partners closely with Operations and support functions to guide technical decisions during equipment issues, process changes, and system improvements, without directly operating equipment.

This role also supports preventive maintenance strategy, asset management (e.g., Maximo), and new equipment introduction, ensuring systems are effectively integrated and maintained for evolving process needs. Additionally, the engineer is expected to identify opportunities to leverage digital tools and AI to enhance troubleshooting, reliability, and workflow efficiency.

This role requires independence, technical depth, a strong reliability mindset, and effective cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced development environment.

Lead or support small scope engineering projects, including planning, execution, and cross-functional coordination, to address operational needs and drive continuous improvement.

• Provide engineering support for bioprocess equipment including systems such as bioreactors, chromatography skids, TFF/UFDF, cleaning, single-use and stainless systems to ensure reliable operation
• Troubleshoot equipment issues, lead root cause analysis, and implement solutions to improve performance and reliability
• Identify and mitigate equipment risks (e.g., failure modes, obsolescence) and drive proactive improvements
• Apply engineering fundamentals (thermodynamics, fluid systems, piping, electrical, process controls) to evaluate and resolve issues
• Utilize Maximo (or similar CMMS) to manage work orders, track asset history, and support maintenance planning
• Analyze system and process data using engineering and statistical methods (e.g., trend analysis, SPC) to support decision-making and continuous improvement
• Support equipment design, commissioning, startup, and system integration for new or modified systems
• Translate process and operational needs into engineering solutions and documentation
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Instrumentation, Facilities, and Process Development
• Manage multiple priorities independently in a fast-paced environment
• Identify and implement opportunities to leverage digital tools and AI to improve efficiency and troubleshooting
• Apply appropriate GMP awareness where relevant while operating effectively in a non-GMP pilot plant environment
• Maintain a consistent on-site presence to support daily operations, with flexibility to provide weekend shift coverage and after-hours support as needed.