Lead Commissioning Engineer - large pharma capital projects

Your new company
Join a global biopharmaceutical organisation delivering a major new Lab and R&D facility. You'll be part of a large capital project team supporting the transition from construction completion into safe, compliant, and fully operational use.

Your new role
This is initially a 12 month contract that may extend and is inside IR35.

As a Lead Commissioning Engineer, you will support the planning, coordination, and verification of commissioning activities across a complex technical facility for a well-established global pharmaceutical company.

Key responsibilities include:

Supporting commissioning strategy, planning, schedules, scope, and documentation requirements
Coordinating commissioning activities across MEP, BMS/EMS, specialist lab systems, utilities, and life safety systems
Overseeing commissioning-ready checks, functional testing, performance testing, and integrated systems testing
Working closely with construction teams, designers, vendors, contractors, operations, FM, HSE, IT, and lab users
Ensuring commissioning documentation is completed, reviewed, and approved to project standards
Tracking deficiencies, punchlist items, risks, and technical issues through to resolution
Supporting safe start-up activities, including RAMS, energisation risk reviews, and LOTO controls
Contributing to handover, operational readiness, soft landings, training, and early-life support

What you'll need to succeed
A strong candidate will bring proven commissioning experience across complex construction or highly serviced technical environments:

Experience as a Commissioning Engineer on complex capital or construction projects, with a significant preference for experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical or wider life sciences industry
Background commissioning laboratories, R&D facilities, or highly serviced technical buildings
Strong understanding of MEP systems, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, BMS/EMS, and automation controls
Familiarity with specialist laboratory systems such as fume cupboards, containment, LEVs, gases, or process utilities
Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, protocols, and commissioning documentation
Strong planning, coordination, stakeholder management, and communication skills
Safety-focused approach, with experience supporting RAMS, risk reviews, and safe systems of work
Experience with integrated systems testing, operational readiness, handover, or lab design standards is advantageous
All candidates MUST hold the right to work in the UK without sponsorship until at least September 2027.

What you'll get in return
You'll be taking responsibility for delivering a critical project for a major pharmaceutical company, working with a highly experienced team in a collaborative and friendly work environment.

What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career.

Keywords: Commissioning, Engineer, Construction, Pharmaceutical, Research, Laboratory, R&D, MEP, HVAC, BMS, EMS, Automation, Controls, Utilities, Handover, Validation, Testing, Compliance, Facilities, Infrastructure, Capital, Project, Safety, LOTO, RAMS, Operational, Readiness, Documentation, Stakeholders, Delivery
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed