R&D System Engineer, R&DX

R&D System Engineer, R&DX

Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Every day, we are driven to develop and deliver innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians. If you want to be part of this exciting work, you belong at Astellas!

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. Keeping our focus on addressing unmet medical needs and conducting our business with ethics and integrity enables us to improve the health of people throughout the world.

This position is based in Northbrook, Illinois. Hybrid work from certain states may be permitted in accordance with Astellas' Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Candidates interested in hybrid work are encouraged to apply.

Purpose:

This position for a System Engineer, R&DX supports Astellas' implementation of the Planisware solution with a focus on resource forecasting and capacity management, enabled through Planisware functionality and algorithms, in close cooperation and co-location with the Resource Planning team in Strategy & Planning (CRDOO), and the Business and Portfolio Operations group in COQSCD and other functional areas. In addition to a thorough understanding of the Planisware configuration employed at Astellas, a deep understanding of the Astellas operating model and how different aspects of drug development work is represented in the system will allow the incumbent to continue to expand on the use of Helix as a resource planning tool for the drug development portfolio, building on the foundation laid during the last years.

A System Engineer in an Agile Framework is a dynamic role that involves designing, developing, configuring, testing, and maintaining software solutions within the context of an Agile development process. This role requires a blend of technical expertise, teamwork, and adaptability to rapidly changing requirements as well as an understanding of how the solution supports the R&D business processes. The System Engineer, R&DX for the Planisware solution works closely with cross-functional teams, including business leads and SMEs, product owner, other engineers in DX, configuration specialists, business analysts, to deliver high-quality software that meets user needs and business goals of R&D. The System Engineer, R&DX with a focus on Planisware will lead a cross-functional agile team (VT captain), that includes other R&DX team members in GCCs like India and Poland as well as business SMEs for resource management, and be accountable for system stability and the deliverables of the VT for Resource Planning in the E2E Planning Enablement pod the as per commitments in the agile framework used by Astellas.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Agile Leadership: Actively lead the team on Agile practices such as sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives. Contribute to the continuous improvement of the team's Agile processes.
• Software Development: Design, code/configure, test, and debug the Planisware solution (Helix, particularly algorithms and forecasting functionality) application according to user stories and acceptance criteria defined in sprint planning, and lead others on the agile team to do the same. Ensure configuration quality and maintainability by adhering to best practices and coding standards.
• Collaboration: Work closely with digital/business product manager (DPM/BPM) and key business stakeholders to understand the product backlog, partner with business SMEs to determine appropriate solution design for confirmed business needs. Collaborate with team members to solve technical challenges and ensure a cohesive solution.
• Testing and Quality Assurance: Design and execute appropriate testing, participate in peer config reviews, and contribute to ensuring high-quality software releases.
• Embrace a "build it, run it, own it" mentality for all software developed.
• System Stability: Address any configuration related issue affecting system availability and/or output availability (production, as well as certain lower environments) to ensure business needs are supported.
• Technical Documentation: Create and maintain technical documentation for software design, development processes, and user guides to ensure knowledge sharing and best practices within the team.
• Adaptability: Quickly adapt to changing requirements and new technology opportunities. Be open to receiving and providing feedback to continuously improve team performance and software quality.
• Problem-Solving: Employ strong problem-solving skills to address technical challenges and implement solutions that are efficient, scalable, and aligned with team goals.