At a Glance
- Tasks: Support new product introduction and ensure equipment readiness for safe manufacturing.
- Company: GSK, a leading global healthcare company focused on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, healthcare, pension plan, and shares programme.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a regulated production environment.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Qualifications: HNC in Engineering, industry experience, and strong collaboration skills required.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
GSK Barnard Castle is a key secondary manufacturing site with advanced manufacturing capability supporting sustained product supply, technical transfers, and new product introductions. As part of our continued focus on growth and performance, we are strengthening engineering support for new product introduction (NPI) within Q Block, ensuring equipment, processes, and systems are ready to deliver safe, compliant, and reliable manufacture.
Benefits: competitive salary, annual bonus, healthcare and wellbeing programmes, pension plan membership, and shares and savings programme.
Responsibilities:
- Support new product introduction within Q Block, working closely with Operations, Quality, Validation, MSAT, and Engineering teams to ensure equipment and processes are ready for safe, compliant manufacture.
- Provide technical oversight and hands‑on engineering support during product introduction, process trials, engineering runs, validation activity, and early‑life manufacturing support.
- Act as a key engineering representative for Q Block NPI activity, ensuring maintainability, operability, reliability, and compliance considerations are embedded into technical transfer and launch planning.
- Lead and coordinate engineering technician activities aligned to NPI milestones, including planning, prioritisation, issue resolution, and communication of progress and risks.
- Act as first point of escalation for technical issues impacting equipment readiness, process execution, reliability or product introduction timelines.
- Support development, review, and execution of engineering, validation, and GMP documentation, ensuring Q Block equipment and maintenance standards meet quality, safety and regulatory expectations.
- Support and coordinate change control management for Q Block NPI activity, ensuring engineering changes are assessed, documented, approved, implemented and closed in line with GMP, validation, quality and operational requirements.
- Collaborate cross‑functionally to support successful product launch, ramp‑up and transition to routine manufacture, ensuring lessons learned are captured and embedded into standard ways of working.
- Contribute to continuous improvement and reliability improvement across Q Block, using technical learning from NPI activity to improve performance, reduce risk and strengthen future product introductions.
Qualifications:
Basic Qualifications & Skills:
- Minimum of an HNC level qualification in an Engineering discipline
- An industry recognised Engineering apprenticeship
- Significant post‑apprenticeship industry experience
- Demonstrable experience working within regulated (GxP) environments
- Experience supporting new product introduction, technical transfer, validation, or operational readiness activities
- Experience supporting GMP change control management, including change assessment, implementation planning, documentation and closure
- Strong collaboration skills with cross‑functional teams within complex organisations
Preferred Qualifications & Skills:
- Experience working in aseptic or classified environments (e.g. ISO 5 / ISO 7)
- Experience supporting NPI, technical transfer, process validation, or product launch activities
- Demonstrable leadership and team coordination experience
- Experience acting as a subject matter expert in engineering systems
- Hands‑on experience supporting manufacturing performance, reliability improvement or operational readiness within a regulated production environment
Skills: Asset Life Cycle Management, Data Integrity, Digital Fluency, GxP Regulations, Lean Management, Manufacturing Technologies, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Problem Solving, Risk Awareness, Standards Compliance.
Senior Engineering Technician - 12 Month FTC/Secondment in Barnard Castle employer: GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration in the pharmaceutical industry. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will have access to numerous growth opportunities while enjoying a competitive salary, annual bonus, and a flexible hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance. Located in the UK, GSK's culture prioritises teamwork and inclusivity, making it a rewarding place for professionals passionate about making a difference in healthcare.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Engineering Technician - 12 Month FTC/Secondment in Barnard Castle
✨Get Hands-On with Temporary Projects
Temporary roles are all about flexibility and quick results. Look for short-term engineering projects or gigs that local companies might need help with. You can find these on job boards like Indeed or even niche platforms like PeoplePerHour. Don't be shy to reach out directly to firms—sometimes they have needs that aren't posted yet!
✨Tap into Engineering Meetups
Networking is key in engineering, especially for temporary positions. Check out local engineering meetups or hackathons relevant to your interests. Engaging with peers can lead to leads on temporary roles. Plus, it’s a sweet way to showcase your skills and passion in person—who knows who might be hiring at one of these events?
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Let your friends and family know you're on the hunt for a temporary engineering role. Often, personal recommendations can get you in the door faster than any application. Share your goals and what you’re looking for through social media or casual conversations; you’d be surprised how many people might have the right connections!
✨Stay Sharp with Online Courses
While you're searching, keep those skills fresh! Take on some online courses related to your engineering field. Platforms like Coursera or edX can help you stay current and even get some certifications under your belt. This shows potential employers at GlaxoSmithKline that you’re committed to growth, making you a more appealing candidate for temporary roles.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Engineering Technician - 12 Month FTC/Secondment in Barnard Castle
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Versatile Engineering Skills:For a temporary engineering role like this one at GlaxoSmithKline, make sure to showcase a broad range of your engineering skills. Talk about different projects you’ve undertaken, focusing on your problem-solving ability and adaptability—key traits for temporary positions that depend on quick integration into teams.
Be Clear About Your Availability:Since this is a temporary role, clarity is essential. In your cover letter, be upfront about your availability and how soon you can start. Employers like GlaxoSmithKline want to know that you can hit the ground running, so don’t shy away from mentioning your flexibility!
Tailor Your CV to Showcase Relevant Experience:Make sure your CV is tailored to reflect the specific engineering projects relevant to the job. For instance, if you’ve worked on temporary contracts before or have engaged in diverse engineering processes, highlight these experiences to show how well-rounded you are.
Include References from Past Employers:Temporary positions often require trust and reliability. Adding references from previous employers can significantly boost your application. It shows that you have a strong work ethic and can adapt quickly, which is exactly what GlaxoSmithKline will be looking for.
How to prepare for a job interview at GlaxoSmithKline
✨Get to Grips with Your Technical Skills
Engineering roles often involve assessing your technical expertise, so be prepared to delve into your core skills. Brush up on relevant software and tools you’ve used before, as well as any engineering principles that relate to the position at GlaxoSmithKline. We want you to showcase your hands-on experience and problem-solving capabilities – it could be the difference between you and another candidate!
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Expect to tackle some practical scenarios during the interview. Whether it's a design challenge or a troubleshooting test, GlaxoSmithKline might want to see how you approach real-world engineering problems. Think of specific examples from your past work where you had to think on your feet and be ready to walk your interviewers through your thought process.
✨Show Your Adaptability in Temporary Roles
Since this is a temporary position, it’s key to demonstrate your flexibility and ability to hit the ground running. Make sure to convey your eagerness to learn and adapt quickly to the team and the specific projects at GlaxoSmithKline. We all know that temporary roles can be a bit of a whirlwind, so emphasise your quick learning skills and your approach to managing change.
✨Highlight Relevant Portfolio Projects
If you've worked on engineering projects that align with the role at GlaxoSmithKline, make sure to bring them up! A portfolio can be a great way to illustrate your engineering prowess. Discuss the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the results achieved – this will give the interviewers a tangible idea of what you bring to the table.
