Reliability Engineer

AstraZeneca plc; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca plc is seeking a Reliability Engineer at our Philadelphia site to connect long-term asset strategies with real-time production support. You will drive uptime, quality, and speed through RCA, Lean methods, and risk-based lifecycle management in a cGMP environment.

Partner with Facilities, Engineering, and Manufacturing to build data-driven reliability programs, lead cross-functional teams, and deliver projects on time and within budget.

Qualifications

• 3+ to 5+ years of Reliability Engineering experience in pharma/biotechnology, nuclear, or petrochemical industries.
• High school diploma.
• Experience leading and working on cross-functional teams supporting technical projects.

Responsibilities

• Maintain monthly maintenance performance reviews with Facilities and Engineering to improve uptime and compliance.
• Define and track KPIs to improve equipment availability and MTBF.
• Investigate equipment failures using RCA tools and implement corrective actions.
• Lead end-to-end projects with scope, planning, resources, risk management, and stakeholder alignment.
• Apply risk-based lifecycle management to critical systems to extend asset life.
• Plan and implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs to reduce downtime.
• Coordinate validation activities to ensure project quality and compliance.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing and site partners to align priorities and drive outcomes.

Skills

Reliability engineering

Root cause analysis

Lean / Six Sigma

Cross-functional collaboration

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

High school diploma

Tools

Thermography cameras

Vibration analysis equipment

Ultrasonic testing equipment

Job description

Introduction to the Role

Are you ready to turn rigorous reliability engineering into faster, safer delivery of medicines for patients? In this role, you will be the connecting force between long-term asset strategies and real-time production support, ensuring equipment runs at peak performance in a cGMP-regulated environment. Your work will remove bottlenecks, reduce waste, and raise asset health so our teams can make and deliver more life-changing therapies.

Based at our Philadelphia site, you will partner closely with Facilities, Engineering, and Manufacturing to build a data-driven reliability program grounded in RCM, FMEA, and continuous improvement. You will apply root cause analysis and Lean methods to fix today’s issues and prevent tomorrow’s failures. How will you use your expertise to lift uptime, quality, and speed across a complex, high-impact manufacturing operation?

Accountabilities

• Maintenance Performance Reviews: Create and maintain monthly reviews of site maintenance metrics to assess effectiveness and efficiency with Facilities and Engineering, driving decisions that improve uptime and compliance.
• KPI-Driven Improvement: Define and track KPIs, identify gaps, and implement targeted improvements that enhance equipment availability, mean time between failures, and maintenance productivity.
• Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Actions: Investigate equipment failures using RCA tools such as 5-Why and Why-Tree; lead timely corrective and preventive actions that eliminate recurrence and protect batch integrity.
• Project Leadership and Delivery: Manage and execute projects end-to-end, including scope definition and control, stakeholder alignment, planning, resource and risk management, team development, and clear communication to deliver results on time and within budget.
• Asset Lifecycle Management: Apply a risk-based approach to the lifecycle management of critical systems and equipment, balancing reliability, cost, and compliance to extend asset life and performance.
• Risk Mitigation and Validation: Plan and implement risk mitigation strategies; ensure project quality through testing and validation activities; facilitate cross-functional teams to conclusions, resolve conflicts, and embed sustainable solutions.
• Preventive and Predictive Maintenance: Manage and optimize preventive and predictive maintenance programs by systematically defining, developing, monitoring, and refining processes to reduce unplanned downtime.
• Predictive Technologies: Utilize and, where appropriate, gain training and certification in thermography, vibration analysis, and ultrasonic testing to detect early failure modes and inform interventions.
• Escalation and Contingency Planning: Escalate risks and issues to relevant stakeholders; lead delivery of mitigations and contingency plans that protect safety, product quality, and supply continuity.
• Communication and Collaboration: Provide timely and effective verbal and written communication to teams and stakeholders; engage Manufacturing and site partners to align priorities and drive outcomes.
• Compliance and Standards: Conduct activities consistent with company values, the Code of Conduct, and applicable policies and standards; complete required training on time and report potential non-compliance.

Essential Skills and Experience

• 3+ to 5+ years of Reliability Engineering experience in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology, nuclear, or petrochemical industry.
• High school diploma
• Experience in leading and working on cross-functional teams supporting technical projects.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Green Belt and Lean experience preferred; risk assessment experience is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field
• Training and certification, as appropriate, in the operation of thermographic (infrared) cameras and equipment, vibration analysis equipment, and ultrasonic equipment.

Working at AstraZeneca

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Why AstraZeneca?

Here you will join a supportive, high-performing network that blends disciplined execution with creative problem solving to turn complex science into real medicines for patients. We bring together diverse expertise, modern digital tools, and Lean ways of working to build smarter, more sustainable manufacturing. You will be trusted to take ownership, encouraged to learn fast, and surrounded by people who value kindness alongside ambition, where your reliability improvements can scale across sites, help reduce our environmental footprint, and directly contribute to getting therapies to those who need them sooner.

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.