Capex Project Front-End Engineering Design Lead

Make your mark for patients

We are looking for a Capex Project Front-End Engineering Design Lead who is innovative, collaborative, and strategic to join our team, based at our UCB campus located in Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium.

About the role
You will own the conceptual design phases for major capital investments (typically between >€10m, including strategic/complex initiatives), translating business needs and feasibility studies into robust, compliant, and investable design concepts. You are going to shape projects that span manufacturing, development, labs, utilities, and infrastructure, ensuring every initiative is ready to advance with clear design basis and credible costs.

Who you will work with
You will collaborate with matrixed teams, subject matter experts, and external engineering partners. You are going to orchestrate multidisciplinary input and work closely with governance bodies, sponsors, and operations to deliver best-in-class design solutions.

What you will do
• You will structure and lead concept design, clarify needs, and challenge assumptions
• You are going to develop technical scope, scenarios, and indicative layouts for each project
• You will build design basis, process schematics, and ensure operational readiness
• You will manage CAPEX estimates, risk registers, and project schedules
• You will embed compliance, safety, and sustainability into every design
• You are going to prepare documentation and reviews for project advancement

Interested? For this role, we are looking for the following education, experience, and skills:
• You have a Master’s degree in engineering or equivalent
• You bring at least 10 years’ experience in engineering, with 5+ years in conceptual design and project leadership
• You are proficient in CAPEX/OPEX modeling and project management tools
• You have experience in regulated environments (pharma, biotech, chemical)
• You demonstrate strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• You are fluent in English and French, both oral and written

Are you ready to ‘go beyond’ to create value and make your mark for patients? If this sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you 

About us 
UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company, focusing on neurology and immunology. We are over 9.000 people in all four corners of the globe, inspired by patients and driven by science. 

Why work with us? 
At UCB, we don’t just complete tasks, we create value. We aren’t afraid to push forward, collaborate, and innovate to make our mark for patients. We have a caring, supportive culture where everyone feels included, respected, and has equal opportunities to do their best work. We ‘go beyond’ to create value for our patients, and always with a human focus, whether that’s on our patients, our employees, or our planet. Working for us, you will discover a place where you can grow, and have the freedom to carve your own career path to achieve your full potential. 

At UCB, we’ve embraced a hybrid-first approach to work, bringing teams together in local hubs to foster collaborative curiosity. Unless expressly stated in the description or precluded by the nature of the position, roles are hybrid with 40% of your time spent in the office.

UCB is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions will be made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable laws. 
 
Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on EMEA-Reasonable_Accommodation@ucb.com. Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments; we will not be able to support you through this channel.