Senior Equipment Engineer, Cell Therapy

AstraZeneca plc; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 108,000 - 162,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca plc is seeking an engineering leader to own lifecycle management for manufacturing, lab, and facility assets at the Rockville site. You will drive complex projects, ensure cGMP compliance, and lead cross-functional teams to protect product quality and continuity.

The role emphasizes governance, digital integration, and on-call support, with a focus on reliability, safety, and operational readiness across 700+ assets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years in a cGMP biotechnology or regulated manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of engineering principles and equipment lifecycle management.
• Ability to lead cross-functional delivery with sound judgment and influence.

Responsibilities

• Act as technical owner for 700+ assets across manufacturing, lab, and facilities.
• Lead equipment lifecycle from requirements to decommissioning.
• Drive troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and change management.
• Establish requirements for automation/OT, alarm management, and reliability.
• Lead high-impact equipment and capital projects with budgets and scope.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Problem solving

Independent work

Influence and coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or related

Job description

Brief Job Profile Description

Join RMC at a pivotal stage in its growth and help shape the engineering systems that enable reliable, compliant, and resilient commercial cell therapy manufacturing. In this highly visible role, you will provide engineering leadership and lifecycle ownership for manufacturing, laboratory, facility, utility, and GMP infrastructure assets—translating complex challenges into practical solutions that protect product quality, patient supply, safety, capacity, and business continuity. You will lead technical and capital initiatives and collaborate across the cell therapy network to advance common standards, digital integration, and engineering excellence. Because these capabilities support continuous manufacturing operations, the role participates in a shared 24/7 on-call support model.

Typical Accountabilities

• Support operational teams as the trusted technical owner and subject matter expert for 700+ manufacturing, laboratory, facility, and utility assets, shaping priorities and fit-for-purpose solutions aligned with site governance and standards.
• Guide the complete equipment lifecycle—from user requirements, risk assessment, technology selection, and procurement through installation, digital integration, commissioning, qualification, release, operation, maintenance, calibration, reliability improvement, relocation, and decommissioning.
• Turning complex equipment challenges into lasting improvements by leading troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, technical investigations, change management, and sustainable corrective actions for equipment failures, deviations, data-integrity, reliability, and performance risks, informed by asset, maintenance, alarm, historical, quality, and vendor data.
• Raise the standard for engineering excellence by establishing and sustaining requirements for automation/OT, alarm management, critical operating parameters, reliability, maintenance strategies, and engineering drawings while ensuring compliance with cGMP, quality, validation, data integrity, SHE, documentation, audit, and inspection expectations.
• Lead high-impact equipment and capital projects from concept through closeout, owning the business case, technical scope, schedule, cost, risk, resources, vendors, qualification and validation interfaces, turnover, benefits realization, and approved budgets within delegated authority.
• Inspire and align engineers, technicians, contractors, and cross-functional teams through matrix leadership, reviewing deliverables, mentoring colleagues, influencing decisions, and partnering across the site to achieve operational readiness and reliable return to service.
• Drive exceptional service and accountability across 60+ vendor agreements supporting critical manufacturing, quality control laboratory, and warehouse equipment by defining requirements, setting expectations, monitoring KPIs, leading escalations, and ensuring delivery against AstraZeneca standards.
• Help shape the future of the cell therapy manufacturing network by standardizing equipment, specifications, digital integration, lifecycle practices, and technical solutions, while enabling technology and equipment transfers, lessons learned, training, knowledge sharing, and adoption of network standards.
• Apply artificial intelligence and system and equipment data to uncover root causes, anticipate risk, strengthen reliability, and advance real-time process control.

Qualifications and Skills

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum of 5 years working in a cGMP biotechnology, pharmaceutical, cell therapy, or other regulated manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of engineering principles and equipment lifecycle management, including validation, automation/OT interfaces, digital integration, maintenance, calibration, reliability, change management, and decommissioning.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, navigate competing priorities, solve technical problems, and lead cross-functional delivery with sound judgment, influence, and coordination.

Desirable:

• Hands-on experience with robotic systems integrated with third-party manufacturing equipment; experience applying artificial intelligence to process execution is highly valued.
• Experience contributing to cross-site standardization, equipment or technology transfer, network change management, or other multi-site technical initiatives.

Key Relationship to Reach Solutions

• Internal: Quality; Manufacturing; Maintenance; Metrology; Validation/CQV; Automation/OT; IT; MS&T; SHE; Supply Chain; Procurement; Finance; Capital Projects; site governance; and cell therapy network partners.
• External: OEMs; equipment and service suppliers; calibration and maintenance providers; system integrators; engineering, construction, and CQV partners; auditors; regulators.

Date Posted

20-Oct-2026

Closing Date

12-Nov-2026

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $108,194.40 - $162,291.60. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.

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.