Senior Engineer, Oral Solid Dose Packaging Development

Neurocrine Biosciences; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 97,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement savings plan

Paid vacation

Health benefits

Job summary

Neurocrine Biosciences in San Diego seeks a Senior Engineer for Oral Solid Dose Packaging Development to lead end‑to‑end packaging engineering, material selection, and container closure systems through clinical to lifecycle management.

The role requires strong regulatory packaging knowledge and cross‑functional leadership to drive packaging strategies, qualification, and technology transfer with internal teams and vendors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Science, Packaging Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field with 4+ years of experience.
• Experience in pharmaceutical packaging development in a cGMP environment and knowledge of FDA/ICH guidelines, USP, ASTM/ISO standards.
• Direct experience with oral solid dose packaging, including bottles or blister systems.
• Experience selecting and qualifying packaging materials and container closure systems with moisture/oxygen barrier, light protection, and aging considerations.
• Experience across development and commercial phases, including regulatory submissions and lifecycle management.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end packaging material selection, engineering, and qualification for oral solid dose systems through lifecycle management.
• Establish packaging strategies, specifications, and acceptance criteria based on product and regulatory requirements.
• Design and document packaging development, package integrity, transport studies, and validation for clinical and registration materials.
• Lead technical assessments for CPO selection and prepare sites for commercial launches, including line trials and technology transfer.
• Lead investigations for packaging deviations and manage post-launch ownership and improvements with vendors.
• Develop packaging artwork, dielines, print requirements, barcodes, and serialization compliance.
• Prepare regulatory submissions content related to container closure systems and packaging data.

Skills

Packaging engineering

Material selection

Container closure systems

Regulatory packaging knowledge

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Packaging Science/Engineering etc.

Job description

Who We Are: Neurocrine Biosciences is a leading biopharmaceutical company with a simple purpose: to relieve suffering for people with great needs. We are dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing life-changing treatments for patients with under-addressed neurological, psychiatric, endocrine and immunological disorders. The company's diverse portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for tardive dyskinesia, chorea associated with Huntington's disease, classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hyperphagia in Prader-Willi syndrome, endometriosis* and uterine fibroids*, as well as a robust pipeline including multiple compounds in mid- to late-phase clinical development across our core therapeutic areas. For more than three decades, we have applied our unique insight into neuroscience and the interconnections between brain and body systems to treat complex conditions. We relentlessly pursue medicines to ease the burden of debilitating diseases and disorders, because you deserve brave science. For more information, visit neurocrine.com, and follow the company on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and YouTube. (*in collaboration with AbbVie)

About the Role: The Senior Engineer, Oral Solid Dose Packaging Development provides technical leadership for packaging systems supporting assigned products from early clinical development through commercialization and lifecycle management. The role leads primary packaging engineering & development, packaging material selection, container closure system development, secondary and tertiary packaging. This position partners with Clinical Supply Chain, Packaging Operations, Pharmaceutical Development, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, external manufacturing sites, testing laboratories, and packaging vendors.

_ Your Contributions (include, but are not limited to):

• Lead end-to-end packaging material selection, engineering, and qualification for oral solid dose container closure systems and associated secondary and tertiary packaging, from early clinical development through commercialization and lifecycle management
• Establish packaging strategies, specifications, critical material attributes, engineering and process controls, and acceptance criteria based on product, stability, patient, packaging, and regulatory requirements
• Design, execute, interpret, and document packaging development, package integrity, transportation, qualification, and validation studies supporting clinical trial materials and registration stability
• Lead technical assessments for CPO (contract packaging organization) selection and drive packaging site readiness for commercial launch, including line trials, packaging qualification, process validation, technology transfer, launch execution, and operational handover
• Lead technical investigations for packaging related deviations, and nonconformances, and retain post launch technical ownership for lifecycle changes, troubleshooting, packaging vendors and CPO transfers, and continuous improvement in partnership with Packaging Operations
• Lead packaging artwork development, including dielines, component specifications, print requirements, barcodes, serialization product requirements, and packaging line compatibility
• Author and review regulatory packaging content, including container closure system information, packaging development data, technical justifications, and responses to health authority questions
• Partner with internal teams and external organizations to deliver packaging programs and evaluate emerging materials, technologies, and sustainability solutions

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Science, Packaging Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related technical field with 4+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree with typically 2+ years of applicable experience
• Experience in pharmaceutical packaging development or packaging engineering within a cGMP-regulated environment, with working knowledge of applicable FDA and ICH guidance, USP requirements, and ASTM, ISTA, and ISO standards
• Direct experience with oral solid dose packaging, including bottle and/or blister packaging systems
• Experience selecting, developing, and qualifying packaging materials, primary packaging components, and container closure systems, with knowledge of moisture and oxygen barrier properties, light protection, compatibility, mechanical performance, aging, and material variability
• Experience supporting packaging activities across development and commercial phases, including clinical trial materials, registration stability, regulatory submissions, commercial launch, and lifecycle management
• Experience authoring and reviewing packaging content for regulatory submissions, including container closure system information, packaging development data, technical justifications, and responses to health authority questions
• Experience planning and executing packaging development, package integrity, transportation, qualification, and validation studies, engineering and process controls, and acceptance criteria
• Experience supporting packaging equipment, line trials, technical site assessments, process validation, technical site transfer, packaging related investigations, change controls, and CAPA
• Strong technical judgment, problem-solving, project management, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills

Preferred Requirements:

• Six or more years of pharmaceutical packaging development or packaging engineering experience, with demonstrated technical leadership for oral solid dose products
• Experience independently leading packaging programs from early clinical development through registration, commercial launch, and post-approval lifecycle management
• Experience with sachet, stick-pack, or flexible-laminate packaging, including material selection, seal development, package integrity, equipment compatibility, and line qualification
• Experience developing or qualifying parenteral packaging and container closure systems, including vials, stoppers, prefilled syringes, cartridges, or other injectable product configurations
• Experience developing packaging strategies for moisture-sensitive products, including desiccant systems, high-barrier blister materials, induction sealing, and moisture-protection studies
• Experience with child-resistant, senior-friendly, tamper-evident, or patient-centered packaging systems
• Experience leading packaging technology transfers, CPO site readiness, alternate vendor qualifications, or commercial packaging site transfers

_ The annual base salary we reasonably expect to pay is $97,000.00-$133,000.00. Individual pay decisions depend on various factors, such as primary work location, complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. In addition, this position offers an annual bonus with a target of 20% of the earned base salary and eligibility to participate in our equity based long term incentive program.

Benefits offered include a retirement savings plan (with company match), paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

We are a top place to work. Neurocrine Biosciences was named one of the FORTUNE Best Workplaces in Biopharma 2025. We were also named a Great Place to Work Certified company. 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Neurocrine Biosciences is an EEO/Disability/Vets employer. We are committed to building a workplace of belonging, respect, and empowerment, and we recognize there are a variety of ways to meet our requirements. We are looking for the best candidate for the job and encourage you to apply even if your experience or qualifications don’t line up to exactly what we have outlined in the job description.

• PASSION: We are driven and love what we do. We are committed to our goals and to making a difference.
• INTEGRITY: We do the right thing for patients and our community. We take accountability. We speak up.
• COLLABORATION: We trust one another. We are inclusive. We are respectful. We are transparent. Together we succeed.
• INNOVATION: We seek and create optimal solutions.
• TENACITY: We do not quit. We adapt. We accomplish what others cannot.

Come join our team during this exciting time of growth and opportunities!