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Energy and Sustainability Engineer

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. • Ireland • Added on Jul 23, 2026
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This role centers on the technical ownership of energy performance and decarbonization at a critical pharmaceutical site. You will oversee the ISO 50001 energy management system, identifying concrete opportunities to reduce consumption across complex utilities like HVAC and building systems. Beyond monitoring, you will lead energy projects from design through to commissioning, ensuring every technical upgrade translates into verified savings and operational reliability.

Energy efficiency in biotechnology is not just about cost but about the ethical footprint of life-saving medicine. At Alexion, your work directly supports AstraZeneca’s global carbon reduction commitments, turning high-level corporate targets into local engineering realities. You provide the technical bridge between manufacturing excellence and environmental stewardship, making the production of rare disease treatments as sustainable as possible.

This suits someone who possesses a strong engineering background and thrives on data-driven problem solving within regulated industrial environments. You should be comfortable influencing cross-functional teams to adopt green technical standards.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

As the technical custodian of the site's energy performance, you will be responsible for the continuous improvement of the ISO 50001 Energy Management System. This involves acting as a subject matter expert for utilities and energy systems, where you will analyze trends to identify performance drift and lead root-cause investigations. Your mandate extends to the full lifecycle of energy projects, from initial concept and design review to contractor management and final commissioning. You will be expected to validate energy savings through rigorous Measurement and Verification (M&V) protocols and handle the administration of EEOS credit generation.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this role, you will gain deep exposure to complex industrial utilities used in biotechnology, such as specialized HVAC and clean utility systems. Working within the AstraZeneca network provides unique insights into how global decarbonization pathways are implemented at a local site level using cutting-edge technology. You will also sharpen your expertise in regulatory compliance and international standards. Managing an ISO 50001 system in a highly regulated pharmaceutical environment offers a masterclass in audit-readiness and technical documentation that is highly valued in the sustainability sector.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate brings at least five years of experience in an engineering or facilities-related role, specifically with a focus on energy systems. You should have a solid grasp of mechanical and electrical systems, and how they interface with Building Management Systems (BMS) for data trending and performance analytics. Beyond technical skills, you should demonstrate strong organizational and communication abilities. The role requires the maturity to lead projects independently while also collaborating with cross-functional teams in quality, manufacturing, and facilities to align energy goals with operational needs.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, emphasize your direct experience with Measurement and Verification (M&V) and energy baselining. Providing specific examples of projects where you identified a performance gap and led a technical solution through to verified savings will demonstrate your practical impact. Since this role supports the broader AstraZeneca sustainability roadmap, research their Ambition Zero Carbon targets. Narrating how your technical engineering skills can contribute to these specific global goals in your cover letter or interview will show an alignment with the company’s long-term environmental vision.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The core focus is on operational energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction within the site's physical infrastructure. You will likely work on projects aimed at electrifying heat, optimizing chillers, or integrating renewable energy sources into the site's power mix. Additionally, the role focuses on governance and transparency. By maintaining the ISO 50001 standard and strengthening environmental reporting protocols, you ensure that the company's sustainability claims are backed by robust, verifiable data and international best practices.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the primary challenges is balancing energy reduction with manufacturing constraints. In a pharmaceutical setting, quality and reliability in utilities are non-negotiable, so any optimization project must undergo rigorous change control and ensure no negative impact on product safety. You may also face the challenge of data complexity. Integrating disparate data sets from various metering systems and BMS platforms to create a clear, actionable dashboard for site energy performance requires persistence and a high degree of technical accuracy.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might begin with reviewing energy usage deviations from the previous 24 hours to ensure systems are performing as expected. You would likely spend time in meetings with the Engineering or Utilities teams to discuss the progress of ongoing energy-saving project installations. Your afternoon might be dedicated to technical reporting or baseline analysis for a new decarbonization initiative. This could involve diving into BMS trends to find optimization opportunities or coordinating with external contractors to finalize the design of a more efficient utility system.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

This position offers a clear path toward Energy Management leadership or specialized Sustainability Engineering roles within a global pharmaceutical giant. Because you are part of the AstraZeneca group, lateral moves into more strategic ESG roles or global engineering excellence teams are possible. Furthermore, the high visibility of decarbonization projects puts you at the forefront of the company’s most important environmental initiatives. Successfully leading site-wide energy transformations can lead to roles with broader geographic responsibilities across the EMEA or global regions.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact daily with the Engineering and Utilities teams to ensure mechanical and electrical systems are optimized. Collaboration with Manufacturing and Quality departments is also essential to ensure that energy initiatives align with production schedules and regulatory requirements. Externally, you will manage contractors and energy consultants who assist with project execution and M&V activities. You may also liaise with regulatory bodies or energy agencies regarding EEOS credit claims and environmental compliance documentation.

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