Process Technician - Mechanical

Job description

The Role: Joining Moderna means advancing mRNA science to transform medicine. Work with exceptional global teams on a broad pipeline and build a career that makes a real difference for patients. Moderna is strengthening Australia’s biotech landscape through a long term partnership focused on pandemic resilience. Our Melbourne based mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility will support rapid response to future health threats while creating skilled jobs and developing local talent. We welcome professionals ready to help advance global health security. Based on-site at Moderna’s GMP manufacturing facility in Melbourne, Australia, and reporting to the Plant Engineering Manager, you will play a critical role in ensuring the reliability, performance and operational readiness of our manufacturing and support equipment. As a hands-on technical specialist and individual contributor, you will take ownership of mechanical maintenance, complex troubleshooting, equipment investigations and reliability improvements across GMP and non-GMP systems. Working closely with engineering, manufacturing and external service providers, you will help maintain safe, compliant and efficient 24/7 operations while contributing to continuous improvement and the adoption of innovative digital technologies. Here's What You'll Do: Keep our manufacturing operations running reliably: Perform scheduled preventative and corrective maintenance on GMP and non-GMP process equipment and supporting systems, following established procedures and approved practices. Take ownership of equipment issues as a first responder, ensuring they are resolved through hands-on intervention or the effective coordination of external service providers. Lead technical troubleshooting and equipment recovery: Diagnose mechanical and operational issues across complex manufacturing equipment and interconnected systems. Develop and implement remediation plans for equipment failures, emergency repairs and follow-up maintenance, working alongside equipment owners, engineers and specialist vendors to restore equipment performance and minimise operational disruption. Become a trusted technical expert in advanced manufacturing equipment: Provide subject matter expertise in the operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of autoclaves, washers, filling lines, isolators, tangential flow filtration (TFF) systems, chromatography columns and skids, mixers, stainless steel tanks and associated manufacturing equipment. Apply your knowledge of pumps, valves, heat exchangers, mixing vessels, pneumatic and vacuum systems, and automated process equipment to support effective maintenance and reliable operation. Drive equipment reliability and continuous improvement: Support technical investigations and reliability engineering activities, applying structured problem-solving methodologies to identify true root causes of complex equipment failures. Develop effective corrective and preventative actions (CAPAs), identify opportunities to optimise preventative maintenance tasks and strategies, and lead improvements that strengthen equipment performance and operational resilience. Deliver maintenance activities and technical projects: Take the lead in executing maintenance activities and small engineering projects, managing competing priorities and multiple complex assignments with minimal supervision. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure technical solutions are implemented effectively, safely and in alignment with manufacturing requirements. Maintain rigorous GMP documentation and compliance: Create, maintain and complete accurate cGMP maintenance records in both paper-based and electronic systems. Ensure maintenance, repairs, troubleshooting and associated activities are documented in accordance with approved procedures, regulatory expectations and site quality requirements. Coordinate contractors and specialist service providers: Supervise external contractors undertaking routine and non-routine maintenance activities, ensuring appropriate Safe Work Method Statements (SWMMS), work permits and site GMP requirements are in place. Direct vendor activities where necessary, maintaining accountability for safe execution, technical quality and completion of assigned work. Champion safety in everything you do: Perform and coordinate maintenance activities in accordance with Moderna’s Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) policies and procedures. Apply relevant safety controls, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), working-at-heights requirements and hot-work procedures, ensuring all work is completed responsibly and in compliance with site standards. Support continuous manufacturing operations: Participate in a rotating on-call roster to support the facility’s 24/7 operations. Respond to urgent equipment and facility issues, providing timely technical intervention and coordinating the necessary resources to restore safe and reliable operation. Share your expertise and develop technical capability: Maintain Qualified Trainer status and deliver structured On-the-Job Training (OJT) to colleagues. Share equipment knowledge, maintenance best practices and troubleshooting techniques to strengthen technical capability across the Melbourne manufacturing facility. Help shape the future of digital maintenance: Contribute to opportunities to improve maintenance effectiveness through digital tools, data-driven troubleshooting and emerging technologies, including Generative AI where appropriate and in accordance with approved company practices. Explore how these capabilities could support technical knowledge sharing, maintenance documentation, equipment investigations and continuous improvement. Collaborate, communicate and take ownership: Work effectively with engineering, manufacturing, quality and other cross-functional stakeholders, demonstrating a strong customer service mindset. Communicate technical findings clearly, prepare high-quality technical documentation, present your work to peers and cross-functional managers, and provide recommendations that can influence leadership decisions. Take full ownership of assignments, follow through to resolution and represent Moderna’s interests, objectives and policies professionally and responsibly. Contribute wherever your expertise is needed: Support additional maintenance, engineering and operational activities as required to ensure the continued safe, compliant and reliable operation of the Melbourne manufacturing facility. The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role: "We behave like owners. The solutions we’re building go beyond any job description.” “We obsess over learning. We don’t have to be the smartest we have to learn the fastest.” Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table: Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics), preferred. Trade qualification – Certificate 3, preferred. 3 to 5 years relevant experience working in a regulated (cGMP preferred) environment. Experience working in sterile manufacturing is highly desirable. Hands on experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Understanding of automated process equipment (PLC controls) for simple troubleshooting is required. Understanding and experience with pneumatic and vacuum systems. Understanding of process equipment (pumps, valves, heat exchangers, mixing vessels etc) Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written) are required.  Expected to be able to present own work to peers and cross-functional managers and influence leadership decisions.  Technical writing skills required. Must have a customer service mindset. Ability to manage competing priorities is critical. Must be able use his/her technical background to investigate issues using a structured problem solving approach to determine true root cause and develop effective corrective and preventative actions.  Must be able to find true root cause and path forward for complex problems. Ability to identify and drive improvements