Senior Principal Engineer

About the role

Vantive is a vital organ therapy company dedicated to extending lives and expanding possibilities for patients and care teams. We have a rich history of innovation in kidney care dating back to 70 years. We aim to elevate the dialysis experience through digital solutions and advanced services, and we are expanding our focus to transform vital organ therapies.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership & Strategy
  Lead multiple container material–related workstreams and initiatives, demonstrating accountability for delivery of scope, timelines, and technical excellence across regions and programs.
  Serve as a recognized SME, providing authoritative guidance and influencing technical decisions at program and organizational levels.
  Establish and govern risk-based decision-making frameworks, ensuring proactive identification, prioritization, and mitigation of technical risks.
  Influence organizational technical direction and business strategy, aligning R&D initiatives with long-term product, therapy, and innovation priorities.
  Translate complex and ambiguous technical challenges into actionable strategies and execution plans.
• Container Material Evaluation & System Integration
  Lead evaluation, selection, development and qualification of polymer materials and container systems based on structure–property relationships and application requirements.
  Lead failure investigations and root-cause analysis for material-related issues, ensuring robust resolution and prevention.
  Oversee design and interpretation of complex material characterization studies (mechanical, thermal, chemical, functional performance, etc)
  Drive material selection decisions impacting product performance, cost, safety, and regulatory compliance.
  Integrate material science insights into system-level design and product realization across therapies.
  Support container material–related sustaining and lifecycle management activities, ensuring continuity and compliance.
• Technical Excellence & Innovation
  Drive application of analytical tools, data-driven decision making, and scientific rigor in problem solving and design decisions.
  Promote continuous improvement, innovation, and adoption of new technologies or methodologies across programs.
  Apply critical thinking to identify optimal solutions under competing constraints and ambiguity.
  Strengthen technical standards and practices to enhance product quality, robustness, and performance outcomes.
• Collaboration, Influence & Talent Development
  Collaborate effectively across global, cross‑functional, and multicultural teams, adapting leadership and communication styles to drive alignment and results.
  Mentor, coach, and develop engineers, strengthening technical depth, strategic thinking, and problem‑solving capabilities within the team.
  Communicate clearly and effectively, influencing technical and business stakeholders at all organizational levels.
  Contribute to building organizational capability and a high-performance technical culture.

Requirements

• PhD (preferred) or master’s degree (required) in Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 8+ years of industrial experience in polymer materials, container closure systems, pharmaceutical packaging or related fields.
• Demonstrated leadership of global, cross-functional technical programs and multiple workstreams.
• Deep expertise in polymeric materials, structure–property relationships, and container systems for medical/pharmaceutical applications, hands-on experience with polymer performance evaluation instruments (DSC, DMA, FT-IR etc).
• Extensive knowledge of manufacturing processes and process optimization, particularly for parenteral or combination products.
• Prioritization of technical risk assessment, mitigation, and execution.
• Proven success in technical risk assessment, mitigation, and execution.
• Working knowledge of global regulatory requirements and quality systems (FDA, ICH, ISO, cGxP).
• Strong analytical capabilities, including statistical methods and Six Sigma tools.
• Demonstrated ability to translate customer and clinical needs into product and technical solutions.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with ability to engage technical and business stakeholders at all levels.

Qualifications

• Occasional business travel (domestic and international) is needed for this role.

Skills

• Leadership
• Strategic Thinking
• Technical Expertise
• Collaboration
• Innovation
• Communication
• Problem Solving

Benefits

Vantive offers comprehensive compensation and benefits packages for eligible roles. Our health and well-being benefits include medical, dental and vision coverage that start on day one, as well as insurance coverage for basic life, accident, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance. Financial and retirement benefits include the Aon Pooled Employer Plan (“Aon PEP”), Vantive’s 401(k) retirement savings plan, to help you prepare for your future. The Aon PEP is designed to help improve retirement outcomes by providing retirement resources more efficiently. The plan offers a robust set of investment options, financial education, and a suite of resources to support your retirement goals. We also offer Flexible Spending Accounts, educational assistance programs, and time-off benefits such as paid holidays, paid time off ranging from 20 to 35 days based on length of service, family and medical leaves of absence, and paid parental leave. Additional benefits include commuting benefits, the Employee Discount Program, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and childcare benefits.

Vantive is committed to supporting the need for flexibility in the workplace. We do so through our flexible workplace policy which includes a minimum of 3 days a week onsite. This policy provides the benefits of connecting and collaborating in-person in support of our Mission. We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. At Vantive, we are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices. The estimated base salary for this position is $128,000 to $176,000 annually. The estimated range is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position. We may pay more or less than of the anticipated range based upon market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based on upon location, skills and expertise, experience, and other relevant factors. This position may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.

For questions about this, our pay philosophy, and available benefits, please speak to the recruiter if you decide to apply and are selected for an interview.