Construction Manager / Site Engineer – Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Construction Manager / Site Engineer – Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Location: North Chicago, IL

Position Type: Contract; Full-time; Onsite

Duration: 15 Months Contract with potential for extensions

Position Overview:

Automated Systems, Inc. (ASI) is seeking a Construction Manager / Site Engineer to oversee construction and equipment installation for a peptide manufacturing plant expansion. The scope includes a new purification operation, clean-room space, tank farm expansion, and installation of a lyophilizer, chromatography column, and tangential flow filtration (TFF) equipment.

This role serves as the client’s on-site representative, coordinating contractors and trades, resolving field issues, and driving safe, timely completion of construction activities. The ideal candidate brings practical construction experience, familiarity with process piping and pharmaceutical utilities, and the ability to translate engineering drawings into quality field execution.

Key Responsibilities:

• Construction oversight: Provide daily oversight of contractors and trades, including pipefitters, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, and riggers. Verify that work follows approved drawings, specifications, and project requirements.
• Equipment installation: Coordinate equipment delivery, rigging, placement, installation, and utility connections. Confirm installation readiness, access, clearances, and maintenance requirements.
• Process piping and utilities: Oversee installation and modification of process piping and supporting utilities, including purified water, HVAC, nitrogen, and other systems required for manufacturing operations.
• Scheduling and coordination: Coordinate work sequencing, contractor access, shutdowns, and tie-ins with engineering, operations, facilities, and QA. Identify constraints and resolve conflicts between trades to maintain progress.
• Field engineering: Review drawings, P&IDs, layouts, and specifications; identify constructability issues; and coordinate technical questions and field changes with the appropriate engineering personnel.
• Safety: Enforce site safety requirements, review contractor work plans and job hazard analyses, and coordinate required permits, including hot work and confined space entry. Issue or approve permits within assigned site authority.
• Quality and turnover: Inspect completed work, maintain punch lists, and follow deficiencies through closure. Coordinate required inspections and testing, drawing updates, and turnover documentation to support commissioning and qualification.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of construction management or site engineering experience, preferably in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or other regulated manufacturing facilities.
• Minimum of three years of hands-on trade experience in process piping, mechanical installation, electrical, HVAC, or a related discipline.
• Familiarity with sanitary process piping, equipment installation, and pharmaceutical utility systems.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, construction drawings, equipment layouts, and technical specifications.
• Experience coordinating multiple contractors and trades in an operating facility.
• Familiarity with construction safety requirements, permit procedures, and applicable codes.
• Strong communication, organization, and practical problem-solving skills.
• Experience with clean-room construction, tank farms, lyophilizers, chromatography, or TFF systems preferred.