HVAC/Refrigeration Sr Principal Engineer - Berkeley, CA

At Bayer we’re visionaries, driven to solve the world’s toughest challenges and striving for a world where 'Health for all Hunger for none’ is no longer a dream, but a real possibility. We’re doing it with energy, curiosity and sheer dedication, always learning from unique perspectives of those around us, expanding our thinking, growing our capabilities and redefining ‘impossible’. There are so many reasons to join us. If you’re hungry to build a varied and meaningful career in a community of brilliant and diverse minds to make a real difference, there’s only one choice.

HVAC/Refrigeration Sr Principal Engineer - Berkeley, CA 

As the HVAC/Refrigeration Sr Principal Engineer, you are responsible for leading and coordinating technical initiatives across the organization to drive innovation and operational excellence; this position involves overseeing project engineering, maintenance strategies, and process improvements to ensure optimal performance and compliance with industry standards; you will emphasize the development of effective technical teams, foster collaboration, and promote knowledge sharing to enhance capabilities; your role includes identifying and implementing best practices, managing technical integrity, and ensuring all engineering activities align with organizational goals for safety, quality, and efficiency.

Serve as the site-wide technical authority for all HVAC and refrigeration systems across GMP and non-GMP facilities, providing expert-level guidance on design, operation, maintenance, qualification, and compliance of HVAC and refrigeration infrastructure critical to pharmaceutical manufacturing, including sterile Class A and B filling environments and critical temperature-controlled storage environments.

YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the site technical authority for all HVAC and refrigeration systems, including chillers, air handling units (AHUs), cooling towers, boilers, cleanroom air systems, exhaust systems, humidification/dehumidification systems, building automation systems (BAS/DeltaV/Desigo), compressors, evaporators, condensers, control systems, alarm systems, and associated utilities supporting +5°C and -30°C cold rooms;
• Lead and ensure the reliability, compliance, and continuous improvement of HVAC and refrigeration systems and GMP-critical infrastructure, including chilled and hot water systems, HEPA certification and air balancing programs, ISO 8 and sterile Class A/B environments, and SAP work order processes;
• Ensure HVAC and refrigeration systems maintain required environmental conditions and operate in full compliance with GMP, quality, regulatory, and environmental requirements applicable to a pharmaceutical manufacturing site;
• Provide expert troubleshooting and technical support for HVAC and refrigeration system failures, excursions, and performance issues, including root cause analysis, corrective action development, and recurrence prevention;
• Lead the development, optimization, and continuous improvement of preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance strategies for all HVAC and refrigeration assets, including spare parts management, lifecycle planning, and standardized maintenance procedures and SOPs;
• Maintain the technical integrity of HVAC and refrigeration asset information in the CMMS, including equipment records, PM plans, spare parts, and failure code strategy;
• Support the qualified state of controlled-temperature and GMP HVAC environments through qualification, requalification, temperature mapping, environmental monitoring review, and quality system activities including deviations, CAPAs, change controls, and risk assessments;
• Monitor and trend HVAC and refrigeration performance, alarm history, temperature data, energy use, and system reliability metrics to proactively identify risks, drive continuous improvement, and respond to environmental and utility excursions;
• Provide technical leadership and design review for HVAC and refrigeration-related capital projects, system upgrades, obsolescence remediation, and facility modifications, including contractor/vendor oversight;
• Leverage CMMS, Building Management Systems (Desigo, DeltaV), and industrial automation systems to support maintenance execution, operational excellence, and ongoing improvement efforts.

WHO YOU ARE

Bayer seeks an incumbent who possesses the following:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in a relevant engineering or technical discipline;
• Demonstrated technical expertise in HVAC and industrial refrigeration systems and operations in regulated environments;
• Strong knowledge of GMP, OSHA, environmental requirements, and permit-to-work processes applicable to HVAC and refrigeration systems;
• Proven ability to coordinate and oversee contractor/vendor activities in the field, ensuring safe work execution and adherence to approved procedures;
• Exceptional troubleshooting and problem-solving skills to diagnose equipment or system failures, identify deviations or risks, and drive corrective actions;
• Proficiency with CMMS platforms such as SAP PM, Maximo, or equivalent for work order management and maintenance data integrity;
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, mechanical drawings, equipment manuals, and technical documentation to support maintenance and system decisions;
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to interface effectively with Maintenance, Engineering, Operations, Quality, EHS, and external vendors;
• Excellent planning, organization, and execution ownership to manage multiple priorities and ensure work is completed to specification.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree with 8+ years’ experience or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• HVAC or Refrigeration certificated program with 12+ years’ experience;
• 5+ years’ experience in maintenance, reliability, or manufacturing operations within a regulated environment (pharmaceutical, biotech, food, or chemical);
• Experience supporting HVAC qualification, validation, temperature mapping, and environmental monitoring in GMP facilities;
• Familiarity with building automation systems (Desigo, DeltaV) and industrial control integration for HVAC systems.

Employees can expect to be paid a salary between $131,600.00 - $197,400.00. Additional compensation may include a bonus or commission (if relevant). Additional benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, PTO, sick leave, etc.

This salary range is merely an estimate and may vary based on an applicant’s location, market data/ranges, an applicant’s skills and prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications, and other relevant factors.

This posting will be available for application until at least 10/4/2026.

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