Associate Director, GE Life Cycle Engineering (m/w/d)

About the role

Lonza is looking for an Associate Director, GE Life Cycle Engineering, based in Visp, Switzerland, to lead the global condition monitoring and predictive maintenance program. The role defines technical standards, ensures consistent diagnostic quality across sites and qualified providers, and establishes a closed-loop process from detection to verified resolution.

Key responsibilities

• Define the global roadmap, deployment priorities and maturity assessments, and select risk-based monitoring approaches by asset criticality and failure mode.
• Own standards for vibration, infrared, oil analysis, lubrication reliability and complementary technologies, including frequencies, acceptance criteria, severity codes and reporting.
• Lead diagnostic investigations, support root cause analysis and recurring-failure elimination, and recommend maintenance improvements.
• Pilot AI-enabled solutions combining SAP and asset monitoring data, partner with IT/OT on data quality and integration, and own the reliability knowledge platform.
• Define workflows from diagnosis to documented resolution, including risk-based response times, escalation and repair verification.
• Lead cross-site deployment, gap closure and vendor coordination, and set requirements for new assets and project handover.
• Track coverage, accuracy and resolution, maintain traceable records and coordinate change control, data integrity and validation with Quality and IT/OT.
• Qualify diagnostic providers and develop site competencies through training, coaching and proficiency reviews.

Required profile

• Bachelor or Master degree in mechanical, electrical, reliability, asset or data analytics engineering or a related field.
• Advanced qualification in a primary condition monitoring discipline or equivalent diagnostic competence, with proven ability to assure a multi-technology program.
• Certification in Vibration Category III (Category IV desirable), thermography Level II/III, lubrication/oil analysis MLA/MLT, ultrasound Level II; CMRP or equivalent preferred.
• Fluent English and willingness to travel 20% to 40%.
• Strong global program leadership, technical coaching and influence without direct authority, respecting site execution and existing process ownership.

Required skills

• Hands-on diagnostic expertise in at least one condition monitoring discipline, with working knowledge of vibration analysis, infrared thermography, oil analysis and lubrication reliability.
• Ability to combine SAP maintenance history with asset monitoring data, assess data quality and interpret asset-performance trends.
• Ability to pilot AI-enabled maintenance solutions with IT/OT and digital specialists.
• Understanding of GMP change control, data integrity and validation interfaces.

What we offer

• A competitive salary plus lifestyle, family and leisure benefits.
• Relocation support for eligible candidates.
• An agile career, inclusive and ethical workplace, and compensation programs recognizing high performance.