Senior Digital Engineer

DESCRIPTION

Driven by a commitment to research, quality, and service, PDI provides innovative products, educational resources, training, and support to prevent infection transmission and promote health and wellness. Encompassing three areas, our Healthcare, Sani Professional and Contract manufacturing divisions, we develop, manufacture, and distribute leading edge products for North America and the world. We have several locations across the US and are looking for new Associates to join our team!

POSITION PURPOSE

We are seeking an experienced Senior Digital Engineer who is passionate about creating impact through data, digital systems, and AI. This role enables PDI's R&D organization by bridging lab instrumentation, data engineering, and machine learning workflows to create integrated, compliant, and scalable digital capabilities.

The Senior Digital Engineer will design and operate systems that collect, structure, process, and use experimental data from R&D labs, resulting in accelerated development, improved decision-making, and reduced manual effort.

The position partners closely with R&D scientists, Quality, IT, and external vendors to ensure instrumentation is connected, data flows are automated, ML workflows are productionready, and digital tools support execution across the R&D lifecycle.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES

• Lab Instrumentation & Digital Integration
  
  
  
  • Integrate lab instruments (e.g., chromatography, spectroscopy, automated systems) with digital data environments.
  • Define structured data capture, metadata schemas, and workflow models at the instrument level to ensure compliance and traceability.
  • Collaborate with internal lab teams to map experimental workflows and translate them into digital processes.
  
  
  
  
• Data Engineering & Management
  
  
  
  • Build and maintain data pipelines (streaming + batch) connecting instruments, LIMS/ELN, data lakes, and analytics/ML environments.
  • Implement and govern master data, metadata, lineage, and catalog standards for lab-originated datasets.
  • Ensure data quality controls and auditready traceability across experimental data and analytical outputs.
  
  
  
  
• AI/ML Engineering & Analytics Enablement
  
  
  
  • Develop and maintain ML-ready datasets and reusable feature layers that support R&D modeling, advanced analytics, and automation.
  • Build core platform capabilities that are scalable, secure, and promote self-service ML infrastructure for scientists and engineers.
  • Partner with research teams to translate scientific problems into ML workflows; validate model inputs/outputs for correctness.
  
  
  
  
• Workflow Digitization & Process Automation
  
  
  
  • Partner with R&D Discovery & Innovation, Product Development Delivery, Sustainment & Lifecycle Optimization, and the Project & Performance Office teams to map current workflows end-to-end (inputs, systems, approvals, artifacts).
  • Digitize experimental workflows, stability/validation processes, and change-control elements using structured schema definitions to decompose technical packages into steps an AI can execute with citations.
  • Capture validation/stability/release processes (accuracy/precision/linearity/LOQ, OOT rules, spec checks, CoAs) and translate them into checklists, schemas, and templates.
  • Build templates, SOPs, and checklists to standardize data capture and automate documentation steps.
  • Integrate workflows into R&D digital platforms (LIMS/ELN, MS Teams, cloud environments).
  
  
  
  
• Compliance, Quality & Data Integrity
  
  
  
  • Implement compliance-by-design digital processes that align with regulated environment expectations with emphasis on 21 CFR Part 11 and ALCOA+ data integrity requirements.
  • Ensure audit trails, metadata capture, permissions, and electronic signature routing are robust and inspection-ready.
  • Maintain interoperability and version control across tools, instruments, and datasets.
  
  
  
  
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Technical Leadership
  
  
  
  • Serve as the technical lead for connecting scientific workflows to data/ML infrastructure.
  • Train scientists on digital tools, data capture best practices, and ML-enabled analysis workflows.
  • Translate scientific, regulatory, and business requirements into practical, scalable technical solutions.
  
  
  
  

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS

• Year-over-year increase in number of instrumentation successfully integrated into digital data pipelines
• Uptime and reliability of data pipelines, including automated quality controls
• Measurable impact (decreased cost, improved quality, shorter time) of platform use activated by R&D associates
• Reduction in manual effort across multiple targeted workflows and in compliance deviations related to digital data integrity
• User satisfaction and engagement with enablement tools
• Consistently identifies and takes responsibility for tasks or issues within their domain without requiring managerial prompting, demonstrated by independently initiating actions within standard R&D workflows
• Actively seeks cross-functional opportunities to add value, with documented contributions in adjacent R&D or lab processes
• Completes assigned and self-initiated tasks on or ahead of deadline, including full documentation, communication, and handoff
• Champions new tools, workflows, or processes with energy by leading various adoption activities (e.g., training sessions, user support, feedback loops, pilot participation)

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION

• BS in a quantitative field: Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Bioinformatics, Mathematics, or similar. Advanced degree preferred.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE

• Strong hands-on familiarity with laboratory instrumentation and specialized software (Empower, LabWare, OMNIC, etc.)
• Proficiency in LIMS/ELN platforms (e.g., IDBS, LabWare)
• Data engineering tools: ETL/ELT workflows, data lakes, SQL, Python, cloud platforms (Snowflake/AWS/Azure)
• ML engineering skills: model lifecycle support, feature engineering, ML ops, secure model deployment
• Demonstrated expertise in analytics visualization tools like Power BI (preferred), Tableau, etc.
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks (21 CFR Part 11, audit trails, data integrity)

SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; capable of presenting complex concepts, digital strategies, and performance insights to technical and non-technical audiences
• Ability to structure complex scientific workflows into digital systems
• Comfort working in a matrixed environment with engineers, scientists, and quality stakeholders

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Some work on laboratory systems may be required, resulting in a hybrid office and lab environment.

SALARY RANGE:

• $110,000 - $140,000 Annually

BENEFITS

PDI is pleased to offer comprehensive and affordable benefits for our associates, which includes:

• Medical, behavioral & prescription drug coverage
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Dental
• Vision
• 401(k) savings plan with company match and profit sharing
• Basic and supplemental Life and AD&D insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Short & long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Health Advocacy Program

PDI also offers many voluntary benefits such as: Legal services, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident coverage, ID theft and fraud protection, pet insurance and employee discounts.

At PDI, we are also committed to helping our associates maintain a healthy and sustainable work/life balance and are proud to provide associates with paid time off programs including: sick & safe leave, vacation, company & floating holidays, paid parental leave, and depending on the position we also offer summer hours and flex place/flex time options.