Senior Utility Engineer

PDS Tech, Inc.; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 77,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Short-term disability

Commuter benefits

401K

Paid leave

Holiday pay

Job summary

PDS Tech Commercial in Durham, NC is seeking a Senior Utility Engineer to support a leader in innovative medicines. You will oversee site utility, electrical, HVAC, and facility systems to ensure reliable manufacturing operations.

This role requires a degree in engineering and 5+ years of experience in regulated environments, strong problem-solving, root cause analysis, and hands-on PLC/BMS experience. You will drive continuous improvement, support audits, and manage projects with vendors.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree and 5+ years in regulated environments.
• Experience with utility, HVAC, electrical, or facility systems in pharma or similar.
• Experience maintaining validated equipment.
• Strong writing skills and regulated documentation.
• Root cause analysis and structured troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee site utility, electrical, HVAC, and facility systems to ensure reliable operations.
• Provide hands-on oversight of installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs.
• Maintain compliance with GMP and regulatory requirements.
• Create and review operating procedures, maintenance plans, and technical drawings.
• Apply root cause analysis to minimize downtime and improve reliability.
• Support audits and implement corrective actions.
• Lead projects with external vendors from initiation to completion.
• Drive continuous improvement of system performance.

Skills

Root cause analysis

Technical writing

PLC / Building management systems

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemical, electrical, or mechanical engineering with 5+ years experience; or 7+ years in related field

Tools

Building Management Systems (BMS)

Industrial PLCs

Job description

Power innovation behind life-changing medicines — Join PDS Tech Commercial as a Senior Utility Engineer!

Location: Durham, NC | Starting Pay: $68/hour

Are you an experienced engineering professional passionate about equipment reliability, technical problem-solving, and operational excellence? PDS Tech Commercial is seeking a Senior Utility Engineer to support a leader in innovative medicines, helping ensure critical facility systems operate safely, reliably, and in compliance with stringent pharmaceutical industry standards.

In this impactful role, you'll help maintain the essential infrastructure that supports manufacturing operations and the delivery of innovative medicines to patients.

What you’ll do

• Own critical systems: Oversee site utility, electrical, HVAC, and facility systems to ensure reliable manufacturing operations.

• Lead engineering activities: Provide hands-on oversight of equipment installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs.

• Maintain compliance: Manage equipment changes and ensure systems remain validated and qualified in accordance with GMP, applicable regulations, and internal quality standards.

• Develop technical documentation: Create, review, and approve operating procedures, maintenance plans, engineering drawings, and technical specifications.

• Solve complex problems: Apply root cause analysis and structured troubleshooting to minimize downtime and reduce operational risk.

• Support audits and inspections: Respond to findings and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.

• Manage vendors and projects: Oversee external service providers and lead engineering projects from initiation through completion.

• Drive continuous improvement: Develop reliability strategies, monitor equipment performance, and improve system efficiency in alignment with site and global standards.

What you’ll bring

Essential qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in chemical, electrical, or mechanical engineering with at least 5 years of relevant experience; or an associate degree, diploma, or certification in an engineering or skilled technical field with at least 7 years of relevant experience; or 9+ years of equivalent experience supporting engineering, maintenance, or automation systems in regulated industries.

• Experience with utility, HVAC, electrical, or facility systems in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or similarly regulated environments.

• Demonstrated ability to maintain and improve equipment in a validated state.

• Strong technical writing skills and experience with regulated documentation.

• Applied knowledge of root cause analysis and complex technical troubleshooting.

• Hands-on experience with building management systems and industrial programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

• Strong project management, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Additional job requirement: Ability to lift up to 30 lbs.

If you're ready to take ownership of critical systems, solve challenging engineering problems, and contribute to an industry that makes a difference in people's lives, this opportunity is for you.

Pay Details: $68.00 per hour

Benefit offerings available for our associates include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, additional voluntary benefits, EAP program, commuter benefits and a 401K plan. Our benefit offerings provide employees the flexibility to choose the type of coverage that meets their individual needs. In addition, our associates may be eligible for paid leave including Paid Sick Leave or any other paid leave required by Federal, State, or local law, as well as Holiday pay where applicable.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Military connected talent encouraged to apply

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please navigate to https://www.pdstech.com/candidate-privacy

• The California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Massachusetts Candidates Only: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.