Utilities & Building Infrastructure Engineer

Job Description

About Forge:

At Forge Biologics, we believe in turning bold ideas into life-changing realities. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to enable access to life-changing gene therapies and help bring them from idea into reality. We partner with scientists, physicians, biotech and pharma innovators, and patient communities — all united by one goal: improving lives. If you're driven by purpose and excited to make a tangible impact, this is where your journey begins.

Our team works out of The Hearth, a state-of-the-art, 200,000-square-foot cGMP facility in Columbus, Ohio. Here, you won't just watch innovation happen — you'll be part of it. Whether you're scaling AAV manufacturing, collaborating on cutting-edge therapies, or supporting complex technical projects, you'll play a key role in bringing hope to patients with genetic diseases.

About The Role:

The Utility and Building Infrastructure Engineer is responsible for the support of overall facility and equipment performance, reliability, and compliance for Chilled Water, Hot Water, Reverse Osmosis (RO), Purified Water systems and cleanroom / building infrastructure. This role involves troubleshooting, monitoring, and optimizing critical assets to drive quality and safety compliance, maximize availability, and improve asset health. The Engineer will also support or lead capital projects related to utility and facility expansion.

What You'll Do:

Utility Systems

Builds preventive and predictive maintenance procedures and maintains P&IDs and other associated drawings for the following systems (participating in periodic walkdown of the systems): Hot Water, Chilled Water, Reverse Osmosis (RO), WFI (Water for Injection), CS (Clean Steam), Compressed Gas systems maintenance

Ensures that the WFI and Clean Steam systems are engineered and monitored closely for aspects including temperature and flowrate

Ensures WFI and Clean Steam systems meet performance parameters (temperature, flow, pre-treatment)

Continuously tracks utility performance via Building Alarm System (BAS)

Building & Infrastructure

Serves as engineering subject matter expert (SME) for building infrastructure items including: cleanroom architecture (walls, ceilings and resinous flooring design), cleanroom door control system and functionality, site badge reader system, roofing system, facility doors/roll-up doors, lighting, general exterior site access routes

Ensures all contracts are maintained for external maintenance work

Evaluates cleanroom facility design technologies (stick-build, modular, pod)

Develops periodic walkdown maintenance checklists for all building infrastructure areas

CapEx Projects

Leads or supports utility and infrastructure projects including scoping, scheduling, budgeting, and execution

Partners with external engineering design/build firms on the selection and design of systems.

Utilizes risk assessment methodology tools in the design and selection of utility systems and building infrastructure

Partners closely with Maintenance to build robust maintenance procedures

Supports commissioning/startup (FAT/SAT) and smooth handoff to operations

Compliance & Reliability

Supports or owns equipment and facility Deviations, CAPAs and Change Controls, SOPs, and audits

Develops Health Scorecards for critical assets and drives Preventive Maintenance (PM) optimization

Participates in FMEAs, PHAs and PSSRs (Pre-startup Safety Reviews)

Executes utility and building infrastructure maintenance as required

Supports work order review and closure

Support shutdown management of activities (master schedules for shutdowns including planned, corrective and project-based activities)

Identifies and implements compliance, quality, and safety improvements

Collaboration & Support

Support contractor management program and evaluate improvements with externally performed preventive maintenance (documentation and practices)

Works closely with Maintenance & Project Engineering on the hand-off of newly designed and installed systems and facilities

Support new projects by providing guidance on asset standardization and overall asset reliability expectations

Maintains collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders to drive the business towards achieving company objectives

After hours troubleshooting support and rotational weekend support as needed

What You'll Bring:

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, or related Engineering field (or equivalent technical experience)

Minimum 4+ years of experience in utilities, facilities, or building infrastructure engineering, preferably within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or CDMO environment

Hands-on experience with utility systems such as WFI, Clean Steam, RO, HVAC, compressed gases, and building automation systems

Strong knowledge of preventive/predictive maintenance strategies, asset reliability practices, and risk assessment tools (FMEA, PHA, PSSR)

Must be a self-starter, detail oriented, able to perform complex tasks and work cross-functionally with other departments with minimal supervision

Excellent communication skills with various areas of the organization with the capability to influence positive change

Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, and decision-making abilities

Ability to evaluate and implement new technologies for cleanrooms, utilities and facility design

Experience with electronic Quality Management Systems (e.g., Veeva) and Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (e.g., BMRAM)

General understanding of process control and computerized systems

Preferred: Experience in engineering design, CAD experience, forklift trained, and engineering troubleshooting in a regulated environment (ISO, FDA)

Flexibility to provide after-hours and rotational weekend support as needed

Ability to work onsite (Columbus, Ohio) at least 4 days/week on average

Physical Requirements:

May be required to lift up to 50 pounds of materials or equipment.

Requirement to gown into Classified Areas of the facility (ISO 7 and 8 sterile gowning)

The ability to move safely over uneven terrain or in confined spaces

The ability to safely climb ladders while carrying 40 pounds

The ability to wear personal protective gear correctly as required

Work Environment and Physical Demands

This position works in both a warehouse and typical office environment where the physical work demands will vary depending on the specific tasks and duties required of the job. The noise level in the work environment ranges from moderate to occasionally loud. Must be able to lift, carry, push, and/or pull objects weighing up to 35 lbs. Ability to frequently operate a computer, and communicate with others in person, over the phone, and via other devices. Must be able to move about the facility for moderate to extended periods of time. Ability to wear task dependent personal protective equipment as needed.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned.

Forge Biologics is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. Forge Biologics, provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Forge Your Future with Us

What sets Forge apart is our culture of H.O.P.E. We are hardworking, showing up each day with determination and grit. We are open, creating a space where ideas flow freely and every voice is valued. We are purpose-driven, with every task directly tied to changing lives. And we are engaged, energized by the challenges we face and the milestones we achieve together.

At Forge, your growth matters. We're committed to helping you expand your skills, take on new challenges, and develop your career through mentorship, hands-on learning, and opportunities for advancement. Our people are our greatest investment, and we're proud to see team members grow with us.

If you're ready to use your talent to help deliver hope to patients around the world, join us — and be part of something bigger than yourself.

We've Got You Covered

We take the health and happiness of our employees seriously and are consistently evaluating new ways to make our benefits truly UnFORGEttable.

Health, Dental, and Vision insurance that starts on your first day at Forge, with 90% of premiums covered for team members as well as dependents

Competitive PTO (plus 14 paid company holidays)

Annual bonus for all full-time employees

401(K) company match

Fully-stocked kitchen with free food/drinks

Onsite gym

12 weeks of paid parental leave - additional discount programs include childcare support & dependent care

Employee Assistance Program

Wellness benefits (financial planning services, mental health counseling, employer paid disability)

Professional & Personal development resources

Full-time