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Process Development Engineer

Katalyst CRO
San Francisco, CA Contractor
POSTED ON 5/22/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 6/21/2026
Job Description

We are seeking a highly experienced Staff Process Development Engineer to lead manufacturing process development activities supporting new product development (NPD), product design changes, and technology transfer within a regulated medical device manufacturing environment. This role will partner closely with R&D, Product Development, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Operations teams to ensure products are designed for manufacturability, assembly, scalability, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

  • Lead process development and industrialization activities for new product introductions (NPI), product enhancements, and manufacturing transfers.
  • Collaborate with R&D and Product Development teams during concept, feasibility, design verification, and design transfer phases to ensure manufacturable product designs.
  • Perform comprehensive DFMA (Design for Manufacturing & Assembly) assessments to optimize product architecture, assembly methods, cost, quality, and throughput.
  • Conduct CAD-based Assembly Tolerance Requirement (ATR) analyses and tolerance stack-up evaluations to validate assembly robustness and product performance requirements.
  • Develop manufacturing process strategies, assembly methodologies, tooling concepts, fixtures, and automation solutions to support scalable production.
  • Define and establish Key Process Input Variables (KPIVs) and Key Process Output Variables (KPOVs) to ensure process capability, product quality, and manufacturing consistency.
  • Design, execute, and analyze process characterization studies, DOE (Design of Experiments), capability assessments, and process validation activities.
  • Lead Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (pFMEA) activities and implement effective risk mitigation plans throughout product lifecycle development.
  • Develop manufacturing standards, best practices, and structured DFMA review processes to support stage-gate product development activities.
  • Evaluate and improve existing manufacturing and assembly processes through Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
  • Support equipment selection, process qualification, process validation, and vertical start-up activities for new manufacturing lines.
  • Establish process controls, monitoring strategies, and statistical methods to maintain long-term manufacturing performance.
  • Review and modify detailed CAD models and engineering drawings to ensure compliance with manufacturing, assembly, tolerance, and quality requirements.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree with 10 years of experience, or Master's Degree with 8 years of experience in Process Development, Manufacturing Engineering, Product Development, or Advanced Manufacturing within Medical Device or other highly regulated industries.
  • Extensive experience supporting New Product Development (NPD) and product commercialization activities.
  • Strong expertise in Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) methodologies.
  • Hands-on experience performing Assembly Tolerance Analysis (ATR) and tolerance stack-up assessments.
  • Advanced proficiency with CAD and SolidWorks for product and assembly development.
  • Experience developing manufacturing processes, assembly systems, fixtures, tooling, and automation solutions.
  • Strong knowledge of DFSS, DOE, Statistical Process Control (SPC), Process Capability Analysis, and Process Validation methodologies.
  • Experience leading pFMEA, risk assessments, and process optimization initiatives.
  • Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with R&D, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing teams.
  • Experience within FDA-regulated, ISO 13485, or similarly regulated manufacturing environments preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Medical device manufacturing experience.
  • Automated assembly and high-volume manufacturing experience.
  • Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma certification.
  • Technology transfer and global manufacturing support experience.
  • Strong technical leadership, mentoring, and project management skills.

Hourly Wage Estimation for Process Development Engineer in San Francisco, CA
$53.00 to $61.00
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