Senior Utility Engineer

Job Description Summary

If you are driven by the challenge of keeping complex manufacturing environments running safely, efficiently, and compliantly, this role offers the opportunity to make a visible, site-wide impact. As Senior Utility Engineer, you will serve as a trusted technical leader at the Durham Campus, owning critical utility, facility, and electrical systems that enable life changing medicines to be made every day. You will combine deep engineering expertise with hands-on problem solving, influencing everything from equipment reliability and compliance to long term site strategy and new technology adoption. This role is ideal for an engineer who thrives on accountability, collaboration, and shaping the future of a high-performing manufacturing site.

Job Description

Location:

• This position will be located in Durham, NC and will be an onsite role.
• Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own site utility, heating ventilation and air conditioning, electrical, and control systems supporting good manufacturing practice manufacturing operations.
• Provide hands-on engineering oversight for installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of critical facility assets.
• Manage equipment changes to maintain a validated state across the full asset lifecycle.
• Create, review, and approve operational procedures, maintenance plans, drawings, and equipment specifications.
• Lead investigations, alarm management, and root cause analysis for equipment and utility nonconformance events.
• Ensure compliance with good manufacturing practice requirements, federal regulations, and Novartis quality standards.
• Serve as subject matter expert supporting audits, inspections, and complex engineering issue resolution.
• Lead projects from concept through commissioning, qualification, and closeout with minimal supervision.
• Drive operational excellence, reliability strategies, and continuous improvement initiatives across site utility systems.
• Mentor engineers and collaborate cross-functionally to support site objectives and long-term facility strategies.

Essential Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in chemical, electrical, or mechanical engineering, or related field, with a minimum of 8 years' experience in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Alternative qualification: associate degree or technical certification with a minimum of 10 years, or equivalent experience with 12 years, in regulated industries.
• Proven experience supporting utility, facility, or manufacturing systems within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or similar regulated environments.
• Strong technical writing skills with experience authoring, reviewing, and approving regulated engineering documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to investigate complex equipment issues and deliver compliant, effective engineering solutions.
• Hands-on expertise in root cause analysis, equipment troubleshooting, and automated facility management systems.
• Strong project management capability, including leading projects from scope definition through execution and closeout.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills, with the ability to work independently and across teams.

Novartis Compensation and Benefit Summary:

The salary for this position is expected to range between $108,500 and $201,500 annually

The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

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EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility and reasonable accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to View email address on click.appcast.io or call View phone number on click.appcast.io and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Salary Range

$108,500.00 - $201,500.00

Skills Desired

Business Continuity, Cost Management, Data Analytics and Digital, Decision Making, Engineering Operations Management, Engineering Technical Expertise, GDP Knowledge, gmp knowledge, HSE Knowledge, Manufacturing Process (Production), Operational Excellence, Problem Solving, Project Management, Quality Compliance, Resilience and Risk Management, Resource Planning and Forecasting, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Vendor Management