Associate Director, Engineering

Job Description Summary

The Associate Director, Engineering, is responsible for leading the Centers of Excellence (COEs) for Plastic Molding and Packaging, serving as the key liaison with R&D Product Development, and supporting the future integration of an Automation COE. This role ensures robust engineering support and technical leadership throughout the product lifecycle from a manufacturing standpoint—from early design and development, post‑launch, and sustaining manufacturing engineering optimization.

We are the makers of possible. Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world. Advancing the world of health™ is our Purpose, and it’s no small feat. It takes the imagination and passion of all of us—from design and engineering to the manufacturing and marketing of our billions of Med Tech products per year—to look at the impossible and find transformative solutions that turn dreams into possibilities.

• Lead and develop high‑performing teams within the Plastic Molding and Packaging COEs, with future scope expansion to include the Automation COE.
• Define and execute strategies to improve design‑for‑manufacturability (DFM), cost performance, and product reliability across BD Diagnostics platforms.
• Establish technical standards and best practices that strengthen BD’s global manufacturing network.

• Serve as the primary liaison with R&D to ensure design transfer readiness and manufacturability of new products.
• Drive early engagement to influence product design, materials, and packaging for cost, quality, and scalability.
• Partner with Operations and Quality to ensure smooth transition from pilot to full‑scale manufacturing.

• Provide technical leadership for existing product lines to ensure performance, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance quality, yield, and cost efficiency.
• Manage component obsolescence, supplier transitions, and product documentation updates.

• Oversee process development, qualification, and validation for molding and packaging processes.
• Implement Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to drive efficiency and waste reduction.
• Support future automation initiatives and integration across product lines and plants.

• Partner with Supply Chain, Procurement, R&D, and Quality to drive alignment between design intent and operational capability, ensuring Design‑for‑Manufacturability (DFM).
• Build strong external partnerships with key suppliers to enable innovation and reliability.
• Represent the DS ISC in strategic planning, design reviews, and operations forums.

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical, electrical, or manufacturing engineering (or related field).
• Minimum of 10 years in product development or sustaining engineering manufacturing operations, engineering, and/or continuous improvement roles.
• 5 plus years in leadership roles managing technical teams or COEs.
• Experience in medical devices or related industries is required, including experience with FDA or other regulated environments preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in sustaining engineering and new product introduction; automation experience preferred.

• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt preferred.

• Strong technical aptitude, learning agility of new subject matter, with ability to manage ambiguity.
• Deep technical knowledge in relevant engineering field is essential, which includes a systems approach with hardware instrumentation, software, and consumables. Exceptional analytical, critical‑thinking, problem‑solving and judgment skills.
• Strong leadership, verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills essential for collaborating with other functions and translating technical problems for non‑technical stakeholders. Able to influence decisions based on sound data‑driven rationale, including engagement with executive‑level management.
• Ability to communicate complex technical and business issues…