Associate Process Engineer Jobs in Puerto Rico (NOW HIRING)

SUMMARY:
Independently provides and/or directs the characterization of process optimization strategies and/or troubleshooting of operational issues in the operations, manufacturing, pilot plant or capital projects environment. Applies advanced and diverse engineering principles to the design and implementation of major system modifications, experiments, process and/or capital projects. Develops, organizes, analyzes and presents interpretation of results for operational issues or engineering projects of significant scope and complexity.
FUNCTIONS:
General:

1. Complete complex or novel assignments requiring development of new and/or improved engineering techniques and procedures.
2. Develop engineering policies and procedures that affect multiple organizational units.
3. Supervise, coordinate and review work of a small staff of engineers, associates and/or technicians on an ongoing basis as well as on a project basis.
4. Employ advanced engineering techniques and/or modifications of advanced techniques within area of engineering expertise.
5. Apply knowledge of engineering principles and practices outside of area of discipline expertise to broad variety of assignments in related fields.
6. Serves as a peer-recognized engineering technology specialist in at least one area, with overall responsibility for determining methodologies in that area.
7. Application of mature engineering knowledge in planning and conducting projects.

*Other functions may be assigned
Design Engineering:

1. Develop technical solutions to complex problems requiring the regular use of ingenuity and creativity.
2. Work with research, manufacturing, process development, utilities, facilities, quality assurance and validation departments in developing requirements and recommendations for large and/or highly complex system/facility modifications.
3. Work with project managers to complete design and engineering projects within schedule, budget and quality constraints.
4. Coordinate the work of consultants, architects and engineering firms on development of standard design documents.
5. Develop departmental budgets or project budgets encompassing multiple disciplines for area within project or entirety of smaller project

EDUCATION:

• Doctorate or Masters + 2 years of Engineering experience.
• Bachelor’s in engineering + 4 years of Engineering experience.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Own change controls for manufacturing process changes.
• Support major/trend deviation investigations throughout the whole lifecycle including Root Cause Analysis investigation, determination of Corrective/Preventive Actions, authoring process investigation reports, and presenting within regulatory inspections.
• Support Risk Assessments exercises and Microbial assessment evaluations.
• Led commercial campaign readiness and effectively communicate and collaborate with cross function areas.
• Assist in the generation of training materials and assist in providing training on scientific or technical aspects of the process.
• Provide commercial support when needed and assist on the floor troubleshooting.
• Design, coordinate, and support execution of functional tests, water tests, and other runs to challenge process and operations during major changes, or campaign readiness. Generate technical protocols as needed.
• Assist and provide guidance during MBR (Master Batch Record) creation/revisions.
• Perform assessment to support process, automation, or equipment modification or implementation of special projects.
• Initiate, revise, and approve standard manufacturing procedures. Ensure all procedures reflect current operations. Serve as a document owner.
• Assess process performance and review of performance data. Evaluate, plan, and implement solutions for process improvement opportunities.
• Complete assessments for CAPA applicability requests from other plants/sites.
• Complete assessment for new or changes in BOM's (Bill of Materials).
• • Serves as a peer-recognized specialist in at least one area, with overall responsibility for determining methodologies in that area.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Educational background in Life Sciences and Engineering.
• In-depth experience of bio-processing unit operations.
• Knowledge in Root Cause Analysis methodologies (Fishbone, Six Boxes, Fishbone, 5 Why’s, Kepner Tregoe).
•  Familiar with Lean Manufacturing Practices.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with technical and management staff within manufacturing, process development, and quality.
• Proficiency in GDP (Good Documentation Practices) on a regulated environment.
• Knowledge in systems: Trackwise, Spotfire, CDOCS, and process monitoring platforms.
• Strong Technical Writing/presentation abilities, and excellent written/verbal communication skills in English and Spanish.

SKILLS:

1. Working knowledge of pharmaceutical/biotech processes.
2. Familiarity with validation processes.
3. Familiarity with documentation in a highly regulated environment.
4. Ability to operate specialized laboratory equipment and computers as appropriate.
5. Ability to interpret and apply GLPs and GMPs.
6. Ability to apply engineering science to production.
7. Able to develop solutions to routine technical problems of limited scope.

Demonstrated skills in the following areas:

• Problem solving and applied engineering.
• Basic technical report writing.
• Verbal communication
• Comprehensive understanding of validation protocol execution requirements.

Demonstrated Skills in the following areas:

• Basic technical presentations
• Personal Organization
• Validation Protocol Writing
• Dealing with and managing change
• Technical (Equipment Specific)
• Analytical Problem Solving
• Computer Literacy
• Specialized equipment/process expertise
• In-depth knowledge of validation processes and requirements as applied to new equipment installations.
• Interacts effectively with variety of communication and working styles.
• Ability to independently determine when additional internal resources are required to solve problems.
• Ability to handle multiple projects at one time.

Demonstrated Skills in the following areas:

• Schedule development
• Facilitation
• Collaboration
• Basic project management
• Completion and follow-up
• Established expertise in at least 3 separate areas of engineering technology.
• Ability to independently determine when additional external resources are required to solve problems.
• Ability to provide solutions to a large variety of technical problems of moderate to large complexity and scope.
• Problem solving skills requiring the application of scientific and engineering theory and calculations and creative skills in the development of hypotheses and approach.
• Working knowledge of financial analysis tools.
• Ability to delegate and manage the project work of others.

Demonstrated Skills in the following areas:

• Negotiation, persuasion and facilitation
• Collaboration
• Project cost development
• Conflict Resolution
• Leadership and teambuilding
• Management of contractors and vendors

WORK METHODOLOGY:

• Professional services contract
• Full time job
• Full on site job
• Location: Juncos, PR
• Expected hiring month: June 2026
• Initial contract term: 5 months
• Number of openings: 1
• Shift: 8 hour, Mon-Fri 8am-5pm (flexibility for on-call support at any time)