The Head of Mechanical Engineering is an 80–100% position based at Krieger AG's headquarters in Muttenz (BL).

You will have overall responsibility for the Mechanical Engineering Department and the mechanical design and development of Krieger's machines and process systems.

This is a hands-on leadership position. Alongside leading and developing the engineering team, you will remain actively involved in engineering activities, technical decisions, design reviews and complex problem-solving.

Working closely with the Managing Director, Project Management, Automation, Manufacturing, Assembly, Quality, Sales and Service teams, you will help ensure projects meet customer requirements, applicable standards, GMP principles and Krieger's quality requirements.

Your Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership

• Lead and coordinate Krieger's Mechanical Engineering Department.

• Organise engineering resources and priorities across customer projects.

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to engineers, designers and technical personnel.

• Review and approve mechanical designs, drawings and technical documentation.

• Develop the engineering team and continuously improve workflows, standards, tools and procedures.

Mechanical Engineering & Design

• Take technical responsibility for the mechanical design of Krieger process equipment and machinery.

• Develop and review concepts for customised customer projects.

• Design and supervise the design of vessels, mixing systems, homogenizers, agitators, gearboxes, frames, piping assemblies and related components.

• Review engineering calculations, component sizing, tolerances, materials and mechanical selections.

• Ensure designs are technically sound, manufacturable, maintainable and cost-effective.

• Lead technical design reviews and support troubleshooting and root-cause analysis.

Pharmaceutical Engineering & Compliance

• Ensure pharmaceutical and biotechnology equipment is designed according to applicable GMP and hygienic design principles.

• Apply appropriate concepts for cleanability, drainability, accessibility and contamination prevention.

• Support CIP/SIP concepts, material selection and surface-finish requirements where applicable.

• Ensure compliance with relevant European and international regulations, CE requirements and machinery safety principles.

• Support qualification, risk assessment and customer validation requirements.

Project Execution & Manufacturing

• Work closely with Project Management to deliver engineering activities according to project schedules and contractual requirements.

• Review customer specifications and User Requirement Specifications (URS) and translate them into mechanical solutions.

• Participate in technical discussions with customers and suppliers.

• Support DQ, FAT, SAT, installation and commissioning activities.

• Work closely with Manufacturing and Assembly to resolve technical and design-related issues.

• Ensure engineering modifications are correctly incorporated into technical documentation.

Product Development & Business Support

• Support Sales with technical concepts, proposals, quotations and customer discussions.

• Evaluate technical feasibility, risks and engineering requirements for new projects.

• Contribute to the continuous development and improvement of Krieger's equipment portfolio.

• Identify opportunities for standardisation, reusable engineering modules and cost optimisation.

• Evaluate new technologies, components, materials and manufacturing methods.

• Contribute to the development of the next generation of Krieger process equipment.

Your Profile

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a comparable technical discipline.

• Several years of experience in mechanical engineering and machine design, ideally within industrial machinery, process equipment or special-purpose machinery.

• Previous technical leadership, team leadership or engineering management experience is strongly preferred.

• Strong hands-on experience designing and developing complex mechanical systems.

• Excellent ability to create, read and review mechanical drawings and technical documentation.

• Strong knowledge of 3D CAD systems and modern mechanical design methodologies.

• Good understanding of machining, welding, assembly, tolerances, materials and manufacturing technologies.

• Experience with stainless-steel equipment, vessels, piping, agitators, rotating equipment or process machinery is highly desirable.

• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology or other hygienic process industries is a strong advantage.

• Knowledge of GMP and hygienic equipment design principles is highly desirable.

• Familiarity with CE requirements, machinery safety and pressure equipment standards.

• Strong technical problem-solving, analytical, leadership and organisational skills.

• Ability to balance technical excellence with project schedules, manufacturing feasibility and commercial considerations.

• Good German and English language skills; French or Italian is an advantage.

• Willingness to travel internationally when required.

What We Offer

• An 80–100% technical leadership position with a high degree of responsibility.

• Responsibility for Krieger's Mechanical Engineering Department and direct influence on the company's technical development.

• A role combining engineering leadership with hands-on involvement in technically challenging projects.

• The opportunity to work on customised, high-quality pharmaceutical and industrial process equipment.

• Direct collaboration with the Managing Director and Krieger's technical and commercial teams.

• The opportunity to influence engineering standards, processes, product development and the next generation of Krieger equipment.

• Exposure to international pharmaceutical, biotechnology and industrial customers and projects.

• A dynamic SME environment with short decision-making processes and significant individual responsibility.

• Workplace at Krieger AG's headquarters in Muttenz, Switzerland.

Questions about this position?
Contact Angela Vögtli, HR at a.voegtli@kriegerswitzerland.com