Director, Protective Packaging Design Engineer
USA - Pennsylvania - West Point, United States
Job Description
Reporting into an Executive Director or Director in Packaging Commercialization, the Director will provide packaging design subject matter expertise from initial design concept through packaging system qualification for parenteral products in the human health portfolio covering both biologics and vaccines and including Medical Device and Combination Products (MDCPs). In addition, the candidate will influence oral solid dosage form packaging design, as needed based on complexity.
The successful candidate will have deep technical knowledge of protective packaging design and characterization and understand the interface of design with the packaging and distribution processes. They will bring extensive, deep technical experience commensurate with leading high complexity, high impact, end-to-end packaging development multiple product types. The candidate will be directly accountable for the design of Packaging systems for several complex products and devices in development. In addition to direct accountability, this individual will be responsible for working collaboratively with other engineers to influence the development of packaging sterile and non-sterile products from conception through successful launch and supply. A successful candidate will have a proven track record of proactive risk identification and mitigation through structural and materials design optimization. Beyond qualification of packaging for drug substance, drug product, and final dosage forms, the Director will focus on early identification of product and packaging system risks and an ability to introduce appropriate design and process changes to proactively address those risks. In addition, they will have technical capabilities and leadership skills to influence the Company direction on novel materials use, sustainable packaging, and efficiency/cost reduction, while realizing the enterprise packaging strategy.
The Director will also be responsible for the professional development of team members, as well as establishing and executing on priorities for the organization, managing budget and capability investments and the successful completion of projects, through strong scientific excellence, technical rigor and strategic decision making. The candidate will be expected to build inclusive, collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders such as packaging and manufacturing sites, analytical, regulatory, project leaders, and other key stakeholders. The successful candidate will display ownership and make informed cost/benefit decisions based on analysis of inputs, outcomes, risks, and company-wide prioritization.
The primary activities of the role include but are not limited to:
- Provide technical leadership and oversight for complex engineering challenges in support of new product packaging design development
- Drive scientific rigor and execution excellence at all levels within the organization
- Enhance the processes, methods, and procedures for support of packaging oral solid dosage forms, vaccines, biologics, including assembly of combination products
- Provide leadership in the establishment and gathering of metrics, updates to standard work processes, and technical capability acquisition
- Work in close collaboration with Drug Product, Analytical, and Device Technical Operations to ensure thorough engineering and packaging science is applied to deliverables for new product introductions
- Build talent and provide proactive support in training and coaching to cross functional team members
- Partner closely with partners and stakeholders in the Packaging and Device Assembly Business Unit to develop, refine and execute on Enterprise Strategy
- Remain informed of industry trends and opportunities to make advancements in innovative and/or sustainable packaging solutions
- Maintain an active network of practitioners and resources in relevant fields of expertise through industry forums and pre-competitive collaborations.
- Demonstrate financial stewardship in all areas of responsibility.
Minimum Education Requirements and Experience:
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in packaging, mechanical, structural engineering, or related field with fifteen (15) years of packaging design experience; OR
- Master of Science (MS) in packaging, mechanical, structural engineering, or related field with twelve (12) years of packaging design experience; OR
- PhD in packaging, mechanical, structural engineering, or related field with eight (8) years of packaging design experience
Required Skills and Experience:
- Significant end-to-end experience in packaging of pharmaceutical and/or medical device / combination products including design development and testing, process engineering, production, and operations
- Deep technical capabilities with packaging and combination product components, equipment, and process.
- Experience with a variety of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging types common in the biopharmaceutical industry including bottles, blisters, pouches, vials/cartons, prefilled syringe packaging systems, and/or auto injector packaging systems and the considerations for manufacturability of designs
- Demonstrated background in application of numerical design and modeling tools to enhance understanding of distribution stresses and packaging dynamics
- Strong leadership skills and ability to influence across functions and teams
- Enthusiasm for collaboration with diverse business partners within and outside the company
- Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to drive complex, cross functional projects to completion
- Ability to identify technical capability gaps in the organization, create/build resources to address those gaps, and drive upskilling of junior engineers to completion.
- Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with stakeholders and sponsors
- Ability to determine interrogate the science, identify true requirements, and proactively detect critical flaws
- Proficient in the areas of problem solving, risk-based decision-making, and use of standard work
- Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, embrace experimentation and learning, and model a growth mindset.
- Takes an end-to-end, enterprise mindset, view of the supply chain to understand upstream/downstream impact of actions taken at any node.
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US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:
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We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:
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U.S. Hybrid Work Model
Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.
The Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.
Expected US salary range:
$153,800.00 - $242,200.00Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.
San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance
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Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status:
RegularRelocation:
DomesticVISA Sponsorship:
NoTravel Requirements:
10%Flexible Work Arrangements:
HybridShift:
1st - DayValid Driving License:
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n/aJob Posting End Date:
02/8/2025*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
ApplyJob Profile
Hybrid Hybrid work Hybrid work model On-site Puerto Rico residents only US and Puerto Rico residents only
Benefits/PerksBonus eligibility Collaboration Diverse workplace Equal opportunity Equal opportunity employer Flexible work Flexible work arrangements Health Care Hybrid work Hybrid work model Inclusion Inclusive environment Insurance Paid holidays Professional development Retirement benefits Sick Days Technical leadership Vacation
Tasks- Coaching
- Collaborate with stakeholders
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Compliance
- Execution
- Identify and mitigate risks
- Innovation
- Leadership
- Lead packaging development
- Manage team development
- Prioritization
- Problem solving
- Provide leadership
- Provide packaging design expertise
- Provide technical leadership
- Reporting
- Risk Identification
- Technical Leadership
Accountability Analysis Analytical Biologics Biopharmaceutical Biopharmaceutical Industry Characterization Coaching Collaboration Combination products Commercialization Communication Compliance Cost reduction Decision making Design Development Distribution Drug product Drug substance Education Engineering Engineering excellence Equipment Execution Growth Mindset Inclusion Influence Innovation Interpersonal Interpersonal Communication Leadership Learning Manufacturing Materials Design Mechanical Medical Medical device Metrics Modeling MS Operations Optimization Organization Packaging Packaging Design Packaging science Partnerships Pharmaceutical PhD Prioritization Process Engineering Project Management Qualification Regulatory Reporting Research Risk Identification Science Scientific Excellence Sterile Products Strategy Supply chain Sustainable packaging Teams Technical Technical Leadership Technical Operations Testing Training Vaccines
Experience10 years
EducationAS Bachelor Bachelor of Science Business Development Engineering Health Care Master Master of Science MS Related Field Science Supply Chain
TimezonesAmerica/Anchorage America/Chicago America/Denver America/Los_Angeles America/New_York Pacific/Honolulu UTC-10 UTC-5 UTC-6 UTC-7 UTC-8 UTC-9