Optical Engineer Entry Level Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Engineer, Drug Device Combination Product - Prefilled Syringes (JP15357)
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Business Unit: Prefilled Syringes And Lyo Kit Platforms
Employment Type: Contract
Duration: 12 months with likely extensions or conversion to perm
Rate: $40-46/hours W2 with benefits
Posting Date: 5/7/2026
Target Start Date: 6/1/2026

3 Key Consulting is hiring! We are recruiting an Engineer for a consulting engagement with our direct client, a leading global biotechnology company.

Ideal Candidate: has hands-on experience in engineering environments, particularly with tools like Instron systems and optical measurement methods, as well as proficiency in technical documentation and teamwork. They should have experience in regulated industries, preferably biopharma, biomedical, or medical devices, though aerospace or mechanical disciplines are acceptable. Proficiency in Microsoft Office is required, and CAD/SolidWorks skills are a plus. Entry-level candidates with practical experience, such as internships, are preferred, while overqualification (e.g., PhD or advanced degrees with extensive experience) is less desirable. Packaging engineering knowledge is a bonus but not mandatory.

Job Description:.
The Device Engineer will participate in the design, development, and lifecycle management design control activities for commercialized drug delivery devices. This role includes technical operations support for combination product development to global launch, clinical and commercial manufacturing, failure investigation, design change evaluation, development and execution of test procedures, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Scope includes mechanical delivery devices, such as; Prefilled syringes. The qualified candidate will be part of a sustaining device engineering team that ensures design history files of these mechanical delivery devices are maintained. The engineer will participate in cross functional teams, leading device design activities such as the development of product enhancements, analytical failure analysis and implementation of design solutions, assessment of proposed changes, support product launches, defend inspection and ensure the follow through of commitments.

Essential skills and Responsibilities:

• Adheres to strict documentation practices in a GMP regulated environment
• Fully competent engineer in all conventional aspects of the subject matter, functional area, and assignments, plans and conduct work requiring judgment in the independent evaluation, selection, and substantial adaptation and modification of standard techniques, procedures and criteria and devises new approaches to problems encountered.
• Authors and reviews technical documentation including protocols, reports, and technical assessments
• Analyze and trend generated data by applying relevant statistical techniques to enable senior staff to make informed decisions
• Coordinates and executes laboratory testing to support characterization, verification, design transfer, and fill-finish efforts
• Maintains combination product design history files for assigned products
• Develops characterization test methods through fixture prototyping, reference sample creation, and GR&R analysis
• Provides functional subject matter expertise to actively participate in cross-functional activities including system level root cause analysis, design changes, and change control assessments
• Provide general laboratory support including inventory management, sample shipments, and cleanup.
• Works with Scientists and Engineers, to assess and develop appropriate design and manufacturing specifications
• Individual contributor with Leadership attributes to effectively represent device engineer within a large network/matrix organization
• At a minimum familiar with the following standards and regulations:
• Quality System Regulation - 21CFR820
• Risk Management - ISO 14971
• EU Medical Device requirements - Council Directive 93/42/EEC

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or higher in relevant engineering or scientific field (Mechanical, Biomedical, Bioengineering)
• Minimum 2 year of scientific or engineering experience in a GMP regulated environment
• Statistical Analysis software (Minitab or JMP)
• Strong technical writing skills
• CAD fixturing software (SolidWorks)
• Tolerance Stack-Ups (2D, 3D, RSS)
• Instron force tester using BlueHill Universal
• Experience with design controls; including (but not limited to) verification and design transfer
• Understanding of risk assessments including hazard and probability analysis
• Background in medical device development, commercialization and knowledge of manufacturing processes (fill-finish)
• Ability to work independently and dynamically across functional teams
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to support complex workstreams under demanding timelines

Top Must Have Skill Sets:

• Technical Writing and Succinct Communication of Technical Topics
• In-Lab Testing
• Tolerance Stack-Ups

Day to Day Responsibilities:
Documentation, Testing, Organization of Timelines and management of deliverables, cross-functional collaboration.

Basic Qualifications:
Master degree OR Bachelor degree and 2 years of experience OR Associate degree and 6 years of experience OR High school diploma / GED and 8 years of experience

Red Flags:
Overly Timid, Non-Succinct Communication, Lack of Technical Basis

Additional stand-alone red flag: inability to be present on site/support onsite based activities. This is a hybrid role, NOT fully remote.

Interview Process:
Virtual - 1:1 with the manager and Panel Interview

We invite qualified candidates to send your resume to recruiting@3keyconsulting.com. If you decide that you're not interested in pursuing this particular position, please feel free to take a look at the other positions on our website www.3keyconsulting.com/careers. You are also welcome to share this opportunity with anyone you think might be interested in applying for this role.

Regards,

3KC Talent Acquisition Team