Staff Project Engineer

Job Description Summary

Step into a role where your engineering expertise directly shapes the performance, safety, and reliability of a critical pharmaceutical manufacturing site. As a Staff Project Engineer, you will lead meaningful capital and engineering projects from concept through completion, partnering closely with cross‑functional teams to ensure every solution meets the highest standards of quality, compliance, and patient safety. This is an opportunity to take ownership, mentor others, and see your impact come to life on a site that plays a vital role in delivering life‑changing medicines to patients around the world.

 

Job Description

Location:

• This position will be located in Morris Plains, NJ and will be an onsite role.
• Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end‑to‑end delivery of small to medium engineering projects, from initiation through closeout.
• Develop budgets, schedules, and forecasts, ensuring delivery within approved scope, timeline, and capital expenditure.
• Coordinate cross‑functional teams, vendors, and contractors to execute projects safely and efficiently.
• Ensure compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practice, safety, environmental, and company policies throughout project lifecycles.
• Oversee change controls, qualification activities, and engineering documentation in alignment with approved procedures.
• Supervise contractors and junior engineers, providing technical guidance and mentoring to support high‑quality execution.
• Identify and manage project risks, resolving issues proactively to maintain timelines and stakeholder confidence.
• Prepare capital approval packages and maintain accurate, audit‑ready project documentation.
• Drive inspection readiness, safety assessments, and effective handover to user organizations upon project completion.

Essential Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, pharmaceutical technology, architecture, or a related scientific discipline.
• At least five years of experience in the pharmaceutical or regulated manufacturing industry.
• At least eight years of experience managing engineering or capital projects end to end.
• Demonstrated experience working in current Good Manufacturing Practice regulated environments.
• Strong experience coordinating cross‑functional teams and engaging stakeholders at multiple organizational levels.
• Proven ability to manage change controls, quality documentation, and inspection readiness activities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience executing engineering projects within active pharmaceutical manufacturing or classified cleanroom environments.
• Familiarity with quality systems including corrective and preventive action management, document control, and training systems.

Novartis Compensation and Benefit Summary:

The salary for this position is expected to range between $108,500 and $201,500 annually

The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

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EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. 

 

Accessibility and reasonable accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to us.reasonableaccommodations@novartis.com or call +1(877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

 

Salary Range

$108,500.00 - $201,500.00

 

Skills Desired

Business Continuity, Cost Management, Data Analytics and Digital, Decision Making, Engineering Operations Management, Engineering Technical Expertise, GDP Knowledge, gmp knowledge, HSE Knowledge, Manufacturing Process (Production), Operational Excellence, Problem Solving, Project Management, Quality Compliance, Resilience and Risk Management, Resource Planning and Forecasting, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Vendor Management