Production Engineer

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 its presence in Melbourne, a leading biotech hub in Australia. Our team drives commercial operations to bring our mRNA medicines to patients nationwide. We welcome global professionals committed to making a meaningful impact.

In this role, you will provide hands on engineering support for critical mRNA drug product manufacturing and fill finish systems within a fast paced 24×7 GMP manufacturing environment. You will play a key role in ensuring equipment reliability, compliance, operational readiness, and continuous improvement across highly automated and technically advanced production systems.

Working cross functionally with Manufacturing, Facilities & Engineering, MS&T, Quality, OEM vendors, calibration teams, and Process Technicians, you will help sustain and optimize the equipment and utility infrastructure that supports Moderna’s global manufacturing operations while gaining exposure to advanced automation, digital manufacturing technologies, and emerging AI enabled operational tools.

Here's What You’ll Do

• Provide hands on technical support for mRNA drug product manufacturing and fill finish equipment to ensure operability, reliability, compliance, and business continuity.
• Support and maintain critical process equipment including single use mixers, parts washers, autoclaves, isolators, filling machines, and supporting utility systems.
• Ensure all in scope equipment consistently meets compliance, safety, GMP, and operational performance requirements.
• Respond to alarms, out of specification (OOS), and out of trend (OOT) events while conducting product impact assessments and initiating containment actions as required.
• Represent Engineering during Tier 1 Operations meetings to review, prioritize, and address equipment issues impacting product quality and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Track engineering action items, communicate issue resolution status, and escalate unresolved or critical operational risks appropriately.
• Lead root cause investigations utilizing methodologies such as 5 Why and Fishbone analysis to identify equipment failure modes and implement robust corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
• Develop and support associated change controls linked to equipment improvements, remediation activities, and reliability initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical and electrical Process Technicians to troubleshoot and resolve failures involving drives, valves, sensors, control loops, and utility distribution networks.
• Support commissioning, qualification, and validation activities for new and modified equipment including development and execution support for URS, IQ, OQ, and PQ protocols.
• Maintain and update cGMP documentation including SOPs, SWPMs, batch records, and engineering records to ensure inspection readiness and operational compliance.
• Support both internal and external GMP audits through technical documentation review, issue resolution, and engineering representation.
• Liaise directly with OEM vendors for equipment installations, commissioning activities, warranty support, technical escalations, and troubleshooting activities.
• Coordinate with internal and third party calibration teams to schedule, verify, and maintain calibration status for critical instrumentation and process equipment.
• Support engineering projects through all project lifecycle phases including user requirements, design reviews, procurement, installation, startup, commissioning, and operational handover.
• Analyze equipment reliability metrics, operational performance trends, and CMMS data to identify opportunities for optimization and continuous improvement.
• Recommend and implement enhancements to preventive maintenance strategies, equipment reliability programs, and operational effectiveness initiatives.
• Contribute to a highly collaborative engineering environment focused on innovation, technical excellence, operational agility, and continuous learning.
• Operate effectively within a country remit supporting Moderna’s Australian manufacturing operations and broader business objectives.
• Gain exposure to advanced digital manufacturing systems, automation platforms, and evolving Generative AI enabled technologies designed to improve operational decision making, predictive maintenance, and manufacturing efficiency.

The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role

• We obsess over learning. We don’t have to be the smartest we have to learn the fastest.
• We act with dynamic range, driving strategy and execution at the same time at every step.

Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications) 

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Mechatronics or related engineering discipline.
• 2–4 years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical or bioprocess manufacturing (GxP/GMP environment preferred).
• Exposure to drug‑product equipment is preferred (mixers, isolators, filling lines, autoclaves, parts washers, automated inspection and packing machines) .
• Basic hands‑on troubleshooting of PLC/HMI/SCADA systems, variable‑speed drives, and pneumatic/vacuum loops.
• Experience assisting with CQV activities and drafting validation deliverables.
• Familiarity with CMMS, Excel (pivot tables, charts), Word, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to present technical findings and influence cross‑functional teams.
• Self‑starter with strong problem‑solving skills, adaptability for 24×7 operations, and eagerness to learn under mentorship.
• Professional demeanour; able to represent Moderna’s interests and policies.
• This position is site-based, requiring you to be at Moderna’s site full-time. This position is not eligible for remote work.
• As part of Moderna’s commitment to workplace health and safety, this role may be subject to pre-employment and periodic medical assessments, in line with relevant legal and operational requirements.

Pay & Benefits

At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work.  That’s why our global benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

• Best-in-class healthcare, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs

• A holistic approach to well-being with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support

• Family building benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support

• Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown

• Savings and investments to help you plan for the future

• Location-specific perks and extras

The benefits offered may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Moderna and the country where you work.

About Moderna

Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.  

By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture. Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities. 

We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S. 

As we build our company, we have always believed an in-person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in-office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in-office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact. 

If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit modernatx.com/careers to learn more about our current opportunities. 

Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment. 

Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply! 

Moderna is committed to equal opportunity in employment and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. 

We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best. 

Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodation or adjustments to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation or adjustment in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations and Adjustments team at leavesandaccommodations@modernatx.com. 

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Biotechnology company pioneering mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases and oncology. Based in Cambridge, MA.

modernatx.com