Principal Engineer

Your Role This position is part of the Drug Products – Americas R&D Team, within the Product Development Lifecycle Management and Sustaining Product Organization. It serves as a Principal Engineer and technical workstream leader within the Solutions & Containers R&D organization, overseeing container material performance and plastic‑related processes for container systems. The role requires a strong balance of material science expertise and process engineering knowledge, enabling the individual to lead complex technical initiatives across material selection, characterization, and container process development. It operates across the full product lifecycle, emphasizing technical rigor, cross‑functional alignment, and risk‑based decision making. What You’ll Be Doing Technical Leadership & Strategy Lead technical workstreams involving container systems and polymer‑based materials, ensuring delivery of scope, timelines, and technical quality. Define and manage technical strategy, risks, and mitigation plans related to both material performance and associated processes. Serve as a subject‑matter expert (SME) in polymer materials and plastic processing for container applications. Container Material Performance Evaluation Lead evaluation and selection of container materials based on structure–property relationships and application requirements. Design and interpret material characterization studies, including mechanical, thermal, chemical, and functional performance. Drive material qualification and change assessments across lifecycle phases. Container Process & Manufacturing Expertise Lead and support development and optimization of plastic‑related manufacturing processes (e.g., extrusion, molding, subassembly, bag making as applicable). Translate material properties into container process design considerations and performance outcomes. Identify and mitigate process‑related risks, including variability, scalability, and manufacturability challenges. Collaborate with Manufacturing and suppliers on process validation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement. Technical Excellence & Mentorship Mentor and guide engineers in container material science and container process‑related problem solving. Drive use of analytical tools and data‑driven decision making. Contribute to strengthening team capabilities in container materials and container process engineering. Collaboration, Influence & Talent Development Collaborate across global, cross‑functional, and multicultural teams, adapting leadership and communication styles to drive alignment and results. Maintain clear, effective communication with stakeholders at all levels, providing transparent technical assessments and status updates. Mentor, coach, and develop engineers, strengthening technical depth, strategic thinking, and problem‑solving capabilities within the team. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high‑performance technical culture. What You’ll Bring PhD (preferred) or Master’s degree (required) in Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related field. Minimum 7+ years of industrial experience in polymer materials, container closure systems, or related fields. Plastic processing and manufacturing (molding, extrusion, welding, etc.) processes. Container systems for pharmaceutical or medical applications. Deep expertise in polymeric materials for medical and pharmaceutical applications, including container and drug/device combinations. Strong knowledge of container material qualification, product development, and lifecycle management for pharmaceutical packaging or disposables. Expertise in design control documentation, including Design History Files. Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and process optimization, preferably for parenteral or combination products. Proven experience in technical risk assessment, mitigation, and execution. Strong analytical skills, including familiarity with statistical methods and Six Sigma tools. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence technical and business decisions at all organizational levels. Ability to travel 10% as needed. US Benefits At Vantive Vantive offers comprehensive compensation and benefits packages for eligible roles. Health and well‑being benefits include medical, dental and vision coverage that start on day one, and insurance coverage for basic life, accident, short‑term and long‑term disability, and business travel accident insurance. Financial and retirement benefits include the Aon Pooled Employer Plan (“Aon PEP”), Vantive’s 401(k) retirement savings plan to help you prepare for your future. We also offer Flexible Spending Accounts, educational assistance programs, and time‑off benefits such as paid holidays, paid time off ranging from 20 to 35 days based on length of service, family and medical leaves of absence, and paid parental leave. Additional benefits include commuting benefits, the Employee Discount Program, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and childcare benefits. Equal Employment Opportunity Vantive is an equal opportunity employer. Vantive evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic. Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal. Reasonable Accommodation Vantive is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities globally. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please click on the link here and let us know the nature of your request along with your contact information. Recruitment Fraud Notice Vantive has discovered incidents of employment scams, where fraudulent parties pose as Vantive employees, recruiters, or other agents, and engage with online job seekers in an attempt to steal personal and/or financial information. To learn how you can protect yourself, review our Recruitment Fraud Notice. #J-18808-Ljbffr