Mechanical Lead | Pharmaceutical Capital Expansion | Athlone

Contract: 12 months initially, with intention to extend
Location: Athlone, Ireland
Hybrid: 4 days onsite, 1 day remote

We’re currently recruiting for a Mechanical Lead to support a major pharmaceutical manufacturing expansion in Athlone.

The position forms part of a substantial brownfield retrofit programme to establish additional oral solid-dose manufacturing capacity.

This is a senior client-side opportunity, providing mechanical technical leadership across construction, installation, mechanical completion and handover activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the client's Mechanical Lead, overseeing mechanical construction and installation across multiple work packages.
• Manage EPCM partners, mechanical contractors and subcontractors to ensure delivery against programme milestones.
• Oversee demolition, HVAC, MEP, utilities and pharmaceutical equipment installation.
• Coordinate interfaces between engineering, construction, CQV and manufacturing operations.
• Lead constructability reviews, construction sequencing and technical issue resolution.
• Monitor installation quality, mechanical completion, safety performance and GMP compliance.
• Manage mechanical turnover activities, including walkdowns, quality documentation, test packs and punch-list closure.
• Ensure successful handover of mechanical systems into commissioning, qualification and operations.
• Provide structured reporting on programme progress, risks, resources and contractor performance.

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a relevant engineering discipline.
• Minimum 10 years' experience delivering pharmaceutical construction projects.
• Demonstrated mechanical leadership experience across large-scale capital projects.
• Strong background managing EPCM partners and mechanical subcontractors.
• Experience delivering HVAC, utilities, MEP and equipment installation packages.
• Proven knowledge of mechanical completion, construction quality and turnover documentation.
• Experience coordinating construction delivery with CQV teams in GMP environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management, technical problem-solving and reporting capabilities.
• Client-side or owner-representative experience is highly advantageous.
• PMP, PRINCE2, NEBOSH or equivalent certification would be beneficial.