Maintenance Planning Engineer

Role Summary:

Are you a highly strategic Maintenance Planning Engineer ready to be the linchpin of reliability for a major pharmaceutical manufacturing site in Newbridge, Co. Kildare?

This is an opportunity to move beyond routine scheduling and take full ownership of a high volume facility’s preventative maintenance strategy. You will be the crucial link between production and engineering, using data-driven insights (CMMS) to champion Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and eliminate complex defects. We are looking for an expert who ensures cGMP compliance, delivers maximum asset utilisation, and drives the Right First Time ethos across all planned maintenance activities. If you are passionate about applying technical expertise to achieve world class operational performance, join us and make a direct impact on the manufacturing success.

Core Duties and Responsibilities:

As the Maintenance Planning Engineer, you will be instrumental in the reliability and compliance of the site. Your core duties will focus on three key areas:

• Own the Maintenance Schedule: Collaborate closely with the Production Scheduler to develop and implement the routine and non-routine plant maintenance program, ensuring maximum schedule adherence and implementing corrective measures as needed.
• Compliance & Timeliness: Ensure all planned maintenance is completed within the allotted time. Where extensions are unavoidable, manage the necessary deviation paperwork and justification.
• Right First-Time: Execute all responsibilities and processes strictly in line with Right First-Time (RFT) principles, site policies, cGMP, and EHS (Environmental, Health & Safety) regulations.
• Defect & Root Cause Analysis: Drive complex defect elimination and conduct Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for repeat performance issues/occurrences, ensuring long-term solutions are implemented.
• TPM & Development: Facilitate the site’s Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) program and work with the Plant Engineer on the continuous development and improvement of the preventative maintenance (PM) program.
• Data Analysis: Interrogate CMMS system data to analyze technician resource deployment, identify performance gaps, and propose measurable improvements in efficiency.
• New Equipment Integration: Partner with the Equipment Engineering and Reliability teams to integrate new processes and equipment, ensuring the maintenance system is updated with accurate equipment definitions, task lists, BOMs, and spares.
• Issue Resolution: Work closely with the Shift Engineer and maintenance team to quickly resolve equipment breakdowns, providing crucial support with sourcing spares, drawings, and technical information.
• Quality & Safety Support: Actively participate in and drive Safety initiatives onsite, support Quality investigations, and manage the documentation and write-up for all Deviation Investigations.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Participate in strategic decision-making and consult with relevant stakeholders across Engineering, Production, and Quality departments.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

Essential Requirements

• Education: Degree in an Engineering discipline (Mechanical, Electrical, etc.) with relevant pharmaceutical experience, or suitable equivalence based on significant industry experience.
• Sector-Specific Experience: Direct maintenance planning experience within a heavily regulated environment, preferably the Pharmaceutical or a similar high-standard industry (e.g., Food).
• Technical Expertise: Proficient in technical problem-solving and experienced in applying structured Root Cause Analysis methodologies.
• System Knowledge: Demonstrated knowledge of CMMS systems (e.g., SAP, Maximo) and their application for data analysis and resource optimization.
• Core Competencies: Exhibit Strong Ownership and Accountability for results, coupled with highly collaborative working and excellent interpersonal skills.

 Desirable Attributes

• Specific experience with solid dose / packaging equipment or processes.
• Proven track record in driving TPM or similar lean maintenance methodologies.

Please note, we do not require agency assistance with this role.