Extrusion Engineering Manager

Staffing Network LLC; Brooklyn Park (MN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Staffing Network LLC in Brooklyn Park, MN, seeks an Engineering Manager – Extrusion Engineering & Process Validation to lead the extrusion engineering organization within the Center of Excellence. You will build and standardize the engineering systems to develop, characterize, validate, and commercialize medical extrusion processes, ensuring transfer to manufacturing with regulatory and quality compliance.

The role combines hands-on leadership with technical execution, mentoring engineers, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, or related technical discipline.
• 8+ years engineering experience in medical extrusion, catheter manufacturing, or regulated medical device development.
• 3+ years of engineering leadership experience managing technical teams and projects.
• Demonstrated success developing and validating manufacturing processes for regulated medical devices.
• Extensive knowledge of polymer processing, extrusion tooling, and process optimization.

Responsibilities

• Lead the extrusion engineering team from concept through commercial production.
• Serve as technical authority for extrusion process development for multi-lumen medical tubing.
• Lead process characterization studies using DOE and statistical analysis.
• Develop robust extrusion processes and transfer to manufacturing with Design Controls and ISO 13485.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Quality, Manufacturing, and customers to enable product launches.

Skills

People leadership

Engineering leadership

Project management

Design of Experiments (DOE)

Statistical analysis

Process validation

FDA Design Controls

ISO 13485

Customer engagement

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, or related technical discipline

Tools

Extrusion tooling design

Technology transfer

Quality systems

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and technically accomplished Engineering Manager – Extrusion Engineering & Process Validation to lead the Extrusion Engineering organization at our Brooklyn Park Center of Excellence.

This position is responsible for building, standardizing, and continuously improving the engineering systems used to develop, characterize, validate, and commercialize medical extrusion processes. Beyond managing engineering projects, this individual will establish the technical framework, methodologies, documentation standards, and validation strategies that ensure products can be consistently transferred into manufacturing while meeting customer, regulatory, and quality requirements.

The Engineering Manager is a hands-on working manager who leads the Extrusion Engineering team while actively contributing to technical execution. In addition to coaching and developing engineers, this individual will personally lead complex engineering efforts, including process development, characterization, validation strategy, customer technical discussions, and problem-solving for critical programs.

This role is responsible for developing robust extrusion processes for new medical devices, creating scalable manufacturing solutions, and leading engineering validation activities, including process characterization, IQ/OQ/PQ, TMV, and design verification. Serving as the technical authority for extrusion process development, the Engineering Manager partners closely with Commercial, Quality, Manufacturing, Program Management, and customers to successfully develop, validate, commercialize, and transfer products into manufacturing throughout the product development lifecycle.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in medical extrusion with the leadership skills necessary to build high-performing engineering systems, mentor engineers, and drive operational excellence.

Engineering System Leadership

• Develop and own the engineering system used to develop, characterize, validate, and commercialize extrusion processes across the organization.
• Establish standardized engineering methodologies, documentation, and best practices for product development and process validation.
• Build and maintain engineering procedures supporting Design Controls, Process Characterization, IQ/OQ/PQ, TMV, and technology transfer activities.
• Develop engineering metrics that measure project execution, validation quality, technical readiness, and commercialization success.
• Drive continuous improvement of engineering processes to improve speed, consistency, and technical rigor.

Technical Leadership

• Lead the Extrusion Engineering team in executing development programs from concept through commercial production.
• Serve as the technical authority for extrusion process development involving single-, dual-, and multi-lumen medical tubing.
• Develop robust extrusion processes using materials including Pebax®, Nylon, Polyurethane, Polyethylene, fluoropolymers, and other medical-grade polymers.
• Lead process characterization studies utilizing Design of Experiments (DOE), statistical analysis, and engineering fundamentals.
• Design and optimize extrusion tooling to support complex catheter and medical device applications.
• Lead engineering validation activities including Process Characterization, IQ, OQ, PQ, TMV, and process capability studies.
• Develop scientifically sound process windows that establish robust manufacturing conditions.
• Ensure engineering deliverables satisfy FDA Quality System Regulations, ISO 13485, customer requirements, and internal quality standards.
• Lead technology transfer activities from development into production while ensuring repeatability, capability, and manufacturing readiness.

Customer & Commercial Support

• Partner with Commercial Directors to evaluate new business opportunities and provide technical direction during customer engagements.
• Meet directly with customers to present technical capabilities, review development progress, resolve technical challenges, and support commercialization strategies.
• Provide technical input for quotations by estimating development effort, tooling complexity, validation scope, manufacturing readiness, and project timelines.
• Interface with customers during Design for Manufacturability (DFM) discussions to optimize product designs for successful commercialization.

Operations Support

• Partner with Manufacturing and Operations to resolve complex production issues, improve process capability, and increase manufacturing efficiency.
• Provide engineering support for production, including root cause investigations, corrective actions, and implementation of process improvements.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, throughput, scrap reduction, and cost optimization.
• Support capacity planning, equipment qualification, and manufacturing readiness for existing and new production lines.
• Monitor process performance metrics and drive improvements to process stability, yield, and productivity.
• Provide technical guidance to Operations during equipment startups, process changes, and scale-up activities.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Program Management, Supply Chain, and Operations to ensure successful product launches.
• Support manufacturing through technical troubleshooting and process optimization when required.
• Mentor engineers and technicians while developing the next generation of technical leaders.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability, continuous learning, and innovation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of engineering experience in medical extrusion, catheter manufacturing, or regulated medical device development.
• 3+ years of engineering leadership experience managing technical teams and engineering projects.
• Demonstrated success developing and validating manufacturing processes for regulated medical devices.
• Extensive knowledge of polymer processing, extrusion tooling, downstream equipment, and process optimization.
• Strong understanding of FDA Design Controls, Process Validation, and ISO 13485 requirements.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to engage customers and executive leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building engineering organizations, systems, and standardized development methodologies.
• Strong background in Process Characterization, Design of Experiments (DOE), Statistical Process Control (SPC), Process Capability, TMV, IQ/OQ/PQ, and Process Validation.
• Experience commercializing catheter, structural heart, vascular, neurovascular, or other minimally invasive medical devices.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and risk management methodologies.
• Experience supporting customer-facing engineering, proposal development, and technical sales.
• Proven success transitioning complex medical device processes from research and development into high-volume manufacturing.