Principal Plant Engineer - HVAC, CVRM
Genentech · Holly Springs, NC
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Production
- Base pay
- $95k–$177k
- Travel
- 30%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 8+ years
- Industry
- Pharma & life sciences
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior production role at Genentech (pharma & life sciences) in Holly Springs, NC.
- They ask for
- 8+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Root cause, CAPA, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Robotics, Automation, SAP
- Base pay
- $95k–$177k
- Day to day
- about 30% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Production Engineer roles in North Carolina: typical posted base $114k–$166k. This one lists $95k–$177k.
Median of the low and high ends of 12 live postings that list pay, out of 49 production 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 production postings in North Carolina.
- Base pay
- In line with similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (8+ vs 6+)
Typical $114k–$154k, from 11 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 6+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Lean 45%
- Team leadership 45%
- Six Sigma 31%
- ✓ Automation 24%
- EHS / safety 22%
- ✓ Root cause 20%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for CAPA, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Robotics, SAP, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
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 Production team at Genentech
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?
- The posting says about 30% travel. Between which sites?
- 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: Genentech in Holly Springs
8 other open roles at this site.
- Principal Maintenance Specialist, Compounding and Filling - CVRM (Holly Springs) · Reliability · Senior
- Senior QA Specialist, CVRM · Quality · Senior
- Principal QA Specialist (Multi-dose pens), CVRM · Quality · Senior
- Principal Validation Engineer, CVRM · Quality · Senior
- Senior Principal Process Engineer, Visual Inspection (MSAT) · Process · Senior
- Master Manufacturing Technician, Inspection · Manufacturing · Technician
Full description from GenentechAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
The Position
Welcome to Holly Springs, North Carolina— home to Roche/Genentech's largest-ever investment: a $2B greenfield start-up where next-generation technology, high-performing teams and Operational Excellence converge to create the global standard for high-volume, highly-efficient Drug Product manufacturing.
The facility's core is defined by Innovation - leveraging advanced automation, robotics, digital tools, real-time data analytics, and simple, streamlined processes to produce the highest quality medicines. This plant meets today’s demand for CVRM (Cardiovascular, Renal, and Metabolism) medicines and is scalable to grow with the portfolio, which focuses on next-generation metabolic medicines specifically targeting the global obesity epidemic and Type 2 diabetes. This is a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with a high-level of accountability, with planned launch in 2028.
Are you a problem-solver and change-agent who thrives in a Team environment, eager to tackle the most complex manufacturing challenges? If so, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to launch a state-of-the-art facility from the ground-up and shape the culture of our organization for the next generation.
Join us in Holly Springs, where you won't just build a plant—you will build the future of medicine.
The Opportunity
We're seeking a highly skilled and experienced Principal Plant Engineer who will be the site’s highest-level technical subject matter expert (SM) for the site’s HVAC/R program, including end-to-end asset management for all HVAC, refrigeration, and cold/warm room systems and plant utilities.
Pre-Startup
During the plant start-up project you will be on the User Team and be accountable for establishing the site’s foundational asset management program for HVAC-R and plant utility systems. In partnership with Project Engineering and the start-up project (user) team you will partner and collaborate with our partner site organizations (Engineering and MSAT, Quality, Supply Chain, Technical Development, Regulatory, CMO, Strategy) to provide expertise in project management and technical design, testing, qualification, validation, as well as all other activities related to design and start-up a new Drug Product Fill and Finish facility with a focused lens on HVAC/R systems such as air handling units, chillers, cooling towers hot water units and cold rooms.
Initially, you will perform a mix of remote and onsite work (first at the General Planner’s office, later at construction site/plant). You will transition to local full time on-site work once the site buildings are built and equipment delivered. Travel of up to 30% of the time is expected during the project phase.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Post-Startup
You will provide strategic and tactical leadership to ensure that the facility's HVAC systems operate with maximum reliability and in strict compliance with cGMP standards.
- •You will drive optimal greenfield facility and operations design towards high manufacturing efficiency and quality in line with product and regulatory requirements. This includes inputs to the creation of master data and maintenance programs in SAP S4/HANA, our Computerized Maintenance Management Software.
- •Oversee HVAC/R and Cleanroom Performance Testing contract services, as needed, to ensure maintenance needs are met and evaluate vendors or service contractor performance. This includes in the field troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and deviation, change control, and CAPA ownership. This will require strong collaboration with Automation, Validation, Calibration, Quality, and Manufacturing.
- •You will own utility, HVAC/R, electrical, and control systems serving the manufacturing site and ensure a state of continuous compliance and audit readiness through the application of good engineering practices and troubleshooting methodologies.
- •You will develop and optimize a reliability program for HVAC/R equipment and site infrastructure and proactively manage instrumentation/equipment obsolescence and improvement projects.
- •You understand the bigger picture of the project and the CVRM disease area and how PT contributes to it. Works closely with the overall project team, the wider organisation and interdepartmental staff to meet department and company goals. Effectively partners with and influences stakeholders across the organization without formal authority, and drives technical decisions balancing product, site, and operations views.
- •You will provide leadership for involved project teams and across the broader organisation. Provides training materials and training for people joining the organisation. Acts as a coach for colleagues with less experience and helps them develop skills/expertise.
- •You will champion continuous improvement initiates to reduce planned and unplanned downtime.
- •You will ensure that the Utility Systems are compliant from a regulatory standpoint and provide audit support as needed.
- •You will develop and own the HEPA Program.
- •You will be POC for HVAC related QMS Records. (Change Controls, Deviations, etc)
- •You will be responsible for compliance with EPA Section 608 as applicable
Who You Are:.
- •You have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or life sciences and 8+ years of work experience in the pharmaceutical or related industry with direct experience in a cGMP regulated environment OR you have an associate’s degree in engineering or life sciences and 10+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical or related industry with direct experience in a cGMP regulated environment.
- •You have an ability to organize and solve complex, unique or unprecedented problems through the regular use of ingenuity and innovation; consistently demonstrating courage and drive to ensure optimal business results.
- •You have updated knowledge of cGMP’s, Health Authority regulations, and Quality Systems.
- •You have experience with collaborators, regulatory agencies, and vendors inside and outside the company incl