Sr. Engineer, Early Product Development

 

 

Who We Are: 

At West, we’re a dedicated team that is connected by a purpose to improve patient lives that has been at the center of our Company for more than a century. Our story began when Herman O. West solved the problem of supplying penicillin in mass quantities to the US Government during World War 2. Through our work to deliver thousands of life-saving and life-enhancing injectable medicines to millions of patients daily, West’s indelible mark on the healthcare industry has just begun. A name started our story. How will yours help write our future?  

 

There’s no better place to join an inclusive community of professionals with opportunities for lifelong learning, growth and development. Supported by benefit programs, we empower the physical, mental, emotional and financial health of our team members and their families.  

 

We believe in giving back to help those in need in the communities where we live and work. And are equally committed to creating a healthier environment and planet through our sustainability efforts.  

 

 

Job Summary:

The Senior Engineer will report to the Senior Manager of Pre-Development Containment Systems, which is a department within the West Research & Development (R&D) organization. The purpose of the R&D Pre-Development Containment Systems team is to develop and evaluate new product concepts and test methods for pharmaceutical containment systems. The outputs of this team are potential new products that can be further developed and launched as commercial products by the Product Development teams.

 

The Senior Engineer will be responsible for research, design, development, and evaluation of new product concepts and test methods for pharmaceutical containment systems, in alignment with the overall R&D strategy, starting at conceptualization and through transfer of feasible product concepts to the Product Development teams for subsequent product development and commercial product launch.

 

This is a hybrid work position, which requires the employee to work in-person at the West corporate headquarters in Exton, PA at minimum 3 days per week.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Research, design, prototype, and evaluate new product concepts and test methods:
  • Identify unmet user and customer needs.
  • Propose new product concepts and test methods to address those unmet user/customer needs.
  • Develop product designs and 3D / solid models, identify candidate materials of construction, and generate working prototypes.
  • Evaluate the design, functionality, performance, and user experience of prototyped products.
  • Work with line manager to define project deliverables, develop timelines, create budgets, and manage external resources to drive pre-development projects to completion per the agreed-upon project plans.
• Lead structured technology transfers from Applied Research and other relevant teams as input into Pre-Development projects. Transfer pre-development outputs to the relevant Product Development teams.
• Identify market trends and potential product development opportunities by attending trade shows or industry conferences, reviewing newly published studies and industry literature, etc.
• Prepare and present detailed technical reports, research posters, and other applicable documentation.
• Carry out continuous research into relevant standards and guidance, testing and processing technology for sub-assembly components and final assembly container systems.
• Select, manage, and leverage external consultants and laboratories when applicable to advance product concepts and pre-development programs.
• Collaborate with R&D colleagues and the West Legal representatives to author invention disclosures and drive submission of patent applications for such inventions.
• Collaborate with other R&D and Commercial colleagues (for example, Applied Research, Advanced Technology, Product Development, and Product Management colleagues) as appropriate, to facilitate the realization of West’s goals and objectives.
• Build up and foster successful collaboration with external networks like suppliers, universities, strategic customers and knowledge centers.
• Abide by all Legal, Quality, Regulatory, and Safety requirements, regulations, policies, procedures, and work instructions.
• Apply Agile product development methodology to achieve the defined milestones.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Education: Bachelor's Degree or 4-year foreign equivalent in Engineering or related field.
• Experience:  Minimum 5 years of relevant engineering and/or product development experience with a Bachelor’s degree. Relevant experience gained duri