Head of Engineering

Head of Engineering (Biopharma Manufacturing) – Groningen

Thermo Fisher Scientific Groningen is looking for a Head of Engineering to lead our Facilities, Maintenance, Qualification and Engineering teams in a fast-paced cGMP biologics manufacturing environment. In this senior leadership role you will shape the site engineering strategy, drive reliability and compliance, and enable safe, efficient manufacturing and operational excellence.

What you will do

• Lead the Facilities, Maintenance, Engineering and Qualification organization, including setting direction, priorities, and performance targets.

• Develop and execute the annual department plan aligned with site strategy (capex planning, cost budgeting, investment management).

• Drive a strong culture of safety (EH&S), quality, and compliance with cGMP and corporate standards.

• Ensure site assets and systems support reliable manufacturing: equipment condition, availability, utilities, facilities, and lifecycle management.

• Deliver continuous improvement in cost, output, efficiency, and effectiveness across the department.

• Provide technical support to Operations and cross-functional teams by ensuring facilities, utilities, equipment, and qualification systems are fit-for-purpose for manufacturing and new product introductions; troubleshoot complex issues, lead root-cause investigations, and implement robust, compliant fixes that protect safety, quality, and uptime.

• Maintain strong partnerships with internal stakeholders (Site Leadership Team, operations, quality) and external parties (customers, suppliers, authorities, other Thermo Fisher sites).

• Lead, coach, and develop managers and teams to meet current and future workforce and compliance needs.

• Act as a delegate for other Site Leadership Team members when needed and take decisive action during urgent situations.

Who you are

• A proven senior leader who can manage multiple technical disciplines and stakeholders in a regulated environment.

• Strong communicator with the credibility to engage with customers and senior executives during site visits.

• Hands-on, structured, and improvement-driven, with a clear focus on compliance, safety, and operational performance.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Engineering (or equivalent in Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, or Bioprocess Technology).

• Senior leadership experience in Facilities/Maintenance/Engineering/Qualification within a Biotech/Biopharma cGMP environment.

• Deep knowledge of cGMP expectations and the ability to operate within internal and external EH&S and regulatory frameworks.

• Strong planning and organization skills; leadership, mentoring, interpersonal and presentation skills.

• Fluent in English.

Why join us

You’ll play a key role in enabling Thermo Fisher Groningen’s success as a custom manufacturing organization producing antibodies and other active pharma proteins using mammalian cell lines—supporting patients worldwide through safe, compliant, and reliable manufacturing.

Interested? Apply or reach out for a conversation.