Equipment Engineer

Job Title: Equipment Engineer

Location: Piscataway, NJ (Fully Onsite)

Reports to: Manager II, Engineering

Compensation: The estimated salary range is $65,000 - $75,000, dependent upon experience level.

Job Overview:

The Equipment Engineer reports to the Manager II, Engineering and supports laboratory and production equipment at our Piscataway, NJ facilities. This hands-on role maintains and repairs assigned equipment, improves reliability, and keeps complete records of equipment work.

The engineer performs appropriate preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, repairs, and calibration activities internally. OEM and third-party providers are used when specialist tools, qualifications, warranty terms, or capacity require outside service.

Job Responsibilities:

Hands-On Maintenance and Repair:

• Perform scheduled preventive maintenance and appropriate calibration activities on assigned laboratory and production equipment, following approved procedures and documenting results.
• Diagnose equipment failures, perform hands-on repairs within training and authorization, verify performance, and coordinate return to service with equipment users and Quality as applicable.
• Support a range of instruments, which may include liquid handlers, automated systems, HPLC systems, centrifuges, thermal cyclers, analyzers, and general laboratory equipment.

Vendor and Service Management:

• Determine when work should be outsourced to an OEM or qualified service provider and define the service needed.
• Schedule and coordinate vendor visits for repairs, preventive maintenance, and calibration; prepare equipment and access, oversee work on site, and communicate timing to users.
• Review vendor service reports and calibration certificates, confirm the work is complete, and follow up on unresolved issues before closing the work order.

Asset and Work Order Management:

• Create and maintain CMMS work orders for failures, repairs, preventive maintenance, and calibration. Record symptoms, troubleshooting, work performed, parts used, results, attachments, and equipment status.
• Maintain accurate asset histories, maintenance schedules, calibration due dates, and equipment inventory records; identify critical spares and support inventory planning.
• Develop and improve clear technical procedures and maintenance instructions for assigned equipment.

Reliability, Quality, and Compliance:

• Review work order history for repeat failures, downtime, and recurring costs; investigate causes and recommend improvements to maintenance plans, spares, or vendor support.
• Perform and document equipment work in accordance with applicable site procedures and Quality requirements.
• Support equipment-related deviations, root cause investigations, and corrective actions in collaboration with Quality and equipment users.

Communication and Collaboration:

• Communicate equipment status, risks, and expected recovery times to laboratory and production users, management, and the Equipment team.
• Coordinate work with users to minimize disruption and share troubleshooting knowledge with other team members

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical or scientific field, or equivalent relevant technical experience.
• Three or more years of relevant equipment engineering, maintenance, field service, or calibration experience is preferred.
• Hands-on experience maintaining and repairing laboratory equipment is preferred; experience with laboratory equipment troubleshooting and calibration is also preferred.
• Ability to use a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) or similar work order system to document work and track scheduled maintenance.
• Experience coordinating OEM or third-party service providers and reviewing completed service work is preferred.
• Familiarity with applicable GMP, ISO, or other regulated quality practices is helpful; ability to follow site procedures and maintain accurate records is required.
• Strong problem-solving, organization, and communication skills, with the ability to prioritize equipment needs and work effectively with laboratory, production, and Quality teams.

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