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**Job Function: **
Supply Chain Engineering
**Job Sub Function: **
Process Engineering
Job Category:
Scientific/Technology
All Job Posting Locations:
Groningen, Netherlands, Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands, Nijmegen, Netherlands
Job Description:
Job Summary
We are seeking a motivated Staff Process Engineer to support and optimize our polymer powder production lines. The ideal candidate must have a process engineering background with hands‑on experience in pharmaceutical or synthetic polymer manufacturing, and proven experience in tech transfer or developing powder processing unit operations such as fluid bed, coating systems, milling and sieving and freeze‑drying processes. This role combines process optimization, scale‑up, quality and safety compliance, and cross‑functional troubleshooting.
This individual will provide technical support and leadership to support the advancement of innovations for NPIs; LCMs to enhance yield, reliability, compliance & efficiency of product value chains end-to-end, i.e., support to make manufacturing processes/cycles leaner; new capabilities and effectively collaborate across different JNJ functional areas.
Technology Development – This individual will partner with R&D and other GTO resources to perform technological scouting, develop, execute, and/or coordinate studies in laboratory, pilot, or commercial scale environments.
Technical and Scientific Leadership – This individual will provide technical and scientific expertise with the final aim of enabling process control, process understanding, scale-up / down predictions, and enhancing / streamlining process development.
Knowledge Management – This individual will develop, manage, troubleshoot, and transfer advanced knowledge on new or marketed products manufacturing technologies development and deployment.
Investigations - This individual will support and independently develop complex technical investigations to resolve issues. The team member will need to effectively communicate the results and potential application of investigations in presentation, reports, or publications.
People Leadership - This individual may onboard, train, and lead a team of engineers, contractors to advance study execution.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead day‑to‑day technical support for powder processing production equipments.
- Knowledge and execution of overall validation lifecycle
- Execute characterization and validation activities including design of experiments (DoE) to improve yield, throughput, and powder quality while maintaining regulatory and safety compliance.
- Scale up laboratory processes from pilot to commercial production, ensuring reproducibility and robustness.
- Implement and maintain process controls, statistical process control (SPC), and key performance indicators (KPIs) for production lines.
- Lead root‑cause investigations and corrective actions for process deviations and nonconformances.
- Work closely with Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Maintenance, and Production to deliver validated, GMP‑compliant processes where applicable.
- Develop and maintain process documentation: SOPs, batch records, validation protocols, risk assessments (e.g., HAZOP, FMEA).
- Ensure proper handling, storage, and disposal practices for flammable solvents (e.g., acetone) and other hazardous materials; specify ATEX/explosion‑proof equipment where required.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives (lean manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen) to reduce cycle time and cost.
- Train production staff on process requirements, safety protocols, and quality expectations.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Chemical, Mechanical, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science, or related discipline.
- Minimum 5 - 8 years of experience in pharmaceutical or synthetic polymer manufacturing/process engineering.
- Hands‑on experience with pharmaceutical or synthetic polymer manufacturing unit operations.
- Strong understanding of solvent handling, flammability controls, ventilation, and explosion‑proof equipment requirements.
- Experience with process scale‑up, DoE, SPC, and root‑cause analysis tools (e.g., DMAIC, 8D).
- Familiarity with GMP and regulatory documentation practices if working in a pharmaceutical environment.
- Strong problem‑solving, data analysis, and technical communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree (MSc/PhD) in Chemistry, Chemical / Mechanical / Biomedical Engineering, or Materials Science.
- Experience with solvent recovery systems and environmental/waste treatment for organic solvents.
- Experience with powder characterization techniques (PSD, BET, SEM).
- Prior experience leading cross‑functional projects and driving continuous improvement programs.
Working Conditions & Safety
- Work is primarily plant‑based with regular collaboration across R&D, QA, and Production.
- Role requires adherence to strict safety protocols for handling solvents like acetone (flammability, static control, ignition source management).
- May require occasional support for off‑shift troubleshooting or scale‑up campaigns.
What We Offer
- Opportunity to lead process improvements on commercial polymer powder lines.
- Collaborative environment with emphasis on safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
- Professional development and potential leadership growth.
The anticipated base pay range for this position is 64.000 EUR to 103.040 EUR on an annual basis and includes 8% holiday allowance.
How to Apply
Please send your resume and a brief cover letter highlighting specific tech transfer / powder scale up projects and improvements you led to the hiring contact listed on our careers page.
#LI-SP5
**Required Skills: **
Preferred Skills:
Agile Decision Making, Coaching, Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA), Critical Thinking, Emerging Technologies, Issue Escalation, Lean Supply Chain Management, Problem Solving, Process Control, Process Engineering, Product Costing, Product Improvements, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Application, Situational Awareness, Technical Research, Technologically Savvy, Validation Testing, Vendor Selection
The anticipated base pay range for this position is:
€64.000,00 - €103.040,00
Benefits:
In addition to base pay, we offer the following benefits*: an annual bonus with set target (% of pay) depending on pay grade / location, where the actual amount is based on the employees’ and companies’ performance of the previous calendar year, or sales commissions. Moreover, we offer vacation days, parental leave for a minimum of 12 weeks, bereavement leave, caregiver leave, volunteer leave, well-being reimbursement, programs for financial, physical and mental health. We also offer service anniversary and recognition awards, and subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees - and in some location’s eligible dependents - can participate in several insurance plans. For more information, visit Employee benefits | Supporting well-being & career growth | Johnson & Johnson Careers.
*This is for informative purposes only. Amounts and actual benefits may vary by location and are subject to change.