Associate Director, Manufacturing Engineering Lead - Downstream

Biogen · Research Triangle Park, NC

Level: Director+
Team: Manufacturing
Base pay: $147k–$203k
Degree: Required
Experience asked: 10+ years
Industry: Pharma & life sciences
Posted: Today

The role in 30 seconds

A director-level manufacturing role at Biogen (pharma & life sciences) in Research Triangle Park, NC. Support 24/7 manufacturing operations as business needs require.

They ask for: 10+ years · degree required
Tools it names: Lean, Six Sigma, FDA / GMP, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Automation, EHS / safety
Base pay: $147k–$203k
Day to day: some off-shift / weekend coverage

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Manufacturing Engineer roles in North Carolina: typical posted base $128k–$150k. This one lists $147k–$203k.

Median of the low and high ends of 15 live postings that list pay, out of 49 manufacturing engineer openings in North Carolina, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

North Carolina plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 48 other live manufacturing postings in North Carolina.

Base pay: About 46% above similar roles
Experience asked: More than usual (10+ vs 5+)

Skills these teams ask for most

Tooling 49%
✓ Lean 41%
New product launch 33%
Root cause 29%
Team leadership 29%
✓ Automation 27%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for FDA / GMP, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 10+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Off-shift / weekend coverage

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Biogen
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

This plant: Biogen in Research Triangle Park

2 other open roles at this site.

Sr. Engineer II, Plant Utilities · Production · Senior
Sr Engineer I, Automation (Syncade MES) · Controls · Senior

Full description from BiogenAs posted on their careers site.Show

Who you are

You are an experienced engineering leader who combines deep technical knowledge with sound operational judgment. You can lead through complex equipment and compliance challenges, develop engineering talent, influence senior stakeholders, and make timely decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Required skills

✓Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited college or university
✓At minimum, 10 years of relevant experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or adjacent industry.
✓At minimum, 2 years of experience managing or leading engineering professionals, contractors, or cross-functional technical teams.
✓In-depth experience with GMP validation, manufacturing, engineering, or facilities.
✓Demonstrated knowledge of biopharmaceutical manufacturing operations, cGMP, GLP, EMEA, and ISO requirements.
✓Experience working with FDA or comparable regulatory investigators, preparing responses to observations, and implementing corrective measures.
✓Experience leading GMP validation activities and maintaining manufacturing systems in a compliant and validated state.
✓Experience with large operating and capital budgets and complex engineering projects.
✓Demonstrated ability to lead cross-site or cross-functional initiatives.

Show full description ↓

About this role

The Manufacturing Engineering Lead manages a mission-critical function within Site Engineering and Facilities, overseeing the installation, validation, reliability, and optimization of manufacturing process equipment and cGxP warehouse technologies. This leader will guide a team of engineers, represent Site Engineering and Facilities in key operational decisions, and partner closely with Manufacturing, Quality, EHS, Maintenance, Automation, and global engineering teams. The role requires a strong technical foundation in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, validation, equipment performance, and regulated operations.

What you’ll do

•Lead and develop the Manufacturing Engineering function, including a team of approximately 7–15 employees.
•Ensure the ongoing reliability, performance, safety, and compliance of manufacturing process equipment and assigned systems.
•Establish departmental goals, development plans, operating metrics, and tactical priorities aligned with manufacturing and site objectives.
•Represent Site Engineering and Facilities in site and factory leadership discussions involving manufacturing strategy, technical risks, and operational direction.
•Lead validation strategy, execution, and lifecycle management while ensuring alignment with the Quality Management System and global procedures.
•Present and defend manufacturing engineering and validation programs during regulatory audits and inspections.
•Develop operating and capital forecasts, manage departmental resources, and provide oversight of the site’s small-capital portfolio.
•Prioritize continuous-improvement initiatives, equipment upgrades, and engineering solutions that improve reliability, efficiency, and manufacturing performance.
•Provide technical direction during critical equipment issues and support uninterrupted manufacturing operations.
•Collaborate with Quality and EHS to maintain equipment and systems in a safe, compliant, and validated state.
•Support 24/7 manufacturing operations as business needs require.
•Coach and develop engineering employees while promoting technical capability, accountability, and effective delegation.

Preferred skills

+Working knowledge of distributed control systems, programmable logic controllers, P&IDs, and standard operating procedures.
+Experience with manufacturing process equipment and supporting utility or facility systems.
+Lean Six Sigma, continuous-improvement, or operational-excellence experience.
+Contract management and contractor safety-management experience.
+Experience supporting large-scale, multi-use manufacturing facilities.
+Strong business acumen, strategic planning, capital-investment analysis, and resource-management capabilities.
+Ability to communicate engineering strategy and technical risk effectively to senior leaders, regulators, vendors, and cross-functional partners.

Job Level: Management

Additional Information

Base salary offered is determined through an analytical approach utilizing a combination of factors including, but not limited to, relevant skills & experience, job location, and internal equity.

Regular employees are eligible to receive both short term and long-term incentives, including cash bonus and equity incentive opportunities, designed to reward recent achievements and recognize your future potential based on individual, business unit and company performance.

+Medical, Dental, Vision, & Life insurances
+Fitness & Wellness programs including a fitness reimbursement
+Short- and Long-Term Disability insurance
+A minimum of 15 days of paid vacation and an additional end-of-year shutdown time off (Dec 26-Dec 31)
+Up to 12 company paid holidays + 3 paid days off for Personal Significance
+80 hours of sick time per calendar year
+Paid Maternity and Parental Leave benefit
+401(k) program participation with company matched contributions
+Employee stock purchase plan
+Tuition reimbursement of up to $10,000 per calendar year
+Employee Resource Groups participation

Why Biogen?

We are a global team with a commitment to excellence, and a pioneering spirit. As a mid-sized biotechnology company, we provide the stability and resources of a well-established business while fostering an environment where individual contributions make a significant impact. Our team encompasses some of the most talented and passionate achieve