Sr. Process Development & Automation Engineer

Abbott

Estimated pay: Est. $36–$45/hr (market estimate, not employer-stated)

Shift: Full time

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 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Location: Phoenix, AZ (US) | Employment type: Full-time | Travel: ~10% Position Overview The Senior Engineer, Process Development Automation leads, manages, implements, and provides technical engineering support for a variety of process automation hardware, software applications, and laboratory instruments. This position collaborates cross-functionally with internal and external partners to enhance existing workflows and develop new automated workflows in a complex, rapidly evolving clinical laboratory. Responsibilities may include guiding the Lab Service, Process Development Automation, and Laboratory Operations teams through automation selection, system design, integration, commissioning, and project documentation. The role’s influence extends to technical, quality, and business teams, as well as other engineers within laboratory operations. The Senior Engineer is expected to make new processes, systems, validation methods, and projects successful. Key Responsibilities Engineering Design Project Leadership Develop process architectures and functional specifications based on user and workflow requirements. Lead planning activities and conduct complex engineering design, platform eligibility testing, systems integration, and performance testing. Manage moderately complex projects and initiatives, typically within one platform or business organization, applying project leadership skills in planning, delegating, influencing, and managing priorities. Provide input for project design and development, and accurately estimate task effort, including work performed by others. Take scientific bench protocols from the bench to the automation system. Contribute creative, practical ideas and insights on new technologies, testing methodologies, applications, techniques, and procedures. Make decisions involving complex issues, working autonomously and checking in with the supervisor or project lead as decisions are made. Instrumentation Automation Lifecycle Work with project managers and cross-functional teams on user requirements, factory acceptance tests, validation planning, site acceptance tests, pre-installation planning, initial installation, setup, maintenance, and improvement for new or upgraded instrumentation and automation systems. Lead recommendations and implementation of changes that ensure ongoing high-quality performance of laboratory equipment. Lead technical investigation and troubleshooting of laboratory systems. Independently address routine issues using documented procedures and historical case research. Support and respond to complex system problems, counseling internal and external vendors and Laboratory Service Engineers on corrective and preventive actions. Maintain oversight of the quality of mechanical repairs and related documentation. Lead continuous improvement projects that drive cost reduction and lab efficiency. Quality, Safety Compliance Ensure new and existing instrumentation (automation and non-automation) meets safety requirements and compliance standards. Maintain records and follow laboratory procedures to meet regulatory requirements such as FDA, CLIA, and/or CAP. Support and comply with the company’s Quality Management System policies and procedures. Adhere to the maintenance schedule and maintain detailed records. Collaboration, Mentorship Communication Mentor and provide technical guidance to service engineers, laboratory technicians, junior engineers, and other members of the Process Development Automation team, acting as a role model on technical issues. Actively and constructively contribute to others’ designs through design reviews within the organization. Facilitate reuse by communicating available technologies and opportunities across the organization. Present factual information and convey very complex information clearly, in both written and oral form. Influence others, gain acceptance, and build consensus. Communicate issues, problems, and results that affect timelines, accuracy, and reliability of data. Bring company and industry knowledge and creative technical/scientific skills to product creation; be recognized as a content or sub-discipline specialist across the company. Understand internal and external customer needs and how they affect business unit products and services. Continuously develop personal knowledge and expertise related to the service of complex clinical laboratory equipment. Uphold the company mission and values through pioneering, achieving, caring, and enduring. Regularly demonstrate leadership behaviors: Pioneering, achieving, caring, and enduring. Skills Competencies Advanced knowledge