Softgel Manufacturing Engineer

Nordic Naturals•Vista, CA

9h•$70,000 - $80,000

About The Position

The Softgel Manufacturing Engineer will be process-driven to support and continuously improve our softgel compounding and encapsulation production operations. A key focus of this position will also be responsible for day to day supporting the end to end production process across gelatin preparation, compounding, encapsulation, drying, sizing and polishing. The role will work with softgel encapsulation production team, troubleshooting, increasing production capacity, driving lean manufacturing initiatives and creating work instructions. As an integral part of continuous improvement efforts, the role provides training and guidance to improve efficiencies in softgel manufacturing. This role focuses on technical problem-solving, reducing variation, and increasing efficiency and hands-on process support. The engineer will also contribute to the scale-up of new products and equipment as part of ongoing plant expansion.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Food Engineering is a must.
3+ years of work experience in softgel compounding and encapsulation manufacturing is required.
LEAN Certification (e.g: Green Belt / Black Belt) is required.
5+ years of experience in production and manufacturing engineering,
Previous project management , cost saving and Continuous improvement experience
Proficient in Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), preferably FIIX.

Responsibilities

Improve softgel manufacturing processes for throughput, consistency, and quality.
Troubleshoot issues such as: Air bubbles in fill materials Heterogeneous compounding and phase separation Proper gelatin viscosity, fill weight variation, or drying consistencies
Support and improve CIP (Clean-In-Place) systems for compounding and gelatin tanks to ensure sanitation and regulatory compliance.
Monitor and optimize critical parameters such as temperature, viscosity, pH, and mixing speed.
Optimization, and continuous improvement of manufacturing equipment and processes.
Implement continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies to increase productivity, reduce waste, and improve product quality.
Use Six Sigma methodologies to identify and implement process improvements.
Design and execute DOE (Design of Experiments) to optimize process parameters, material performance, and equipment settings.
Conduct Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) investigations using tools such as 5 Whys, Fishbone diagrams, and FMEA to systematically resolve recurring quality and process issues.
Use data-driven analysis (e.g., Minitab, JMP) to drive decisions and validate solutions.
Collaborate with R&D and Quality to scale up new softgel products from pilot to full-scale production.
Support process validation and technology transfer efforts for product launches and manufacturing readiness.
Contribute engineering expertise to plant expansion projects, including equipment selection, facility layout, and new line installation.
Support commissioning and qualification of new softgel machinery and systems.
Integrate automation and process controls to improve efficiency and reduce human error in encapsulation and compounding.
Develop and maintain process documentation, including SOPs, batch records, and validation reports.
Ensure operations comply with cGMP standards, FDA requirements, and internal quality procedures.
Participate in audits, deviation investigations, and CAPA processes.
Maintain compliance with all health, safety, and environmental regulations, ensuring that all mechanical systems and processes adhere to industry standards.
Create, update and train the production team on Work Instructions(WI) following our GMP protocols.
Be a subject matter expert in softgel manufacturing with continuous support of the production team to optimize the processes.
Partner with production, quality, maintenance, and planning teams to drive improvements.
Provide technical guidance to operators, technicians, and junior engineers.
Lead or participate in continuous improvement teams focused on yield improvement, waste reduction, and throughput gains.
Performs other duties as assigned.