Facilities Tech-GMP HVAC and Environmental Controls

AstraZeneca; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 75,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca is hiring a maintenance technician to support the Philadelphia site and its Bensalem facility, ensuring continuous service for manufacturing, labs, and utilities. You will inspect spaces, maintain HVAC/refrigeration systems, and troubleshoot complex issues while following GMP/GxP and safety protocols.

The role requires 6–10+ years in pharma/biotech environments, cleanroom experience, and the ability to work 8-hour shifts with some weekend coverage and on-call support.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Certificate from a two-year technical school or related military training.
• 6–10+ years in pharma/biotech or regulated GMP environments.

Responsibilities

• Operate, monitor, and support facility and utility systems.
• Maintain HVAC air handlers, chillers, cold rooms, and clean steam systems.
• Read and interpret mechanical schematics, P&IDs, electrical schematics, and SOPs.

Skills

HVAC

Refrigeration

Electrical

Plumbing

Mechanical systems

Cleanroom environment

Education

Two-year technical school diploma

GMP/ISO cleanroom knowledge

Tools

P&IDs reading

BAS familiarity

Job description

The Philadelphia, PA site manufactures a life-saving influenza vaccine. Our product is aseptically filled into sprayers for nasal administration. The site consists of two geographic locations - a production facility at Red Lion Road in NE Philadelphia and a storage and distribution facility in Bensalem. The two facilities employ approximately 140 employees. The facilities are about 8 miles apart and both are situated close to I-95, the city of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia International Airport. Our product is sold in the US, UK, and other countries. Operations continue year-round, with the production season during the summer (typically May-August). Our site is highly collaborative where we show our Philly pride in all we do. We work closely together, always striving to be better every day. We have a network of employee teams who deliver many kinds of employee engagement activities, from our famous Wingbowl, to inclusion events, site celebrations, community outreach, health and wellness activities.

The technician will be required to support the Philadelphia and Bensalem manufacturing and storage facilities:

• Operate, monitor, and support facility and utility systems to ensure safe, compliant, and continuous service for manufacturing, laboratory, and site operations.
• Perform routine inspections of mechanical and utility spaces, rooftops, cold storage areas, and related equipment areas to verify proper operation and identify abnormal conditions.
• Maintain, troubleshoot, and support HVAC air handlers, chillers, refrigeration equipment and controlled-temperature systems- including cold rooms, refrigerators, freezers, ultra-low freezers (-80°C), incubators, pumps, and drives- as well as water purification and sanitization skids, clean steam systems, chemical and water treatment equipment.
• Perform general facility maintenance and housekeeping duties across buildings and grounds, including minor carpentry, wall, floor, or door repairs, cleaning, waste removal, and upkeep of outdoor areas. Maintain safe, orderly, and compliant workspaces in accordance with 5S principles.
• Perform or support work in one or more skilled trades, including HVAC/refrigeration, mechanical, electrical, or plumbing.
• Read and interpret technical documentation, including mechanical schematics, P&IDs, electrical schematics, single-line diagrams, equipment manuals, and SOPs.
• Perform basic maintenance activities using hand tools and other standard trade tools in accordance with approved procedures and safety requirements.
• Support alarm monitoring and response for utility and facility equipment.
• Coordinate with contractors, vendors, and internal departments to support maintenance, repairs, shutdowns, investigations, projects, and emergency response.
• Provide advanced troubleshooting and problem-solving for complex issues involving HVAC, refrigeration, electrical, plumbing, and utility systems
• Document work clearly and accurately in logbooks, work orders, permits, and electronic systems, ensuring completion of required GxP documentation in a timely manner.
• Work safely and in compliance with site SOPs, EHS requirements, GMP/GxP expectations, lockout/tagout, permit-to-work, confined space, hot work, and other safety procedures.
• Capable of working in a cleanroom environment
• Ability to work an 8-hour day shift and some weekends.
• Support 24/7 as secondary rotational on-call support

Essential Skills/Experience:

• High school diploma
• Certificate of completion from a two-year technical school, or equivalent experience in plant or equipment maintenance, or military training and experience. The majority of the experience should be in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.
• 6-10+ years of relevant experience, including 3-5 years in pharma/biotech or regulated GMP environments
• Cleanroom HVAC and environmental controls experience.
• GMP knowledge in ISO cleanroom classifications, airflow studies, pressurization cascades, aseptic requirements.
• Technical strengths: AHUs/chillers/boilers, humidity control, HEPA; strong controls/BAS proficiency.
• Ability to interpret mechanical schematics, piping and instrumentation diagrams, and electrical schematics
• Communicate clearly, both orally and written.
• Basic computer skills
• The position requires the ability to stand and walk for extended periods, climb ladders and stairs, access mechanical spaces, lift up to 50 pounds, and work in environments with varying temperatures and operating mechanical equipment. The employee must be able to wear required PPE and perform duties in mechanical areas, cleanrooms, rooftops, and other areas as needed.

Preferred Education requirements:

• Technical diploma or apprenticeship in HVAC, mechanical, electrical, or building services.

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.