Utility Engineer

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to keep GMP-critical utilities running flawlessly so life-changing medicines reach patients without interruption? As a Utility Engineer based at our Athlone manufacturing site, you will ensure the clean utilities and supporting infrastructure that power production are reliable, compliant, and cost-effective—so patients receive the therapies they depend on.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Utilities, you will be the point of contact for day-to-day utility performance and improvement. You will work across WFI, process water, steam, HVAC, clean gases, CTUs, and electrical distribution, partnering with Operations, Quality, Validation, SHE, Facilities, Digital/IT, and Engineering. How will you turn system data and performance trends into fewer failures, smarter maintenance, and measurable energy savings?

Accountabilities:
- Utilities Operations and Reliability: Sustain safe, compliant, and available utility services to meet production needs; monitor trends, respond to alarms, and drive actions that improve uptime and stability.
- Digital and Data-Driven Improvement: Use CMMS, BMS/MCS, PI, Power BI, and site monitoring data to diagnose issues, quantify performance, and prioritize improvements in reliability and energy efficiency, contributing to digital and AI-enabled initiatives.
- Continuous Improvement: Apply structured problem solving and reliability methods to reduce repeat failures, optimize maintenance plans, and deliver lasting performance gains.
- Compliance and Qualification: Maintain validated, audit-ready utility systems through accurate documentation, change control support, qualification activities, periodic reviews, and effective setpoint/alarm management in line with GMP.
- Quality and SHE: Uphold quality standards and environmental controls; follow safe systems of work and permit-to-work processes to protect people, assets, and product.
- Troubleshooting and Investigations: Lead or support technical investigations into deviations and equipment issues; perform root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions to prevent recurrence.
- Project Support and Start-up: Support scope, design, commissioning, and handover for utility upgrades and new equipment; coordinate with vendors to ensure robust execution and documentation.
- Financial Stewardship: Track utility-related costs across energy, water, maintenance, and spares; identify and deliver cost-saving and efficiency opportunities without compromising compliance.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Align activities with site priorities by working closely with Operations, Quality, Validation, SHE, Facilities, Digital/IT, and Engineering to achieve right-first-time outcomes.
- Documentation and CMMS: Keep SOPs, work instructions, drawings, maintenance records, and CMMS work orders accurate and up to date in accordance with cGMP.
- On-Call/Shift Support: Provide out-of-hours engineering support, as required, to maintain continuous and compliant operations.

Essential Skills/Experience:
- Relevant engineering experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments, with practical exposure to utility systems supporting manufacturing operations.
- Good understanding of GMP, engineering compliance, and safe working practices within a regulated manufacturing environment.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, clear communication, good stakeholder engagement, and the ability to work both independently and within cross-functional teams.
- Degree qualification at HETAC Level 8 or equivalent in mechanical, chemical, electrical, pharmaceutical engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

Desirable Skills/Experience:
- Experience in several of the following: WFI, process water, clean steam, HVAC/AHU systems, BMS, clean compressed gases, chilled and hot water systems, boilers, electrical distribution, plant services, or related utility infrastructure.
- Exposure to commissioning, qualification, validation, technical handover, or change control activities in a regulated environment.
- Comfortable using technical data and system trends to support decision-making and improvement activities; experience with tools such as Excel, Power BI, CMMS, BMS/MCS, or PI historian systems.
- Experience applying structured problem solving, root cause analysis, maintenance improvement, or reliability approaches to improve performance and reduce downtime.
- Additional training or experience in utilities, reliability, energy management, or automation.

Why AstraZeneca:
Your work keeps critical manufacturing running and directly supports patients whose lives depend on our medicines. You will join a collaborative, purpose-led team that blends the agility of biotech with the reach of a global biopharma—where unexpected teams gather in the same room to solve complex problems, where digital tools and data are integral to daily decisions, and where we value kindness alongside ambition. Here, engineering excellence is visible and valued, your ideas can move quickly from concept to impact, and your growth is supported by leaders and peers committed to real-world outcomes for patients and the communities we serve.

Call to Action:
Bring your utility engineering expertise to Athlone and help power the operations that change lives—take the next step today!