Principal Scientist, Combination Products - Inhalation Devices

Merck Merck · Pharma · NJ

Lead and implement medical device and combination product design controls for new and inline products, from concept to commercialization, supporting regulatory filings, product launch, and post-market surveillance. This role involves working with cross-functional teams, applying product development and design control principles, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead/contribute to device development, design controls for the assigned projects.
  2. Lead the implementation and/or ensure effective execution of the device development strategy and design controls for the assigned projects while adhering to management-approved strategic plans, corporate policies, and providing clear communication to cross-functional stakeholders, including external suppliers.
  3. Proactively resolve project obstacles and challenges and communicate device development strategy and design controls approach within Device Development and with external suppliers.
  4. Understand and apply regulatory / compliance requirements relative to design controls and risk management activities.
  5. Lead the preparation of materials for program presentations for management review and regulatory submission.

Skills

Required

  • Combination Products
  • Design Controls
  • Development Projects
  • Dry Powder Inhalers (DPI)
  • Inhalers
  • Medical Device Quality Systems
  • Medical Devices Design
  • Risk Management
  • Stakeholder Communications
  • B.A./B.S in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial and System Engineering, or other types of engineering plus 15 years of related experience
  • broad knowledge of medical device development, design controls and risk management
  • Led and managed development of DHF (design history file) deliverables for medical devices
  • Recognized as a subject matter expert in at least one medical device development or design controls area
  • Knowledge of U.S. and global medical device and healthcare regulations, including FDA combination products cGMP, Quality System Regulation, FDA Human Factors guidance, ISO 14971, EN 62366, Council Directive 93/42/EEC, etc.
  • Proven track record of applying analytical skills in product design, development, and evaluation
  • Self-motivated and work independently
  • Proven ability to work with team members of many skills sets and backgrounds
  • Strong interpersonal skills and a strategic thinker; able to influence without formal authority; ability to influence and present ideas to senior leadership
  • Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, project management, and organizational skills
  • Able to quickly pick up advanced domain knowledge
  • Able to multi-task continuously

Nice to have

  • Master’s degree in one of the above disciplines plus 12 years related experience
  • Experience with the development drug-device combination product or a medical device component of a combination product
  • Experience with leading development projects at an enterprise level
  • Experience with device design, requirement management, FMEA, design verification, design validation, statistical sampling, and control strategy
  • Experience with regulatory fillings
  • Working knowledge of ISO 11608 and ISO 11040

What the JD emphasized

  • medical device development
  • design controls
  • regulatory requirements
  • risk management