Product Development Engineer |
Career OverviewThe job of a product development engineer includes all aspects of modifying, improving, designing, developing and troubleshooting all existing production lines as well as new production lines and methods. Most entry level product development engineers will work on improving and modifying existing methods and lines whereas more senior or experienced product development engineers are directly involved in creating and designing new lines and production methods.
The product development engineer works with the scale-up process to convert production from laboratory and small scale development into full sized mass production. The product development engineer may also be required to establish validation test and guidelines for product quality control and data collection on the efficiency and effectiveness of the production line.
Often both new and more experienced product development engineers are responsible for acting as liaisons between the research or development team and the various vendors needed to create the equipment for new or existing production. The product development engineer may be required to obtain bids, perform cost analysis of various equipment or production options, as well as make recommendations to the team regarding purchases and staying on budget.
Good written and oral communication skills as well as a complete understanding of the production and packaging processes used in the biotech industry are critical for the product development engineer.
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Career RequirementsThe product development engineer position requires a Bachelor in Science degree in one of the science or biotechnology fields as well as a good working knowledge of production lines and packaging. Most product development engineer’s work as process development associates or manufacturing research associates during their undergrad degree to complete both education and experiential requirements at the same time.
Some colleges and universities offer work experience course in working production lines and biotech companies that also help to provide the product development engineer with hands-on experience during their education.
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Job OutlookProduct development engineers with work experience are almost always in demand within the biotech manufacturing and production industries. Pharmaceutical companies and other industries rely heavily on product development engineers and other engineers to keep production and packaging lines running in a cost effective and optimized manner.
The increase in 24-hour production in many plants has lead to more positions for product development engineers in the last few years and there are strong indications within the biotech industry that this trend will continue at least for the next several years.
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Career TrackExperienced product development engineers have many options to advance into management positions both in production and packaging as well as in marketing and distribution. With more experience and seniority the opportunities to supervise also increases and there is always an increase in salary when supervision is included as part of the job description.
Many product development engineers act as consultants or provide training to research or production facilities.
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CompensationMost product development engineers will begin their careers earning between $52,000 and $57,000 per year. With a few years of experience a product development engineer will earn between $88,000 and $95,000, with those in upper management positions often earning over $100,000 per year.
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