Home
Engineering Recruitment

Life science engineering jobs

R&D Partners specialises in engineering recruitment for companies across the life science industry. We connect you with engineering professionals who understand the regulatory and technical standards unique to the life science industry, from a single hire to a full engineering team build. As a dedicated life science recruiter, we bring the technical knowledge and global reach needed to source candidates who can start delivering from day one.

Life science engineering roles we place

Our engineering recruitment team covers the full breadth of engineering functions, from entry level roles through to senior leadership. Roles we regularly place include:

Process Engineer

Validation Engineer

Commissioning and Qualification (C&Q) Engineer

Automation Engineer

Facilities Engineer

Engineering Project Manager

Engineering Manager

Director of Engineering

Whatever the level or role, we take the time to understand the technical requirements, regulatory context and culture of your organisation before presenting a shortlist.

Types of engineering staffing solutions we offer

Engineering hiring needs vary depending on the size of your organisation, the pace of your pipeline and the regulatory pressures you are managing. We offer a range of staffing models to match.

Solutions

Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)

Our RPO integrates life sciences recruitment expertise directly within your teams to manage the full hiring lifecycle. From global sourcing and screening to compliance and onboarding, our specialist expertise reduces pressure on your internal resources while ensuring consistent and cost-effective results.

Solutions

Functional Service Provider (FSP)

Aligned with your internal infrastructure and standard operating procedures, our FSP model enhances operational performance through a pipeline-driven workforce embedded within existing systems to accelerate delivery, reduce overhead and supports strategic oversight.

Staffing

Permanent Recruitment

Permanent recruitment connects life sciences organisations with highly specialised professionals who align your goals and culture. Our proactive, headhunting-led approach ensures access to quality candidates, including those not actively seeking new roles, securing a strong, lasting fit that supports long-term success.

Staffing

Contingent Staffing

Contingent staffing enables you to meet short-term recruitment needs while supporting long-term strategic goals. We provide fast, flexible access to skilled professionals for interim or project-based roles. Whether filling urgent vacancies or building temporary teams during peak demand, our global network of life sciences professionals deliver reliable and compliant results.

Why work with R&D Partners for engineering recruitment?

Global network

Since 2002, R&D Partners has been accelerating development across the drug and device lifecycle, and engineering recruitment sits at the heart of that work. We recruit exclusively within life sciences, so every engineer we place understands the GMP requirements, validation lifecycle and regulatory pressures that come with working in a controlled environment.

Partners for progress 

Our recruiters understand the technical differences between a process engineer, a validation engineer and an automation engineer, and use that knowledge to match candidates to capital projects, facility builds, tech transfer programmes and ongoing CQV work. With more than 60 dedicated specialist recruiters, a candidate pool of over 38,000 mid to senior level professionals and operations across 45 countries, we have the reach and depth to find engineering talent quickly, from a single permanent hire through to a fully embedded project team.

Sector expertise

As part of Acacium Group, a leading global healthcare delivery provider, R&D Partners benefits from additional scale and sector expertise. Compliance and accountability underpin everything we do, giving you confidence that every candidate we introduce has been assessed to the same standard we expect of ourselves.

Engineering recruitment FAQs

Whether you’re exploring new opportunities or looking for expert advice, our team is ready to support your next move. Don’t see your question here? Get in touch.

What is CQV and why does it matter when hiring engineers?

Commissioning, Qualification and Validation (CQV) ensures new equipment, facilities and systems meet GMP requirements before they go into use. We recruit engineers with proven CQV experience, so new hires can step into capital projects and facility builds without a lengthy ramp up.

Do you recruit engineers for GMP regulated manufacturing facilities?

Yes. Our engineering recruitment is focused entirely on GMP regulated environments across pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device manufacturing, so every candidate we introduce understands the compliance standards these facilities operate under.

Can you support project based or interim engineering hires?

Yes. Facility builds, tech transfer programmes and validation cycles are often time bound, and our contingent staffing and FSP solutions give you fast access to skilled engineers for the length of the project.

What’s the difference between a process engineer, a validation engineer and an automation engineer?

A process engineer focuses on designing and optimising manufacturing processes, a validation engineer confirms that equipment and systems consistently meet GMP requirements, and an automation engineer develops and maintains the control systems that run modern manufacturing lines. Our recruiters understand these distinctions and recruit against the specific skill set each project needs.

Do you recruit engineers for capital projects and new facility builds?

Yes. We regularly support capital projects from design and FEED stages through to commissioning and qualification, placing engineers who understand both the technical scope and the regulatory requirements involved.

Can you support engineering recruitment outside the UK?

Yes. With operations across 45 countries, we support engineering hiring internationally, including for organisations scaling into new markets.

Contact us 

From life sciences workforce solutions to specialist career support, our experts are here to help. Get in touch to learn more. 

First name*

Last name*

Email address*

Phone country code*

Phone number*

Nature of enquiry*

Your message*

CAPTCHA

By submitting your personal data, you confirm that you’ve read and understood our privacy notice. We only share your personal data with our group companies and those categories of third parties identified in this privacy notice.