Director, Site Engineering Lead

Overview

The Role:

Joining Moderna offers the unique opportunity to be part of a pioneering team that's revolutionizing medicine through mRNA technology, with a diverse pipeline of development programs across various diseases. As an employee, you'll be part of a continually growing organization, working alongside exceptional colleagues and strategic partners worldwide, contributing to global health initiatives. Moderna is solidifying its presence in Harwell, Oxfordshire, as part of a long-term commitment to onshore mRNA vaccine production and innovation in the UK.

At our Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC), we are building a highly skilled team to deliver technical excellence, manufacturing leadership, and scientific advancement. We  inviting global experts to join us in transforming medicine and shaping the future of mRNA therapeutics from our newest state-of-the-art facility in the UK.

This is a critical leadership opportunity for a forward-thinking engineering expert to help shape the future of Moderna’s UK operations. As Site Engineering Lead at MITC in Harwell, you will serve as a key member of the Site Leadership Team, reporting directly to the Site Head with a dotted line to the SVP of Global Engineering. You will lead the strategic and operational direction of Engineering and Automation across GMP Drug Substance manufacturing operations and co-located R&D laboratory facilities.

Here is

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the Engineering & Automation function for MITC, encompassing process engineering, automation, utilities, maintenance, and metrology.
• Represent Engineering & Automation on the Site Leadership Team, participating in site-level strategic and operational decision-making.
• Develop and mentor a multidisciplinary technical team, fostering strength in reliability engineering, technical problem-solving, and advanced process technologies.
• Provide strategic leadership and hands-on oversight for engineering initiatives that support routine operations and the introduction of new platforms.
• Ensure site systems are inspection-ready, compliant with MHRA, EMA, FDA, and internal quality standards.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, focusing on process robustness, cost optimization, and equipment lifecycle performance.
• Guide implementation of preventive and predictive maintenance programs to improve uptime and maximize asset reliability.
• Support future growth by enabling deployment of new technologies and integrating digital systems aligned with network strategies.

Your responsibilities will also include:

• Drive the successful lifecycle management of all technical systems, ensuring they meet Moderna’s safety, quality, and operational standards.
• Oversee compliance activities related to GMP documentation: change controls, SOPs, engineering records, deviations, CAPAs, and investigations.
• Act as the site’s primary technical interface with Global Engineering, MS&T, and Technical Development functions.
• Collaborate across Quality, Manufacturing, Digital, and EHS teams to ensure readiness, alignment, and seamless execution of engineering initiatives.
• Contribute actively to global forums to share best practices and influence Moderna’s global engineering strategy.

The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role:

• We digitize everywhere possible using the power of code to maximize our impact on patients. In this role, you will lead the integration of advanced automation and digital technologies into our manufacturing and engineering operations, accelerating our ability to scale, learn, and deliver consistently high performance.
• We behave like owners. The solutions we’re building go beyond any job description. This role requires full ownership of the site's technical roadmap, working proactively across global networks and local teams to ensure Moderna’s long-term impact through engineering excellence.

Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, or related field) required;
  Master’s degree preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or other regulated GMP manufacturing environments.
• 5+…