Senior Product Engineer

Neogen; Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Day One Benefits

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off

Career Growth Opportunities

Meaningful Work

Collaborative Culture

Job summary

Neogen is seeking a Senior Product Engineer to lead complex microbiology product and process improvements on-site in Lansing, MI. You will define experimental strategies, mentor teams, and guide cross-functional decisions to strengthen lifecycle management and product specifications.

The role requires a MS/PhD or equivalent experience, hands-on microbiology expertise, and a track record in designing experiments, data interpretation, and leading technical projects within regulated manufacturing

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Microbiology or related science and 5+ years in a technical role.
• Hands-on experience applying microbiological principles to products, processes, or manufacturing.
• Experience independently designing experiments, interpreting complex data, and making technical recommendations.
• Experience leading technical projects, investigations, or cross-functional workstreams.
• Experience defining, maintaining, or technically supporting product, material, component, or supply specifications.
• PreferredExperience with food safety microbiology, diagnostic products, culture-based methods, or regulated life science products.
• Experience with Design of Experiments, statistical analysis, trend analysis, process capability tools, and risk-based decision making.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or demonstrated experience leading continuous improvement initiatives using structured problem-solving methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex product and process improvement projects for assigned microbiology product lines.
• Independently define experimental strategies and lead studies supporting product changes, investigations, verification activities, and lifecycle decisions.
• Serve as a trusted subject matter expert for products, microbiological methods, manufacturing processes, and related technologies.
• Own and maintain Design Specification Records for assigned product lines, ensuring product requirements and design decisions are supported by sound technical evidence.
• Define and maintain specifications for raw materials, components, supplies, and other product inputs based on product requirements, data, risk, and manufacturing and supplier capability.
• Assess the impact of material, supplier, and specification changes and define the technical studies needed to support qualification and implementation.
• Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis and drive sustainable solutions.
• Guide cross-functional teams through change management, material qualifications, manufacturing transfers, continuity-of-supply initiatives, and product refreshes.
• Use scientific, statistical, and risk-based methods to evaluate data and make technical recommendations.
• Identify future improvement and capability-building opportunities.
• Mentor engineers, technicians, and technical partners.
• Champion a Lean Six Sigma-oriented continuous improvement culture by leading data-driven improvements in quality, service, cost, process capability, and team effectiveness.

Skills

Experiment design

Data interpretation

Project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk-based decision making

Lean Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor's degree in Microbiology

Master's degree or PhD in related field (equivalency)

Tools

Design of Experiments

Statistical analysis

Validation/verification methods

Job description

Come Be Part of a Mission that Matters!Come Be Part of a Mission that Matters!Bring your microbiology expertise and technical leadership to a Product Engineering team responsible for the performance, quality, and continuity of commercialized food safety and microbiology products. In this onsite role, you will lead complex product and process work, own critical design and supply specifications, guide cross-functional technical decisions, strengthen lifecycle management, and mentor others while helping build future capability.What You'll DoLead complex product and process improvement projects for assigned microbiology product lines.Independently define experimental strategies and lead studies supporting product changes, investigations, verification activities, and lifecycle decisions.Serve as a trusted subject matter expert for products, microbiological methods, manufacturing processes, and related technologies.Own and maintain Design Specification Records for assigned product lines, ensuring product requirements and design decisions are supported by sound technical evidence.Define and maintain specifications for raw materials, components, supplies, and other product inputs based on product requirements, data, risk, and manufacturing and supplier capability.Assess the impact of material, supplier, and specification changes and define the technical studies needed to support qualification and implementation.Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis and drive sustainable solutions.Guide cross-functional teams through change management, material qualifications, manufacturing transfers, continuity-of-supply initiatives, and product refreshes.Use scientific, statistical, and risk-based methods to evaluate data and make technical recommendations.Identify future improvement and capability-building opportunities.Mentor engineers, technicians, and technical partners.Champion a Lean Six Sigma-oriented continuous improvement culture by leading data-driven improvements in quality, service, cost, process capability, and team effectiveness.What You BringRequiredBachelor's degree in Microbiology, Biological Sciences, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, or a related scientific discipline and five or more years of relevant technical experience. A Master's degree in a related scientific discipline with one or more years of relevant applied experience, or a PhD in a related scientific discipline, may be considered equivalent based on demonstrated technical capability and experience.Hands-on experience applying microbiological principles to products, processes, manufacturing operations, or laboratory systems.Experience independently designing experiments, interpreting complex data, and making technical recommendations.Experience leading technical projects, investigations, or cross-functional workstreams.Experience defining, maintaining, or technically supporting product, material, component, or supply specifications.PreferredExperience with food safety microbiology, diagnostic products, culture-based methods, or regulated life science products.Experience supporting commercialized products and regulated manufacturing operations.Experience with Design Specification Records, design control, product lifecycle management, change control, verification, validation, material qualification, manufacturing transfers, or commercialization.Experience with Design of Experiments, statistical analysis, trend analysis, process capability tools, and risk-based decision making.Lean Six Sigma certification or demonstrated experience leading continuous improvement initiatives using structured problem-solving methodologies.Why This Role MattersSenior Product Engineers connect deep scientific expertise with business and customer needs. Your leadership will help preserve product design integrity, establish technically sound supply requirements, resolve complex risks, improve supply and manufacturing capability, and build stronger technical practices across the organization.Why Neogen?At Neogen we believe that taking care of our employees allows them to do their best work. When you join our team, you'll enjoy competitive benefits and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day.Benefits include:Benefits starting on Day One – Medical, dental, and vision coverage begin on your first day of employment.401(k) with company match – Invest in your future with retirement savings and company contributions.Paid Time Off (PTO) – Enjoy generous paid time off so you can rest, recharge, and spend time with those who matter most.Career Growth Opportunities – We are committed to promoting from within and providing the tools, training, and support to help you grow your career.Meaningful Work – Be part of a team whose work has a real impact on our customers, communities, and the world around us.Collaborative Culture – Join a team that values innovation, respect, teamwork, and continuous improvement.Come build your future with us while making a difference every day.#ApplynowWHO IS NEOGEN:From farm to fork, we offer solutions to enhance the quality, quantity and safety of the global food supply. Our food safety diagnostics are used within farming operations to the production facilities of most of the world’s best-known food companies. Neogen’s solutions are critical to the health and well-being of our customers’ operations – and in turn their consumers. What we do matters!Neogen’s culture combines stability with a deep believe in providing professional and personal growth. Our Pillars of Trust – the principles which guide our everyday decision—making, include Openness, Honesty, Credibility, Respect, and Service. It’s the belief in these characteristics that provide a consistent, happy and healthy work environment for our employees.