Engineering Technician - HVAC (1st Shift)

Engineering Technician - HVAC (1st Shift)

Location: Tarzana, CA

Onsite Flexibility: Onsite

Contract Details

• Position Type: Contract
• Contract Duration: 3 months (possible chance of FTE conversion)
• Pay Rate: $40.00 $45.00 / Hour (USD)
• Shift / Schedule: Monday Friday, 6:30 AM 3:30 PM (1st Shift)
• Work Authorization: Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Job Summary

The Senior Maintenance HVAC Technician is responsible for ensuring reliable, compliant, and efficient operation of HVAC and environmental control systems for GMP facilities in Tarzana, CA. This role leads complex maintenance and troubleshooting activities for cleanrooms, laboratories, and production areas; manages critical utilities that impact product quality; and drives continuous improvement initiatives aligned with regulatory standards such as FDA & EU GMP Standards. The technician serves as a subject matter expert for HVAC, Building Management Systems (BMS)/SCADA, Cleanroom Pressurization, Temperature/Humidity Control, HEPA Filtration, and Environmental Monitoring, mentoring junior technicians and collaborating closely with Quality, Engineering, EHS, and Operations. Overall, the role focuses on maintaining all HVAC systems to control temperature, humidity, differential pressure, and air quality to protect product quality, personnel safety, and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• HVAC Operations & Reliability: Perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on air handlers, chillers, boilers, heat exchangers, VAVs, exhaust systems, dehumidifiers, and split systems to maintain controlled temperature, humidity, airflow, and pressurization in GMP spaces.
• Cleanroom & GMP Compliance: Maintain environmental conditions per ISO 14644 classifications and facility SOPs; ensure proper HEPA filter integrity, airflow patterns, recovery times, and differential pressures; support gowning airlocks and aseptic areas.
• BMS/EMS/SCADA Management: Monitor, tune, and troubleshoot Building Management Systems and Environmental Monitoring Systems; implement setpoint strategies, alarm rationalization, and sequence-of-operations adjustments; document changes per change control.
• Calibration & Qualification Support: Coordinate and perform periodic calibration of sensors (temperature, RH, pressure, flow) and support HVAC system IQ/OQ/PQ activities; generate and review qualification protocols and reports.
• Troubleshooting & Root Cause Analysis: Lead investigations of deviations, alarms, and environmental excursions; apply RCA methods (5-Why, Fishbone) and implement robust corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
• Documentation & GMP Records: Complete accurate work orders, maintenance logs, and calibration records; author and revise SOPs, job plans, and standard work; maintain asset history compliant with cGMP and GDP requirements.
• Regulatory & Audit Readiness: Support internal and external audits (e.g., FDA, Internal); provide evidence of maintenance, calibration, and qualification; ensure systems remain validated and changes follow formal Change Control.
• Energy & Performance Optimization: Analyze HVAC performance, energy consumption, and lifecycle costs; recommend upgrades (VFDs, control strategies, heat recovery, demand-based ventilation) to improve reliability and sustainability.
• Project & Shutdown Execution: Plan and execute HVAC outages, turnarounds, and capital projects; coordinate contractors, materials, risk assessments, and schedules to minimize impact on operations.
• EHS & Safety Leadership: Ensure work follows LOTO, confined space, hot work, and arc-flash procedures; conduct Job Hazard Analyses (JHA); handle refrigerants per EPA Section 608; champion a strong safety culture.
• Mentoring & Training: Coach junior technicians on GMP expectations, diagnostics, and SOP adherence; deliver training on BMS operations, cleanroom behavior, and maintenance best practices.
• Spare Parts & CMMS: Manage critical spares and inventory; use CMMS to plan, prioritize, and close work orders; contribute to asset hierarchy and preventive maintenance optimization.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Quality, Manufacturing, Facilities Engineering, and Validation to align HVAC performance with product/process needs and to respond rapidly to excursions.

Required Skills

• HVAC Systems: Strong expertise in AHUs, chillers, boilers, hydronic systems, HVAC zoning systems, exhaust and make-up air, humidity control, and HEPA filtration
• Controls/BMS: Proficiency with BMS platforms (e.g., Siemens, AB, Johnson Controls), knowledge of PID tuning, sequences of operation, alarms, trending, and data integrity practices
• Cleanroom & GMP: Deep understanding of ISO Cleanroom Classification, airflow visualization/smoke studies, pressurization cascades, and aseptic environmental requirements
• Calibration/Qualification: Experience with sensor calibration, IQ/OQ/PQ, and validation documentation; familiarity with GDP, CAPA, and Change Control
• Diagnostics: Advanced troubleshooting, vibration analysis basics, thermography, and use of instrumentation (anemometers, micromanometers, particle counters, data loggers)
• Strong communication, teamwork, and stakeholder management
• Ability to prioritize in a manufacturing environment, make decisions under time pressure, and document meticulously

Preferred Skills

• Safety training certifications
• Manufacturer training on chillers/controls
• GxP/cleanroom courses

Education Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Technical diploma, apprenticeship, or completion of an accredited HVAC, mechanical, or building-services trade program required
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, building services, or a related field preferred

Required Experience

• 6 10 years of progressively responsible HVAC maintenance experience, with at least 3 5 years in pharmaceutical, biotech, or other regulated GMP environments; cleanroom HVAC experience is essential

Work Environment / Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift 50 lbs
• Ability to climb ladders and work in mechanical spaces and at heights
• Respond to after-hours calls/on-call rotation
• Use PPE appropriate to labs/cleanrooms

Important Notes

• Interview process: 2 rounds 1st: 30-minute screening call; 2nd: 1.5-hour onsite interview with the team

Benefits

• Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance Plans
• 401k Retirement Fund

About the Client

This global biopharmaceutical company operates across more than 100 countries, focusing on oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and respiratory and immunology, while also advancing treatments in rare diseases and vaccines. Employing tens of thousands of scientists, clinicians, and business professionals worldwide, the organization combines the resource depth of a top-tier pharma company with a genuine culture of scientific curiosity, spanning research programs in small molecules, biologics, cell therapy, and RNA technologies. In 2026, employees voted this organization onto Glassdoor's Best Places to Work list, and it holds an overall Glassdoor rating of 4.0 stars from nearly 8,000 reviews, with 79% of employees saying they would recommend working here to a friend. Teams here span oncology researchers, clinical trial specialists, regulatory scientists, and commercial and market access professionals.

About GTT

GTT is a minority-owned staffing firm and a subsidiary of Chenega Corporation, a Native American-owned company in Alaska. We highly value diverse and inclusive workplaces and support Fortune 500 organizations across banking, financial services, technology, life sciences, biotech, utilities, and retail sectors throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Job Number: 26-14580 Industry: Engineering

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