Engineering - Staff Engineer, Engineering - Individual Contributor

Job Title: Project Engineer – Bioprocess Technology Transfer (Contract)

Location: Hybrid, 3 days a week on-site – Franklin, TN

Contract Duration: Approximately 18 months, with potential extension of ~6 additional months depending on project needs (not expected to convert to a permanent position)

Position Overview

Our client, a leader in manufacturing, is seeking a Project Engineer to support the transfer of a manufacturing process from one contract manufacturer to another. This engineer will serve as the primary technical liaison between the external Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) and the client's internal cross-functional teams throughout the technology transfer, supporting sterile injectable biologic drug products across process development, transfer, qualification, validation, regulatory support, and commercial manufacturing readiness.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support end-to-end bioprocess technology transfer activities, including process adaptation, scale-up, equipment qualification, validation, and commercial readiness
• Coordinate manufacturing setup and execution with the CMO
• Serve as the primary engineering liaison between the CMO and internal Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Product Management, and Project Management teams
• Partner closely with the assigned Project Manager throughout the duration of the project
• Lead technical discussions, resolve issues, and communicate project status, risks, and recommendations to leadership
• Conduct engineering gap assessments and technical risk evaluations using structured methodologies such as FMEA
• Support regulatory submissions, Biologics License Application (BLA) supplements, inspection readiness, and technical justifications related to manufacturing transfers
• Support analytical test method transfer activities, IQ, OQ, PQ, GMP, non-GMP, engineering, and PPQ campaign execution — including review of protocols, reports, batch records, and technical documentation to ensure compliance with regulatory expectations, quality standards, and project timelines
• Manage engineering change strategies, ECOs, and documentation release activities through change control systems
• Perform other duties as assigned to support Product Transfer and Technical Operations
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biotechnology, or Engineering preferred, with ~4 years of relevant experience; Bachelor's degree candidates considered with additional relevant industry experience beyond 4 years
• Minimum 4 years of engineering experience in biotechnology, biologics, pharmaceutical, or medical device industries
• Minimum 4 years supporting technology transfer, manufacturing engineering, process engineering, validation, or scale-up in FDA-regulated cGMP environments
• Strong bioprocessing/manufacturing expertise is the highest priority — more critical than prior technology transfer experience, though transfer experience is preferred
• Experience working with CMOs and in regulated biologics environments strongly preferred
  
  

Key Skills & Knowledge

• Strong understanding of biologics manufacturing, upstream and downstream bioprocessing, sterile manufacturing, single-use systems, protein formulation, stability, and analytical methods
• Working knowledge of FDA, EMA, ICH, cGMP requirements, process validation lifecycle, regulatory submissions, and post-approval manufacturing changes — this product is managed under a BLA, making regulatory interaction a significant component of the role
• Excellent project management, technical writing, communication, organizational, and cross-functional stakeholder-influence skills in highly regulated environments
  
  

Travel

• Approximately 25% travel, primarily international (limited to roughly 2–3 trips over the life of the project)
• Receiving manufacturing site is located abroad; all travel logistics coordinated by the hiring team
  
  

Additional Notes

• Remote interviews accepted; relocation candidates welcome (onsite work required if hired)
• This is a project-based hiring need driven by supplier transfer activities; local candidate availability may be limited given the specialized skill set