Senior Design Engineer

Avantor; Hillegom; On-site; EUR 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Avantor is seeking a proactive Senior Design Engineer to join the Single-Use Design Team in Hillegom. You will design and validate single-use assemblies, prepare detailed 2D/3D drawings, and collaborate with customers and suppliers to deliver robust solutions.

The role requires a Mechanical Engineering background, 3–5 years of design experience, and strong CAD/ERP skills. Travel to customer sites may be required, and MSc is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Operational Technology, or a related engineering discipline.
• 3–5 years of experience in design engineering, manufacturing, or technical engineering environment.
• Strong 2D/3D design experience using AutoCAD and SolidWorks (or similar CAD platforms).
• Experience working with ERP systems such as Epicor or similar.
• Ability to read, understand, and evaluate technical drawings and specifications.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Customer-centric mindset with the confidence to interact with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Preferred experience designing single-use products or systems.
• Experience within the biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, or life science industry.
• MSc in Engineering or a related field is a plus.
• Experience with piping/tubing systems, P&IDs, plastic materials, elastomers, and GD&T.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop approval drawings and prototypes for single-use assemblies.
• Create and modify detailed 2D and 3D engineering drawings using AutoCAD/SolidWorks or similar CAD software.
• Evaluate designs for functionality, manufacturability, and customer requirements.
• Select components and validate designs through testing and analysis.
• Perform feasibility, cost estimations, and pricing calculations.
• Maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs) and MOM documentation in the ERP system.
• Support manufacturing and quality teams with engineering expertise.
• Collaborate with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to deliver solutions.
• Participate in global engineering harmonization and process improvement initiatives.
• Assist with customer visits and travel with the commercial team as needed.

Skills

2D/3D design

CAD software

Customer interaction

English communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Eng/related

Master's degree preferred

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Epicor ERP

Job description

The Opportunity: Senior Design Engineer (Single-Use) Location: Hillegom Department: Engineering & Technology Support | Biopharma Production

At Avantor, we are looking for a proactive and customer-focused Senior Design Engineer to join our growing Single-Use Design Team.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced engineer professional who enjoys combining technical expertise with customer interaction in a dynamic biopharma environment.

What You'll Do

• Design and develop approval drawings and prototypes for single-use assemblies.
• Create and modify detailed 2D and 3D engineering drawings, primarily using AutoCAD and SolidWorks, or similar CAD software.
• Evaluate designs to ensure functionality, manufacturability, and compliance with customer requirements.
• Select appropriate components and validate designs through testing and analysis.
• Conduct feasibility studies, cost estimations, and pricing calculations.
• Create and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs) and Method of Manufacturing (MOM) documentation within the ERP system.
• Support manufacturing and quality teams with engineering-related expertise.
• Collaborate directly with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to deliver innovative solutions.
• Participate in global engineering harmonization and process improvement initiatives.
• Support customer visits and occasionally travel to customer locations alongside the commercial team.

What We're Looking For

• Required Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Operational Technology, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in design engineering, manufacturing, or technical engineering environment.
• Strong 2D and 3D design experience using AutoCAD and SolidWorks (or similar CAD platforms). This is a must-have.
• Experience working with ERP systems such as Epicor or similar. This is essential.
• Ability to read, understand, and evaluate technical drawings and specifications.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Customer-centric mindset with the confidence to interact with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Preferred Experience designing single-use products or systems.
• Experience within the biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, or life science industry.
• Master's degree (MSc) in Engineering or a related field.
• Experience with piping/tubing systems, P&IDs, plastic materials, elastomers, and GD&T.

Who You Are

• Proactive and takes ownership
• Outgoing and approachable
• An outstanding communicator
• Highly collaborative and customer-focused
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced international environment
• Hands-on and practical in solving engineering challenges
• Equally capable of working independently and as part of a cross-functional team

While an MSc degree is considered a plus, hands-on engineering experience and proven design expertise are far more important for success in this role.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position.

Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor? Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science. The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor.

We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world.

We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

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By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions.

Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation.

Avantor, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education & government, and advanced technologies & applied materials industries. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities in the industries we serve. One of our greatest strengths comes from having a global infrastructure that is strategically located to support the needs of our customers. We set science in motion to create a better world.