Process Equipment Engineer

Valspec; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium medical coverage

401(k) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Performance incentives

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Job summary

Valspec is hiring a Process Equipment Engineer on the East Coast for a Greenfield Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Program. You will provide technical oversight of process equipment, piping, and containment systems, coordinating with process engineering, CQV, construction, and operations to ensure readiness and safety.

The role requires 5+ years in pharma/biotech environments, GMP understanding, and strong troubleshooting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related technical discipline is required.
• 5+ years of experience in process equipment and manufacturing systems in pharma/biotech/life sciences.
• Experience with process equipment, piping, and mechanical utility systems.
• Understanding of GMP-regulated facilities and lifecycle requirements.
• Familiarity with P&IDs, equipment specs, and vendor docs.
• Experience supporting installation, startup, commissioning, or qualification activities.
• Strong technical troubleshooting and cross-disciplinary collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical oversight for process equipment, piping, and mechanical systems.
• Review equipment designs for alignment with process requirements and facility standards.
• Evaluate maintainability, cleanability, reliability, and safety.
• Support mechanical integration through design, construction, installation, and startup.
• Collaborate with process engineering, CQV, construction, and operations to resolve issues.
• Participate in equipment design reviews, vendor coordination, and system readiness assessments.
• Support commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational readiness activities.
• Identify and resolve equipment issues while maintaining project schedules.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Troubleshooting

GMP awareness

Mechanical integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, or related technical discipline

Job description

Valspec—a global provider of system validation and lifecycle services—provides commissioning and qualification of computerized systems for clients in the Life Sciences industry. Established in 1999, Valspec's mission is to provide a wide spectrum of services that help its clients meet their capital project and lifecycle maintenance goals.

Valspec's projects are critical to the industry, and to the people who rely on its products. Many projects ensure that life-changing drugs are available to those who need them; others streamline production to meet demand at a lower cost, allowing for the discovery of new and innovative therapies.

Process Equipment Engineer

East Coast | Greenfield Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Program

Business Justification

• Provide technical leadership for process equipment, piping systems, containment systems, and mechanical integration activities supporting a new biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility.

Position Overview

• The Process Equipment Engineer will provide technical oversight of process equipment, piping systems, and containment systems within a large-scale biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility. This owner-side, project-focused role requires close coordination with process engineering, construction, CQV, operations, and project delivery teams to ensure equipment and facility systems support process performance, maintainability, cleanability, safety, and operational readiness.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical oversight and support for process equipment, piping systems, and associated mechanical systems.
• Review equipment and system designs to ensure alignment with process requirements, operational needs, and facility standards.
• Evaluate equipment for maintainability, cleanability, reliability, operator safety, and containment requirements.
• Support mechanical integration activities throughout design, construction, installation, and startup phases.
• Partner with process engineering, CQV, construction, automation, and operations teams to resolve technical issues and support project execution.
• Participate in equipment design reviews, vendor coordination, field walkdowns, and system readiness assessments.
• Support commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational readiness activities for manufacturing systems.
• Identify and resolve equipment-related issues while helping maintain project schedules and startup objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience supporting process equipment and manufacturing systems within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, chemical, or related industrial environments.
• Experience working with process equipment, piping systems, and mechanical utility systems.
• Understanding of GMP-regulated manufacturing facilities and equipment lifecycle requirements.
• Familiarity with process flow diagrams, P&IDs, equipment specifications, and vendor documentation.
• Experience supporting equipment installation, startup, commissioning, or qualification activities.
• Strong technical troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work effectively across multiple disciplines, including engineering, construction, operations, and quality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting biologics, sterile manufacturing, API, peptide, or other pharmaceutical process systems.
• Experience on a greenfield pharmaceutical manufacturing project or large capital expansion program.
• Knowledge of containment systems and facility design considerations for highly potent compounds.
• Experience participating in FATs, SATs, commissioning, qualification, or startup activities.
• Familiarity with owner-side, EPCM, or large project delivery environments.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Ideal Background

We are particularly interested in candidates with experience supporting:

• Biologics manufacturing facilities
• Sterile processing facilities
• Pharmaceutical process equipment
• Large-scale capital projects
• Greenfield manufacturing facilities
• Commissioning, qualification, and startup initiatives

This role offers the opportunity to play a key part in the design, construction, startup, and operational readiness of a new biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility while working alongside industry-leading engineering, construction, and manufacturing teams.

Why Join Valspec?

At Valspec, we offer more than just a job — we provide a career experience rooted in a standout culture, collaborative environment, and a strong sense of ownership. As an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company, every team member has a stake in our success, fostering a shared commitment to excellence and innovation. We also offer a highly competitive benefits package, including:

• Premium medical coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Tuition reimbursement
• Unique performance incentives
• And more — all designed to support your growth, well-being, and future.

Join a team where your contributions matter, your development is prioritized, and your success is shared.

When receiving e-mails from a Proconex or Valspec recruiter, you will only receive e-mails from addresses ending in @proconexdirect.com, @proconex.net or @valspec.net. Any other domains are impersonations and should be ignored.

Candidates must be legally eligible to work in the United States without company sponsorship. Also, we are not interested in working on a corp-to-corp basis with other companies at this time.

Any third-party unsolicited resume submission(s) will immediately become the property of Valspec. Valspec will not pay any fee to a submitting employment agency, person, or entity unless a signed agreement is established.

Valspec is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected class. We are committed to providing a professional environment free of any discrimination or harassment, and we are proud to be a Drug-Free Workplace.