Senior Product Engineer -Animal Saftey

Neogen Corporation; Oakdale (MN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits starting on Day One

401(k) with company match

PTO

Career Growth Opportunities

Meaningful Work

Collaborative Culture

Job summary

Neogen in Oakdale, MN is seeking a seasoned technical leader to manage animal health product development, testing, and lifecycle management across veterinary pharmaceuticals, feed additives, probiotics, and nutraceuticals.

You will apply chemistry, formulation science, and veterinary knowledge to improve product performance, reliability, and regulatory compliance, while collaborating with R&D, QA, Regulatory, Operations, and Sales.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in chemistry or related scientific discipline.
• Experience with animal health products, veterinary pharmaceuticals, or related fields.
• Ability to design experiments, analyze results, and make data-driven technical recommendations.
• Working knowledge of cGMP/regulatory quality systems and CVM guidance.

Responsibilities

• Design experiments to evaluate product performance across lifecycle.
• Lead investigations and troubleshooting for Animal Health products.
• Develop and implement product/process improvements to enhance quality and cost performance.
• Lead technical projects involving formulation changes, raw material changes, and manufacturing transfers.
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Operations, Supply Chain and Commercial teams to ensure compliance and success.

Skills

Cultural Savvy

Communication

Technical Expertise

Decision Making

Project Leadership

Driving Performance

Organizational Strategy

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry / related science

Master’s degree in relevant discipline

PhD in relevant discipline

Tools

Statistical Software

Electronic Lab Notebooks

Quality Systems

Product Lifecycle Systems

Job description

Job Summary:

It's fun to work in a company where people truly believe in what they are doing! Leads technical projects supporting maintenance, improvement, and lifecycle management of Animal Healthcare products, including veterinary pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, feed additives, probiotics, wellness products, and related technologies. Serves as a technical subject matter expert responsible for improving product performance, reliability, manufacturability, quality, cost, and regulatory compliance. Apply expertise in chemistry, medicinal chemistry, formulation science, veterinary applications, and product performance to solve complex technical challenges. Works collaboratively with Research and Development, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Operations, Supply Chain, Technical Services, and Commercial teams to deliver scientifically sound and commercially viable solutions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Design and conduct experimental testing to evaluate product performance, stability, quality, and manufacturability throughout the product lifecycle.
• Lead technical investigations and troubleshooting activities for commercialized and ongoing operations for Animal Health products.
• Develop and implement product and process improvements to enhance quality, reliability, customer satisfaction, manufacturing efficiency, and cost performance.
• Lead technical projects associated with formulation changes, raw material changes, manufacturing transfers, supplier qualifications, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Support development, scale‑up, validation, and commercialization activities associated with new products, line extensions, and reformulations.
• Evaluate product performance using laboratory studies, stability programs, analytical data, customer feedback, and field observations.
• Apply scientific principles to improve product shelf life, ingredient compatibility, bioavailability, palatability, and overall product performance.
• Author and review technical reports, protocols, specifications, risk assessments, validation documents, experimental records, and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Investigate product failures, customer complaints, deviations, nonconformances, and corrective and preventive action activities to identify root causes and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Collaborate with veterinary, regulatory, quality, and operational teams to ensure compliance with applicable regulations, quality standards, and product claims.
• Use statistical tools, Design of Experiments, risk assessment methods, and data analysis techniques to support technical decisions.
• Maintain technical expertise regarding scientific developments, regulatory expectations, and emerging technologies relevant to animal health products.
• Provide technical guidance and coaching to technical employees on assigned projects, as needed.

Skills and Competencies:

• Cultural Savvy: Demonstrates and lives One Neogen Pillars of Trust: Openness, Honesty, Credibility, Respect, and Service through actions, behaviors, and communication.
• Communication: Communicates complex scientific information effectively to technical and nontechnical stakeholders and actively listens to others.
• Technical Expertise: Applies chemistry, biochemistry, formulation science, analytical science, and veterinary product knowledge to product and process challenges.
• Decision Making and Problem Solving: Identifies information needed, evaluates technical risk, determines root cause, and makes timely, data‑driven decisions.
• Project Leadership: Independently leads cross‑functional technical projects, establishes clear plans, and drives execution through completion.
• Driving Performance: Maintains focus, meets productivity and quality standards, identifies improvement opportunities, and escalates barriers appropriately.
• Organizational Strategy: Understands how technical activities support Animal Health customers, product performance, supply continuity, compliance, and business objectives.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Animal Science, or a related scientific discipline with a minimum of eight years of relevant industry experience; or a master’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline with a minimum of six years of relevant industry experience; or a PhD in a relevant scientific discipline with a minimum of three years of relevant industry experience.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Qualifications

• Strong foundation in chemistry, formulation science, analytical science, biochemistry, or a related applied scientific discipline.
• Experience with animal health products, veterinary pharmaceuticals, companion animal products, livestock health products, feed additives, animal nutritional supplements, probiotics, nutraceuticals, or veterinary diagnostics.
• Ability to design experiments, analyze results, and make data‑driven technical recommendations.
• Experience authoring and maintaining technical reports, protocols, specifications, validation documents, risk assessments, and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Working knowledge of statistical analysis, Design of Experiments, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong project management, organizational, and communication skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience working within cGMP, such as 21 CFR parts 210 and 211, GMP, ISO, or another regulated quality system.
• Knowledge of FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) regulations and expectations, Guidance for Industry (GFI) documents, VICH guidance, veterinary pharmaceutical regulations, animal feed requirements, or applicable animal health supplement regulations.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Research and Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, Technical Services, and Commercial teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in one or more of the following areas is preferred: Formulation development and optimization, stability studies, shelf‑life assessment, product scale‑up, technology transfer, pharmaceutical or nutritional product development, or ingredient compatibility and performance evaluation.
• Experience supporting commercial manufacturing process, process validation, equipment qualification, process optimization, technology transfer, deviation investigations, CAPA implementation, and lifecycle management of veterinary pharmaceutical or animal health products.
• Medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, veterinary pharmacology, toxicology, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, veterinary medicine, or nutritional chemistry.
• Experience supporting product registrations, NADA/ANADA submissions, regulatory submissions, claims substantiation, or post‑approval product changes.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or higher, Lean certification, or equivalent continuous improvement training.
• Demonstrated success implementing quality, cost, service, reliability, or efficiency improvements.

Language Skills

Ability to read, interpret, and understand safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, procedural documents, technical literature, and regulatory requirements in English. Ability to communicate technical information clearly in written and verbal formats.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to perform college‑level mathematical operations and apply basic statistical functions, data trending, experimental design, and interpretation of scientific results.

Computer Skills

Solid knowledge of computers and operating systems, electronic communication, data analysis tools, and Microsoft Office applications. Experience with electronic laboratory notebooks, quality systems, statistical software, or product lifecycle systems is preferred.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Work may include office, laboratory, pilot, and manufacturing environments. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Compensation

The anticipated salary range for this position is $100,000-$120,000 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'll enjoy competitive benefits and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day.

Benefits

• 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.

Equal Opportunity & Accommodation

Neogen is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of applicable pre‑employment requirements and verification of identity and authorization to work in the United States. Come build your future with us while making a difference every day.