About this role
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 pivotal role in ensuring the electrical integrity, reliability and operational readiness of our advanced manufacturing and support systems. As a hands-on electrical specialist and individual contributor, you will lead technical troubleshooting, coordinate electrical maintenance and engineering activities, and drive reliability improvements across GMP and non-GMP equipment. Combining deep expertise in industrial automation, electrical distribution and regulatory compliance with a proactive approach to problem-solving, you will help maintain safe, compliant and efficient 24/7 manufacturing operations while contributing to the continuous evolution of our electrical infrastructure and digital capabilities.
Here's What You'll Do:
- Take ownership of electrical maintenance and operational reliability: Execute, supervise and coordinate routine and non-routine electrical maintenance activities across GMP and non-GMP manufacturing and support equipment. Work closely with end-user groups to plan, prioritise and manage electrical work orders through the Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS), ensuring effective scheduling, execution, tracking and completion.
- Lead complex electrical troubleshooting and equipment recovery: Act as the first responder to electrical equipment failures, taking ownership of issues through to resolution by performing hands-on repairs or directing specialist service providers. Apply your technical expertise to investigate electrical and automation-related faults, develop remediation plans and coordinate follow-up or emergency work to restore equipment functionality and minimise manufacturing disruption.
- Be the electrical subject matter expert for our manufacturing operations: Provide technical leadership and specialist guidance on electrical supply and distribution systems, sensors, instrumentation, pneumatic systems, motor drives and associated equipment used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Support the investigation and resolution of technical deviations, corrective actions and other equipment-related issues, ensuring that solutions are robust, compliant and sustainable.
- Apply advanced automation and control systems expertise: Support the reliability and troubleshooting of sophisticated industrial automation technologies, including Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, Variable Speed Drives (VSDs), servo drives and process instrumentation. Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing teams to diagnose interconnected electrical and control system issues and implement effective technical solutions.
- Support the introduction of new equipment and technologies: Coordinate the specification, fabrication, procurement, installation, engineering start-up and validation of new electrical equipment and systems. Work with engineering, equipment suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure new installations meet operational requirements, approved technical specifications, safety expectations and applicable GMP standards.
- Drive electrical reliability engineering and continuous improvement: Participate in the development and execution of reliability-centred electrical maintenance programmes for assets within your area of responsibility. Identify opportunities to improve electrical maintenance tasks and strategies, develop electrical budget recommendations, assess critical spare parts requirements and contribute to the establishment and monitoring of quality and performance metrics.
- Strengthen electrical standards and safe working practices: Develop, revise and maintain electrical procedures, safe work methods and approved engineering practices. Support the development, supervision and ongoing management of site Electrical Standards, ensuring their technical accuracy, consistent application and continued compliance with applicable regulatory, engineering and safety requirements.
- Lead structured investigations and corrective actions: Apply systematic problem-solving methodologies to investigate complex electrical and equipment failures, identify true root causes and determine effective paths to resolution. Develop and support the implementation of corrective and preventative actions (CAPAs), including remediation activities associated with deviations, emergency maintenance and recurring equipment issues.
- Maintain regulatory compliance and audit readiness: Ensure electrical activities are performed in accordance with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) requirements, site Quality Management System (QMS) processes and applicable regulatory standards, including requirements associated with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA). Participate in internal and external audits, providing technical expertise, maintenance evidence and supporting documentation as required.
- Ensure accurate GMP documentation and maintenance records: Maintain complete, accurate and traceable cGMP records in both paper-based and electronic formats. Ensure electrical maintenance activities, investigations, equipment changes and associated technical work are appropriately documented in accordance with approved procedures and quality requirements.
- Champion electrical safety and responsible work execution: Perform, coordinate and supervise electrical work in accordance with Moderna’s Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) policies and procedures. Apply appropriate electrical safety controls and safe work practices, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), working-at-heights procedures, hot-work requirements and relevant precautions associated with hazardous materials in pharmaceutical manufacturing environments.
- Support equipment validation and ongoing compliance: Contribute electrical and automation expertise to equipment and system validation activities, helping verify that installed equipment operates as intended and meets defined technical, operational and regulatory requirements. Support the ongoing maintenance of validated systems through appropriate engineering practices, documentation and technical oversight.
- Provide critical support to continuous manufacturing operations: Participate in a rotating on-call roster to support the Melbourne facility’s 24/7 operations. Respond to urgent electrical and facility-related issues, coordinate technical interventions and ensure appropriate follow-through to restore safe, reliable and compliant operation.
- Build technical capability through training and knowledge sharing: Maintain Qualified Trainer status and facilitate structured On-the-Job Training (OJT) for colleagues. Share electrical engineering expertise, troubleshooting methodologies, safe working practices and lessons learned from equipment investigations to strengthen technical capability across the facility.
- Explore innovative digital approaches to electrical maintenance: Contribute to opportunities to enhance electrical maintenance, reliability engineering and technical knowledge management through digital tools and emerging technologies, including Generative AI where appropriate and in accordance with approved company practices. Explore potential applications in technical documentation, maintenance knowledge retrieval, structured troubleshooting and the analysis of equipment reliability information.
- Collaborate across functions and influence technical decisions: Build effective relationships with manufacturing, engineering, quality, end-user groups and external service providers, demonstrating a strong customer service mindset. Communicate complex technical findings clearly, prepare high-quality technical documentation and present your work to peers and cross-functional managers. Use sound technical reasoning and evidence-based recommendations to influence leadership decisions and drive practical improvements.
- Deliver results with ownership and accountability: Manage competing priorities and multiple complex technical assignments simultaneously, demonstrating the ability to work independently with minimal direction. Take responsibility for delivering assigned activities through to completion, maintaining professional standards and consistently representing Moderna’s interests, objectives and policies in a responsible manner.
- Contribute to broader site engineering priorities: Undertake additional electrical, maintenance, engineering and operational responsibilities as required to support the continued safe, compliant and reliable operation of Moderna’s 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 (Electrical or equivalent) is preferred.
- Trade qualification – A Grade Electrical License.
- 6 to 10 years relevant experience working in a regulated (cGMP preferred) environment. Experience working in sterile manufacturing is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated management and proficiency in maintaining, and troubleshooting a variety of electrical supply and distribution, sensor’s, instrumentation, pneumatics, and drive systems used in bio-pharmaceutical production.
- Advanced control systems experience troubleshooting PLC’s, HMI/SCADA systems, Drives (VSD/Servo’s) and instrumentation.
- Advanced understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP): Familiarity with GMP standards, quality management system processes and regulatory standards.
- Demonstrated understanding and management of regulatory requirements (TGA, FDA, EMA etc.)
- Understanding of how to validate equipment and systems to ensure they are working as intended.
- Knowledge of electrical safety practices in the pharmaceutical industry, including handling of hazardous materials and electrical safety.
- Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) experience to schedule and track maintenance activities.
- 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 to electrical tasks and strategy.
- Demonstrated ability to learn new equipment/systems.
- Familiarity with Excel, Word, and PowerPoint are required.
- Ability to interact well with other groups and must be able to take ownership of and follow through on assignments. Must be able to drive results on multiple complex assignments simultaneously with minimal required