Engineering Lead

Abbott; Donegal Municipal District; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Abbott Ireland Diabetes Care Division Donegal in Donegal Town seeks an experienced Engineering Lead to provide technical and people leadership across engineering projects, NPIs and equipment qualification. You will lead a team and partner with Operations, Quality, Technical, Facilities, and Supply Chain to deliver strategic projects that support operational excellence and growth.

The ideal candidate has a pharmaceutical/medical device background, a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, 5+ years in

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Chemical/Mechanical/Electrical) is preferred.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in an engineering, manufacturing, project management, process engineering, validation or technical leadership role.
• Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment (pharma/medical devices) is required.
• Proven experience delivering engineering projects and leading cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a team of engineers and technical professionals.
• Drive engineering projects from concept through implementation and handover, including NPI activities.
• Oversee qualification and validation of equipment and processes, ensuring compliance with GMP and quality systems.
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, Technical, Facilities and Supply Chain to meet project objectives.

Skills

People leadership

Stakeholder management

Project planning & execution

Technical problem solving

Risk assessment

Quality & compliance

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Abbott in Ireland

Operating since 1946, Abbott serves the Irish market with a diverse range of healthcare products. We employ around 6,000 people across ten sites in Dublin, Donegal, Clonmel, Cootehill, Galway, Kilkenny, Longford, and Sligo. Abbott Ireland Diabetes Care Division Donegal: Located in Donegal Town, our Diabetes Care division manufactures FreeStyle blood glucose test strips and sensors, including the FreeStyle Precision, FreeStyle Lite, and FreeStyle Libre systems.

Abbott Ireland Diabetes Care Division Donegal

The Abbott Diabetes Care division based in Donegal Town manufactures FreeStyle blood glucose test strips and FreeStyle Sensors for use in diabetes management. Among Abbott Diabetes Care leading brands are the FreeStyle Precision, FreeStyle Lite and FreeStyle Libre system.

Please note any offer of employment for this position is conditional upon the successful completion of a pre-employment medical examination, including drug and alcohol screening, conducted by a medical practitioner designated by the Company

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Engineering Lead to provide technical and people leadership across engineering projects, new product introductions (NPI) and equipment qualification activities. The successful candidate will lead a team of engineers and technical specialists while partnering with Operations, Quality, Technical, Facilities, Supply Chain, and other cross-functional stakeholders to deliver strategic projects that support operational excellence, compliance, safety, and business growth. This role offers a unique opportunity to combine hands‑on technical expertise with leadership responsibility in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership

• Lead, coach and develop a team of engineers and technical professionals.
• Create a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Support individual development through mentoring, performance management, and succession planning.
• Act as a technical escalation point for complex engineering challenges.

Project & NPI Delivery

• Lead engineering projects from concept through implementation and handover.
• Manage New Product Introduction (NPI) activities including manufacturing readiness, technology transfer, equipment implementation, and commercial launch support.
• Develop project plans, monitor progress, manage risks, and ensure delivery to quality, cost, and schedule objectives.
• Coordinate activities across multiple stakeholders and business functions.

Compliance & Validation

• Support qualification and validation activities for equipment and manufacturing processes.
• Ensure engineering activities comply with applicable quality systems, regulatory requirements, and company procedures.
• Participate in audits and inspections and support the closure of observations and actions.
• Drive change management activities and ensure effective project governance.

Minimum Qualifications

• Candidates MUST have a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, ideally in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in an engineering, manufacturing, project management, process engineering, validation or technical leadership role.
• Experience working within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience delivering engineering projects and leading cross-functional teams.

Preferred Experience

• New Product Introduction (NPI)
• Technology Transfer
• Project Management
• Equipment Procurement and Commissioning
• Facility, Utility and Equipment Qualification
• Validation Lifecycle Management
• Manufacturing Process Development
• Change Control Systems
• GMP-Regulated Manufacturing Environments
• Risk Management and Root Cause Analysis
• Capital Project Delivery

Key Skills

• Strong people leadership and team development capability
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Project planning and execution
• Technical problem solving and decision making
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Organisational and prioritisation skills
• Strong understanding of quality and compliance requirements

Why Join Us?

• Lead strategic engineering initiatives that directly impact manufacturing performance.
• Work across a broad range of engineering, capital, validation, and NPI activities.
• Develop and mentor talented engineering professionals.
• Contribute to the delivery of innovative products and technologies.
• Be part of a culture that values collaboration, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will typically come from a pharmaceutical, medical device, life sciences, chemical manufacturing, or highly regulated industrial environment and will have experience leading technical teams while successfully delivering projects involving validation, manufacturing support, operational improvement, and new product introduction.

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