Principal Packaging Engineer

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines.

Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

About Abbott

Diagnostic testing is a compass, providing information that helps in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a range of health conditions.

Abbott’s life-changing tests and diagnostic tools give you accurate, timely information to better manage your health. We’re empowering smarter medical and economic decision-making to help transform the way people manage their health at all stages of life.

Every day, more than 10 million tests are run on

Abbott’s diagnostics instruments, providing lab results for millions of people.

Our location in Lake Forest, IL currently has an opportunity for a Principal Packaging Engineer within our Infectious Disease business unit.

This role is responsible for maintaining a strong collaborative partnership with cross-functional teams while serving as both a technical expert and project engineer in Packaging.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• The Packaging Operations group is responsible for providing technical expertise in the areas of Packaging and Packaging Performance for products manufactured within Abbott Rapid Diagnostics.
• Act as a recognized subject matter expert in packaging materials (flexible laminates, paperboard cartons, injection molding, corrugate and sterilizable films and sealing materials), associated equipment and best practices associated with building and maintaining supply at identified vendors.
• Act as the Technical Lead and / or project lead for significant projects in technology transfer and process improvement.
• Conduct packaging distribution studies for various modes of transportation.
• Provide operational support for plant teams, third party manufacturing partners, and vendor performance initiatives.
• Lead investigations around root cause analysis and determine solutions to technical issues related to vendor performance and / or manufacturing success.
• Regularly review new and existing vendor capabilities associated with packaging manufacturing processes while working to identify strategies to ensure ongoing supply chain success.
• Ensure maintenance of technical best practice and regulatory compliance.
• Provide ongoing technical support to manufacturing plants to ensure compliance and security of supply metrics review, investigation, root cause analysis, and process improvement.

Support and implement operational excellence (OPEX) initiatives as necessary.

• Knowledge of global regulatory requirements related to design and control of Packaging processes.
• Knowledge in the areas of flexible packaging concepts and technologies are valued (i.e. barrier films, bags, printing, primary and secondary packaging.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE YOU’LL BRING

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or comparable technical area focused on packaging
• 10+ years’ experience in a technical role in a Product Manufacturing or Packaging environment.
• Subject Matter Expert level knowledge of relevant Packaging Processes
• Troubleshooting and Root Cause Analysis
• Proven record of achievement in technical and project leadership.
• Ability to interact at all levels of the organization with proven influencing and negotiation ability.
• Acknowledged technical leadership.
• Experience with equipment process validation principles as well as engineering documentation practices and statistical process control.
• Ability to be innovative, resourceful, and work with minimal direction is required.
• Excellent organization, problem solving, and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Experience working in a broader enterprise / cross-division business unit model preferred.
• Ability to work in a highly matrixed and geographically diverse business environment.
• Ability to work within a team and as an individual contributor in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Ability to leverage and / or engage others to accomplish projects.
• Strong verbal and written communications with ability to effectively communicate at multiple levels in the organization.
• Multitasks, prioritizes and meets deadlines in timely manner.
• Strong organizational and follow-up skills, as well as attention to detail.
• Ability to travel, including internationally.

PREFERRED

Prior experience in a packaging engineering discipline with focus on flexible material technologies.

WHAT WE OFFER

At Abbott, you can have a good job that can grow into a great career. We offer :

• A fast-paced work environment where your safety is our priority
• Training and career development , with onboarding programs for new employees and tuition assistance
• Financial security through competitive compensation, incentives, and retirement plans
• Health care and well-being programs including medical, dental, vision, wellness, and occupational health programs
• Paid time off
• 401(k) retirement savings with a generous company match
• The stability of a company with a record of strong financial performance and a history of being actively involved in local communities
9 days ago