Pharmaceutical Packaging Engineer

Placements24; Soweto; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Pharmaceutical Packaging Engineer for a fully remote contract role. You will design and optimize primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging for pharmaceutical products, ensuring GMP, serialization, and regulatory compliance while collaborating with global teams.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in packaging or related field and a minimum of five years’ experience in pharmaceutical packaging, with hands-on SolidWorks proficiency and strong problem-solving skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in pharmaceutical packaging engineering or closely related field.
• In-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical packaging materials, technologies, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience with packaging design software (SolidWorks) and validation processes.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging for pharmaceutical products, meeting regulatory and quality requirements.
• Conduct packaging material sourcing, qualification, and testing.
• Optimize existing packaging designs for performance, sustainability, and cost reduction.
• Develop packaging specifications, drawings, and validation protocols.
• Collaborate with R&D, manufacturing, QA, and supply chain for seamless integration.
• Troubleshoot packaging issues during product development, scale-up, and manufacturing.
• Stay current with industry trends, new materials, and innovative packaging technologies.
• Prepare technical reports, project documentation, and presentations.
• Ensure compliance with relevant packaging regulations and guidelines.
• Manage packaging projects from concept to commercial launch, remotely.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Project management

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a global leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution, is seeking a highly skilled Pharmaceutical Packaging Engineer for a contract position. This role will focus on designing, developing, and optimizing packaging solutions for pharmaceutical products, ensuring product integrity, regulatory compliance, and cost-effectiveness. The position is fully remote, allowing for flexible work arrangements, but requires the candidate to have strong communication and collaboration skills to interface with global teams, including those operating near our Soweto facility. This is a critical role in ensuring the safe and effective delivery of medicines to patients worldwide. We are looking for an innovative engineer to drive advancements in pharmaceutical packaging technology.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging for pharmaceutical products, meeting all regulatory (e.g., SAHPRA, FDA, EMA) and quality requirements.
• Conduct packaging material sourcing, qualification, and testing.
• Optimize existing packaging designs for improved performance, sustainability, and cost reduction.
• Develop packaging specifications, drawings, and validation protocols.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including R&D, manufacturing, quality assurance, and supply chain to ensure seamless integration of packaging solutions.
• Troubleshoot packaging-related issues during product development, scale-up, and commercial manufacturing.
• Stay current with industry trends, new materials, and innovative packaging technologies.
• Prepare technical reports, project documentation, and presentations.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant packaging regulations and guidelines.
• Manage packaging projects from concept through to commercial launch, working remotely with various stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in pharmaceutical packaging engineering or a closely related field.
• In-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical packaging materials, technologies, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience with packaging design software (e.g., SolidWorks) and validation processes.
• Strong understanding of cGMP, serialization, and track-and-trace requirements.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and project-management skills.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration abilities, particularly in a remote setting.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Experience in sustainable packaging solutions is a plus.
• This is a fully remote, contractor role, supporting operations relevant to our Soweto hub and global initiatives.

Benefits

This contract position offers a competitive annual rate of ZAR , commensurate with experience. As a contractor, you will enjoy flexibility and autonomy in your work. Opportunities for extended contract duration exist based on project needs and performance. This role provides the chance to work on impactful projects for a leading pharmaceutical company from a remote location.