Plant Engineer

Bachem; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 177,000; Full time

Job summary

Bachem Americas is seeking a Plant Engineer to lead maintenance and reliability for the Torrance site. You will drive engineering projects, ensure GMP compliance, and collaborate with TechOps and Engineering to optimize performance.

The role requires strong collaboration, analytical thinking, and experience with CMMS and ERP systems. Fluency in German and English is highly valued in this global team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical or mechanical engineering, or comparable discipline.
• 6+ years’ experience in a GMP-regulated environment.
• 4+ years in a manufacturing facility.
• Ability to collaborate with stakeholders and manage cross-functional interfaces.
• Extensive knowledge of design, construction, engineering, and maintenance of pharmaceutical plants.
• Analytical thinking, hands-on mentality, and strong communication skills.
• Knowledge of maintenance strategy, planning, CMMS data, spare parts management, and budgets.
• Experience with SAP/ERP and CMMS systems.
• Very good German and English language skills.

Responsibilities

• Economically and efficiently maintain plant readiness while meeting GMP/HSE requirements.
• Own maintenance strategy and planning for all production facilities on site.
• Organize and monitor maintenance activities; manage budgets; ensure spare parts availability.
• Lead small and medium projects from concept through commissioning and qualification.
• Ensure GMP documentation practices and good housekeeping.
• Serve as the site’s primary technical contact for engineering matters.
• Monitor ongoing projects and control budgets and schedules.
• Drive technical innovations and cost reductions with TechOps and Engineering teams.

Skills

GMP experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

CMMS

SAP/ERP

Maintenance strategy

Budget control

MS Office

German & English

Pharmaceutical plant knowledge

Education

Bachelors in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CMMS systems

SAP/ERP systems

MS Office

Job description

The Plant Engineer serves as the technical leader for the facility, with responsibilities comparable to a department head within Technical Operations and Production. This role is accountable for maintaining reliability, efficiency, and continuous improvement of manufacturing facilities and infrastructure. This position acts as the primary technical resource for the site, ensuring plant readiness, leading maintenance planning and strategy, managing small- and medium-scale engineering projects, and implementing technical improvements in collaboration with Technical Operations, Operational Excellence, and Engineering teams.

What you will do

• Economically and efficiently maintain the operational readiness of the plant while considering high plant standards and meeting HSE/GMP requirements within applicable laws and company guidelines.
• Own the maintenance strategy and maintenance planning for all production facilities in the Site, including ordinary and extraordinary maintenance activities.
• Instruct, organize, implement, and monitor maintenance activities; control relevant budgets; maintain CMMS master data; and secure and provide required spare parts.
• Manage and engineer small and medium-sized projects at the site from initial project idea and cost estimate through commissioning and qualification.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, safety, environmental, and energy-use requirements; lead proper GMP documentation practices; and promote good housekeeping.
• Serve as the first contact person for the Site in all technical matters.
• Monitor all ongoing engineering projects and control project budgets and schedules.
• Drive technical innovations and improvements in close coordination with TechOps, Operational Excellence, and Engineering, including identifying and eliminating vulnerabilities, standardizing and developing processes and equipment, reducing energy, maintenance, operating, and installation costs, and ensuring technical system availability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical or mechanical engineering, or comparable discipline
• 6+ years’ experience in a GMP-regulated environment
• 4+ years of work experience in a manufacturing facility
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders and manage cross-functional interfaces
• Extensive knowledge of the design, construction, engineering, and maintenance of pharmaceutical plants
• Analytical thinking, hands-on mentality, and strong communication skills.
• Ability to maintain plant operational readiness while balancing cost efficiency, high plant standards, and HSE/GMP requirements.
• Knowledge of maintenance strategy, maintenance planning, CMMS master data, spare parts management, and budget control.
• Ability to manage small and medium engineering projects from concept and estimate through commissioning and qualification.
• Knowledge of technical innovation, continuous improvement, process and equipment standardization, and cost reduction opportunities.
• Very good German and English language skills, both written and spoken.
• Confident handling of MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and digital collaboration tools.
• Knowledge of SAP or other ERP systems.
• Experience with CMMS systems.

Base Annual Salary Range:

$128,560 - $176,770

Placement of new hires in this wage range is based on several factors including education, skill sets, experience, and training.

Total Rewards

We offer all Team Members a total rewards package including competitive pay, annual performance bonus, a generous benefit package with comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision coverage, 401(k) plan with employer contribution, and paid vacation, personal and sick days.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Bachem takes responsibility for future generations by a careful handling of resources and avoiding environmental risks. We continually improve our ecological performance and develop and implement new approaches for enhancing employees’ environmental awareness. EcoVadis has awarded Bachem Gold Medal status in their assessment of Bachem.

Bachem Americas is an Equal Opportunity Employer

As an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate the diversity of our team and are committed to building an inclusive workplace where individuals are hired and advanced based on merit, skills, and qualifications. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or other legally protected status.