Associate Director of Engineering

About the Job

This is a high-impact leadership role at the center of our manufacturing and technical operations. As the Associate Director of Engineering, you will lead the engineering and maintenance function supporting GMP/GTP manufacturing, ensuring equipment, processes, and systems remain reliable, compliant, and scalable as we grow.

You will partner closely with Production, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, MSAT, and Facilities to position Engineering as both a technical problem solver and a strategic enabler of safe, high-quality, and reliable product supply. As a key member of the Site Operations Team, you will drive disciplined execution, risk-based decision-making, and continuous improvement across the site.

This role is ideal for a technical leader who thrives in complex, regulated environments, builds strong and accountable teams, and is energized by modernizing systems to support increasing production demand and new product launches. The position reports directly to the SVP of Manufacturing Operations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and 8+ years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing OR 12+ years of relevant engineering experience in a regulated manufacturing environment
• 4+ years of people management experience leading engineers or technical staff
• Strong working knowledge of CGMP/CGTP requirements and engineering support in regulated aseptic or sterile manufacturing environments
• Experience with equipment qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ), validation, and change controls
• Proven track record of improving equipment reliability and reducing unplanned downtime
• Strong project management, documentation, and communication skills
• Experience with root cause analysis, FMEA, and SOP development
• This position is based full time onsite in our Indianapolis facility

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting commercial-scale pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing, including tech transfers, in multiple functional areas
• Familiarity with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS)
• Experience leading capital projects and facility expansions
• Lean or Six Sigma certification
• Experience implementing automation and digital engineering solutions
• Experience interacting with regulatory inspectors (FDA, EMA, or equivalent)
• Expertise in business intelligence and analytics (Tableau, Power BI, SQL)

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing engineering team including facilities, validation, maintenance, and automation personnel
• Be a key member of our Site Operations Team, ensuring reliable supply of product to patients
• Own equipment lifecycle management including design input, commissioning, qualification, maintenance strategy, and retirement
• Oversee capital projects from concept through execution, ensuring scope, budget, and timelines are achieved
• Establish and improve preventive maintenance and reliability programs to reduce downtime and deviation risk
• Partner with Manufacturing, QA, and MSAT to support process improvements and capacity expansion
• Ensure engineering compliance with CGMP/CGTP, safety standards, and internal procedures
• Lead root cause investigations related to equipment, utilities, and facility systems
• Drive data-based reliability improvements using trend analysis and KPIs
• Support inspection readiness and represent Engineering during regulatory audits
• Develop long-term facility and infrastructure strategy aligned with commercial growth plans
• Travel (domestic and international) when required (<10%) to support other sites

In your first six months some projects you’ll work on include:

• Assessing current equipment reliability, PM effectiveness, and engineering KPIs
• Implementing a new CMMS software platform
• Identifying and prioritizing capital investments to support production growth
• Standardizing engineering documentation and technical standards
• Developing a 12-24 month engineering roadmap aligned to commercial scale and regulatory readiness

We offer a full slate of employee benefits including:

• Competitive salaries
• Stock options
• 401(k) matching
• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• Four weeks of PTO accrued (vacation & sick time) annually  + 11 company holidays
• Employer paid life insurance and long term disability
• Gym membership/recreational sports reimbursements