Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Curia • Albuquerque, NM

6h

About The Position

Principal Manufacturing Engineer in Albuquerque, NM
Build your future at Curia, where our work has the power to save lives
Curia is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with over 30 years of experience partnering with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to provide life-saving treatments to patients. At Curia, we are on a mission to advance our customers’ therapies from curiosity to cure and ultimately to improve patients’ lives.
Summary:
The Principal Manufacturing Engineer plays a critical leadership role in supporting and advancing manufacturing operations, with a strong emphasis on sterile/aseptic filling equipment and pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. This position serves as a senior technical expert and provides strategic engineering oversight to ensure equipment reliability, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement across manufacturing systems. This role requires extensive hands-on experience with high-speed filling equipment in sterile pharmaceutical environments and the ability to independently analyze complex technical challenges, develop innovative solutions, and implement sustainable process improvements. The Principal Manufacturing Engineer exercises sound engineering judgment, leads cross-functional initiatives, and influences operational decision-making that impacts quality, safety, cost, and production performance.
Responsibilities include both significant presence on the manufacturing floor and off-floor engineering functions such as project leadership, technical documentation, process optimization, equipment performance analysis, and collaboration with Quality, Maintenance, Validation, and Operations teams. The position prioritizes time within manufacturing operations to provide direct technical support, troubleshoot critical issues, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
The ideal candidate demonstrates advanced engineering expertise in equipment reliability, maintenance strategies, process optimization, and risk mitigation, while operating with a high degree of autonomy and accountability.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field of study
• Minimum of twelve (12) years’ relevant experience in a manufacturing engineering or related role.
• Minimum of ten (10) years’ experience supporting sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing operations
• Minimum of ten (10) years’ direct hands-on experience with aseptic filling equipment (vial, syringe, cartridge, or similar systems)
• Experience in bio/pharmaceutical manufacturing environment, required
• The ideal candidate should have the ability to read and interpret various documents, such as safety instructions, standard operating procedures, technical procedures, and governmental regulations. Additionally, they should possess strong written and verbal communication skills, along with effective presentation skills.
• Proficient in executing arithmetic operations including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division across various units of measurement, employing whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percentages. Candidates must possess a strong grasp of algebraic and geometric principles.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• The ideal candidate will possess a strong technical foundation and proven capability in effectively utilizing diverse software tools to streamline the organization's daily functions. Essential skills encompass adeptness in manufacturing and internet software, alongside proficiency in Microsoft Office tools including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Must pass a background check
• Must pass a drug screen

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience with equipment validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), media fills, and regulatory inspections, preferred
• Provides guidance and mentorship to team members
• Fosters a collaborative and positive work environment
• Champions change
• Promotes a safe and healthy work environment by actively identifying and addressing potential hazards, following established safety protocols, participating in safety training programs, and fostering a culture of awareness and responsibility among team members.
• Demonstrates strong attention to detail
• Ability to organize time to successfully manage multiple projects and priorities
• Ability to read, understand, interpret and implement technical writing and instructions
• Effective interpersonal relation skills, while maintaining the adaptability to achieve company goals
• Verbally expresses ideas and facts in a clear, logical, concise, and accepted grammatical style
• May be required to pass Occupational Health Screening
• May be required to obtain and maintain gowning certification
• May be required to obtain and maintain media qualification
• May be required to wear a respirator

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex manufacturing engineering projects from concept through implementation and lifecycle support, ensuring alignment with operational, quality, and business objectives.
• Provide technical leadership in strengthening and optimizing existing production systems to improve equipment reliability, throughput, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Serve as a senior technical expert for sterile/aseptic filling lines, including filling, stoppering, capping systems, autoclaves, and associated manufacturing equipment.
• Independently analyze complex equipment and process issues; develop and implement sustainable corrective and preventive solutions.
• Design, specify, modify, and troubleshoot manufacturing equipment and facility systems to support cGMP operations and new product introduction.
• Provide engineering oversight for plant utilities including compressed air, nitrogen, and process vacuum systems, including system design, upgrades, modifications, and performance optimization.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, Validation, Maintenance, Technical Operations, and external contractors to ensure compliant and efficient execution of engineering initiatives.
• Develop equipment specifications, evaluate vendor proposals, and provide technical recommendations and cost estimates for capital equipment acquisitions and upgrades.
• Ensure all engineering documentation, including drawings, change controls (ECOs), work orders, and project records, are accurate, compliant, and properly maintained.
• Maintain working knowledge and application of applicable codes and standards, including NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code), NFPA 70E, NFPA 70B, and NFPA 79, ensuring engineering activities meet safety and regulatory requirements.
• Establish project priorities, manage timelines, and track progress across multiple concurrent initiatives while meeting defined deadlines.
• Exercise independent judgment in decision-making that impacts manufacturing performance, regulatory compliance, safety, and operational efficiency.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior engineers and support staff, contributing to the development of engineering capabilities within the organization.
• Read/interpret SOPs to ensure compliance
• Maintain up to date trainings
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Generous benefit options (eligible first day of employment)
• Paid training, vacation and holidays (vacation accrual begins on first day of employment)
• Career advancement opportunities
• Education reimbursement
• 401K program with matching contributions
• Learning platform
• And more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level