Principal Engineer, Packaging - Technical Services

Hikma Pharmaceuticals; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

401(k) match

PTO 20 days

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Hikma Pharmaceuticals in Columbus, OH seeks a Principal Engineer, Packaging – Technical Services to lead the transfer of products from R&D to Operations, guiding packaging development, site transfers and lifecycle support.

You will partner with R&D, Operations, and external colleagues to ensure regulatory readiness and cGMP compliance while mentoring the Technical Services group and driving improvements across packaging platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor/Master/PhD with extensive pharmaceutical tech transfer and packaging experience.
• Strong knowledge of cGMP, FDA/DEA guidelines and regulatory submissions.
• Experience in packaging development, site transfers and lifecycle support for multiple dosage forms.

Responsibilities

• Lead packaging development, site transfers, and NDAs/ANDAs collaboration.
• Create master data and technical data packages for projects.
• Generate regulatory submission documents and respond to authorities.
• Mentor Technical Services staff and coordinate cross-functionally.
• Support audits and drive continuous improvement across packaging programs.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory Knowledge

Problem Solving

Communication

Project Management

Mentoring

Technical Packaging

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Education

B.S. in Chemistry/Engineering/Pharmacy

M.S. in Chemistry/Engineering/Pharmacy

Ph.D. in Chemistry/Engineering/Pharmacy

Tools

SAP

TrackWise

MES

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Title: Principal Engineer, Packaging - Technical Services

Location: Columbus, OH

Job Type: Full time

Req ID: 8920

About Us:

As a developer, manufacturer, and supplier of essential medicines, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. and its affiliates’ mission is to bring Better Health. Within Reach. Every Day.® for millions of patients around the world. We are a trusted, reliable partner and dependable source of over 800 high-quality generic, specialty and branded pharmaceutical products that hospitals, physicians and pharmacists need to treat their patients across North America, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Through our 32 manufacturing plants, eight R&D centers, and 9,500+ employees worldwide, we are always hard at work creating high-quality medicines and making them accessible to the people who need them.

Description:

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We are seeking a talented and motivated Principal Engineer, Packaging – Technical Services to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for transferring products [(Generic commercialization, Site Transfers, Buy-ins, Third Party & key lifecycle (Alt. API)] from R&D or partners to Operations, including leading packaging development, registration, site transfers, start-up of commercial production, and transfer to lifecycle support. Minimize and remove obstacles during development, product transfer, validation, and commercialization through utilization of risk-mitigation strategies, best practice sharing, and influence with R&D, Operations, and external colleagues. Support department management as group representative in technical and business meetings. Act as a technical subject matter expert and mentor for the Technical Services group and the site.

Key Responsibilities:

Demonstrate influence, leadership, and influential teamwork skills with development partners/customers during the packaging development and registration of site transfers and new product NDAs and ANDAs, ensuring that all project timelines are met.

• Provide packaging engineering expertise , i.e. critical review, assessment, influence and strategy, for responsible projects assigned within Organic Launch, Business Development, Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO), Alternate API, and targeted dormant products.
• Create all associated master data for assigned projects.
• Create all associated structure technical data for assigned projects.
• Generate all required regulatory submission documents for assigned projects and provide support in generating responses to regulatory authorities.
• Attend all required team meetings to support assigned projects and ensure to achieve key milestone datas.
• Perform all necessary line trials, including all necessary documentation such as protocols/reports/PO’s, to support proper evaluation of form, fit, function of proposed container closure systems.
• Support all regulatory audits as required.
• Support other Technical Service Packaging Engineers with peer review; as well as, provide appropriate mentoring.
• Influence and Collaborate with Purchasing to source new packaging components, if needed.
• Interact with outside vendors to design new packaging components.
• Influence and Liaise with Change Management to support packaging component changes.
• Meet cGMP, FDA, DEA, OSHA and other applicable regulatory and company guidelines.
• Influence and Liaise with Flow Packaging group to ensure consultation of launch projects for efficient transfer of applicable projects for life cycle transfer.
• Drive continuous improvement activities for launched products through initial commercial production phase, until transfer of launched products to lifecycle support with Operations.

Qualifications:

We value the skills and experiences candidates bring to the table. While we have listed some qualifications below, we encourage candidates to apply even if they do not meet all of them:

• B.S. degree in Chemistry, Engineering, Pharmacy, or related scientific discipline plus a minimum of 15 years of experience in pharmaceutical technology transfer, quality assurance, product development, packaging, or applicable pharmaceutical experience, or seven years of experience in product development, technology transfer, and/or packaging engineering in another technical field.
• Alternatively, a M.S. degree in Chemistry, Engineering, Pharmacy, or related scientific discipline plus a minimum of 13 years of experience in pharmaceutical technology transfer, quality assurance, product development, packaging, or applicable pharmaceutical experience, or five years of experience in product development, technology transfer, and/or packaging engineering in another technical field.
• Alternatively, a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry, Engineering, Pharmacy, or related scientific discipline plus a minimum of 10 years of experience in pharmaceutical technology transfer, quality assurance, product development, packaging or applicable pharmaceutical experience, or two years of experience in product development, technology transfer, and/or packaging engineering in another technical field. (Internship or co-op programs may qualify for work experience for those with Ph.D. degrees.)
• Demonstrated ability to perform at expectations for the following Hikma competencies: Collaboration & Teamwork, Communication & Influence, Customer Focus, Planning & Organization, Taking Initiative & Drive For Results.
• Expert knowledge and understanding of applicable laws and regulations regarding development and packaging of pharmaceuticals, including cGMP, DEA, and FDA guidances.
• Demonstrated technical knowledge of pharmaceutical packaging environment and equipment with emphasis on scale-up/ optimization and validation for various dosage forms (e.g. modified/extended release, nasal suspensions, soft gels, bead/pellet coated products, film coated products, and/or novel delivery systems).
• Experimental Methodology: Subject Matter Expertise in experimental methodology and ability to design complex experiments to support pharmaceutical packaging development. Proficiency in the use of statistical software for experimental design and analysis is preferred but not required.
• Critical Thinking/Complex Problem solving: Ability to apply the PDCA principles (plan, do, check, act) and develop solutions for a variety of problems.
• Computer Skills: Expert computer skills with the ability to enter data into and retrieve information from various software programs such as Microsoft Office (Work, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and SAP.
• Mentoring / Coaching: Strong ability to coach and/or mentor both in and out of reporting structure (e.g. mentoring junior Process Engineers, providing guidance to production Coaches and Technicians regarding optimization opportunities).

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years commercial molding experience
• Experience with systems such as SAP, TrackWise, Veeva or a Manufacturing Execution System (MES).

What We Offer*:

• Annual performance bonus, commission, and share potential
• Auto enrollment in a Hikma-sponsored 401(k) program at a pre-tax contribution rate of 4% of eligible pay. Hikma will match 100% of the first 6% of eligible pay that you contribute
• A generous paid time off (PTO) bank starting with 20 days (prorated based on hire date). Additional days granted upon reaching work milestone anniversaries
• 3 personal days (prorated based on hire date)
• 11 company paid holidays
• Comprehensive benefits including health, dental, vision, mental health, disability, life insurance, prescription drug coverage, and a variety of voluntary benefits
• Employee discount program
• Wellbeing rewards program
• Safety and Quality is a top organizational priority
• Career advancement and growth opportunities
• Tuition reimbursement
• Paid maternity and parental leave
• Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and depend on the job classification, role, and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change as well as specific plan or program terms.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.