We are seeking a highly skilled and innovative Director – Sanitary Valve Engineering to lead the development, design, and lifecycle management of sanitary valves used in hygienic applications such as food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and personal care industries. This role will focus on ensuring valve systems meet the highest standards of cleanability, sterility, performance, and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise in fluid handling and sanitary design principles, along with strong leadership in product engineering and cross-functional collaboration.
Sanitary Valve Design and Innovation
Regulatory Compliance and Hygienic Standards
Product Lifecycle Management and Engineering Leadership
Customer Solutions and Application Engineering
Manufacturing Support and Quality Assurance
Team Management and Cross-functional Collaboration
Lead the engineering and design of sanitary valves (e.g., diaphragm valves, butterfly valves, ball valves, aseptic valves) for hygienic fluid processes.
Ensure valves are designed for clean-in-place (CIP), steam-in-place (SIP), and meet minimal dead-leg requirements.
Drive innovation in valve technologies to improve flow control, cleanability, sealing integrity, and automation compatibility.
Ensure all valve designs comply with relevant sanitary standards including 3-A, EHEDG, ASME BPE, FDA, and USP Class VI.
Oversee validation and documentation required for regulatory submissions and customer audits.
Maintain a deep understanding of emerging industry trends, materials, and standards related to hygienic engineering.
Manage the full lifecycle of valve products from concept to commercialization and through post-launch support.
Oversee value engineering, obsolescence planning, and continuous product improvement initiatives.
Coordinate prototyping, testing (e.g., pressure, leakage, surface roughness), and field evaluations.
Collaborate with sales and application engineering teams to customize valve solutions based on customer process needs.
Support the development of technical specifications, drawings, and application guidance for clients and integrators.
Engage with key customers for product feedback, performance insights, and innovation partnerships.
Work closely with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams to ensure design for manufacturability (DFM) and quality assurance (QA).
Support root cause analysis, non-conformance investigations, and process validation efforts related to valve products.
Define and oversee component material selection (e.g., stainless steels, elastomers, PTFE) for hygienic compatibility and durability.
Lead a multidisciplinary team of mechanical engineers, designers, and documentation specialists.
Promote a culture of design excellence, regulatory rigor, and continuous improvement.
Coordinate closely with R&D, regulatory, operations, and customer service departments to ensure integrated product success.
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
10+ years of experience in valve design or fluid handling equipment within sanitary industries (e.g., biotech, pharmaceutical, food & beverage).
Strong knowledge of 3-A, EHEDG, ASME BPE, and hygienic process system design.
Proficient in CAD/CAE tools, GD&T, and design validation practices.
Certified Professional Engineer (PE)
Six Sigma Green/Black Belt or Lean Certification
Training in ASME BPE, FDA cGMP, or ISO 13485 is a plus
Expert knowledge of sanitary valve technologies and clean design principles
Strategic leadership and cross-functional collaboration
Innovation in product development and problem-solving
Strong understanding of regulatory and hygienic compliance
Effective communication and technical documentation