Senior Product Engineer

Neogen; Oakdale (MN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Day-one benefits

PTO

Job summary

Neogen is seeking a Senior Product Engineer to lead complex microbiology product and process work onsite in Minnesota. You will own design specifications, guide cross-functional decisions, mentor others, and drive lifecycle management to enhance capability and quality across product lines.

You will apply microbiology principles to products, define experimental strategies, and lead data-driven improvements while collaborating with manufacturing and suppliers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level or higher in microbiology or related scientific discipline with >=5 years of technical experience.
• Hands-on experience applying microbiology to products, processes, manufacturing, or labs.
• Experience independently designing experiments and interpreting complex data.
• Experience leading technical projects and cross-functional workstreams.
• Experience defining or supporting product/material specifications.
• Preferred: food safety microbiology or regulated life sciences background.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent continuous improvement leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex product and process improvement projects for assigned microbiology product lines.
• Define experimental strategies and lead studies supporting product changes, investigations, verification and lifecycle decisions.
• Serve as subject matter expert for products, microbiological methods, manufacturing processes, and related technologies.
• Own and maintain Design Specification Records for assigned product lines with evidence-based support.
• Define and maintain specifications for raw materials, components, and inputs based on data, risk, and capability.
• Assess impact of changes and define studies to support qualification and implementation.
• Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis to drive sustainable solutions.
• Guide cross-functional teams through change management, material qualifications, transfers and continuity initiatives.
• Use scientific, statistical, and risk-based methods to evaluate data and make recommendations.
• Identify future improvement and capability-building opportunities.
• Mentor engineers, technicians, and technical partners.
• Lead data-driven quality, service, cost, process capability and team effectiveness improvements.

Skills

Product leadership

Microbiology

Experimental design

Data analysis

Cross-functional teams

Mentoring

Change management

Lean Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor's degree in Microbiology

Master's degree in related field

PhD in related field

Job description

Its fun to work in a company where people truly believe in what they are doing. 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 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

• Required 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.

Compensation

The anticipated starting salary for this position is $80,000 annually, with additional bonus opportunities. Actual starting compensation will be determined based on factors including the selected candidate’s relevant experience, qualifications, level of responsibility, and the scope of work associated with the position.

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 will enjoy competitive benefits and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day.

• 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.

From inside the farm gate to our dinner plates, Neogen protects the world’s food supply. Through a variety of animal healthcare products, to food safety solutions for dangerous bacteria, allergens, toxins, drug residues and much more, Neogen is there —.

At Neogen, we are extremely proud of our record of sustained growth, as well as our development and acquisition of advanced technology since our founding in 1982. Neogen has thrived — and will continue to thrive — because our employees thrive here.