Principal Packaging Engineer- Drug Product Design & Development
Pfizer
This listing was originally posted on Pfizer's careers page. Formulate is an equal opportunity job aggregator and is not involved in the hiring process. Where salary information is estimated, it is derived from BLS industry benchmarks and may differ from actual compensation.
Upgrade to Pro to access the AI-generated 'Read before applying' briefing and other premium pharma intelligence.
Upgrade to Pro — $25/moAbout the Role
We are seeking an accomplished and forward-thinking leader to join our Biotherapeutics Pharmaceutical Research & Development – Drug Product Design & Development (DPDD) organization. In this highly visible role, you will shape the future of packaging and laboratory operations for innovative drug-device combination products, while championing quality, compliance, and continuous improvement.
You will lead and inspire a team of packaging engineers and laboratory professionals, serving as both a technical authority and people leader. This role offers the opportunity to influence strategy, drive operational excellence, and play a critical part in advancing products from development through commercialization—ultimately impacting patients’ lives worldwide.
What You’ll Do
Lead & Inspire
Provide strategic direction and day-to-day leadership for laboratory operations supporting drug product and combination product development.
Mentor, develop, and empower a high-performing team, fostering technical excellence, accountability, and professional growth.
Contribute to goal setting, performance reviews, and career development for packaging engineers.
Champion Quality & Compliance
Act as the subject matter expert for laboratory operations, ensuring compliance with ISO 13485, GMP, and internal quality systems.
Own equipment calibration and qualification activities in alignment with the Quality Management System.
Ensure laboratory notebooks and electronic lab notebook (eLN) systems meet procedural, regulatory, and best-practice standards.
Drive Technical Excellence
Oversee and review testing activities, protocols, work instructions, lab notebooks, and technical reports for medical devices and combination products.
Lead component and container closure system selection, qualification, and development activities.
Author and support regulatory submission content and respond to packaging-related regulatory inquiries.
Collaborate & Influence
Partner closely with Quality, Regulatory, EHS, Facilities, Manufacturing, and Global Workplace Solutions to ensure alignment and proactive issue resolution.
Lead cross-functional initiatives to harmonize laboratory and business processes across teams and sites.
Support the transfer of new drug products to commercial manufacturing and post-launch support teams.
Innovate & Improve
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, quality, and scalability of lab and design control processes.
Identify and implement best practices, tools, and strategies that strengthen DPDD capabilities and future readiness.
A confident technical leader with deep expertise in parenteral packaging and medical device/combination product development.
Comfortable working independently while influencing across complex, global, matrixed organizations.
Known for attention to detail, strong judgment, and ability to balance multiple priorities.
A collaborative communicator who can translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable guidance.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science (Packaging, Mechanical, Materials, Biomedical, Chemical, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related) with 12+ years of relevant experience
OR Master’s/MBA with 10+ years of experience
OR PhD with 8+ years of experience in pharmaceutical packaging
development
Technical Expertise
Strong knowledge of parenteral packaging components and testing equipment (e.g., Instron, ZebraSci, Computrac, plunger movement chambers)
Experience in GMP and/or ISO 13485 environments
In-depth understanding of global regulatory and quality standards (FDA, ICH, ISO 13485, 11040, 10993, USP/EP/JP compendia, combination product regulations)
Ability to interface with regulatory agencies and provide sound technical justifications
Leadership & Communication
Demonstrated success leading teams and cross-functional initiatives
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
Strong project management and stakeholder engagement capabilities
Work Environment & Travel
Combination of laboratory and office-based work
Occasional travel (approximately 5–10%) to other sites, vendors, and conferences
Why Join Us
Lead work that directly supports the development of life-changing medicines
Influence strategy and operations at a global scale
Grow your career in an environment that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Be part of a culture that invests in people and rewards leadership
Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.
Sunshine Act
Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.
EEO & Employment Eligibility
Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer. This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.
Pfizer endeavors to make www.pfizer.com/careers accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process and/or interviewing, please email disabilityrecruitment@pfizer.com. This is to be used solely for accommodation requests with respect to the accessibility of our website, online application process and/or interviewing. Requests for any other reason will not be returned.
Explore related positions you might be interested in
We'll notify you when matching roles are posted.
Interviewed at Pfizer?
Help others prepare — share your experience anonymously.
PHARMACEUTICAL
Solid Oral Dosage Forms
Upgrade to Pro to access AI interview prep brief and other premium pharma intelligence.
Upgrade to Pro — $25/mo