Senior Product Engineer

neogen; Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Career growth opportunities

Meaningful work

Collaborative culture

Job summary

Neogen is seeking a Senior Product Engineer to lead complex product and process improvement efforts within microbiology product lines. You will define experimental strategies, guide cross-functional teams, and ensure design and material specifications are supported by solid data.

You will mentor engineers and technicians while applying Lean Six Sigma and risk-based methods to improve quality, service, cost, and process capability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Microbiology, Biological Sciences, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, or related field with 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Hands-on microbiology experience in products, processes, manufacturing operations, or lab systems.
• Experience designing experiments, interpreting data, and making technical recommendations.
• Experience leading technical projects, investigations, or cross-functional workstreams.
• Experience defining or supporting product, material, component, or supply specifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex product and process improvement projects for assigned microbiology product lines.
• Independently define experimental strategies and lead studies supporting product changes and lifecycle decisions.
• Serve as a trusted SME for products, microbiological methods, and manufacturing processes.
• Own and maintain Design Specification Records for product lines with evidence-based decisions.
• Define and maintain specifications for raw materials, components, and inputs.
• Assess impact of material and supplier changes and plan technical studies.
• Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis to drive solutions.
• Guide cross-functional teams through change management and manufacturing transfers.
• Use scientific and risk-based methods to evaluate data and make recommendations.
• Identify future improvement opportunities and mentor engineers and technicians.

Skills

Experiment design

Data interpretation

Project leadership

Cross-functional teamwork

Specifications development

Lean Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor's degree in Microbiology or related

Master's or PhD considered equivalent

Job description

Come Be Part of a Mission that Matters!

What You'll Do

• 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.

What You Bring

Requir ed

• Bachelor'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.

Preferred

• Experience 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 Matters

Senior 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 improvemen