Engineering Lead

Abbott; Ireland; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Family health insurance

Excellent pension

Job summary

Abbott in Kilkenny, Ireland, seeks a skilled Engineering Lead to drive advanced injection-moulding and reel-to-reel stamping with global partners. You will own high-impact projects, define tooling requirements, and lead cross‑functional teams to deliver robust manufacturing processes.

The role requires 8+ years in engineering, strong GD&T, and proven track record in tooling qualification and DOE. It offers a competitive package within Abbott’s Diabetes Care Kilkenny site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related engineering field (Master's preferred).
• 8+ years in injection moulding, tooling, or high-volume manufacturing.
• Experience with die design fundamentals, tolerance analysis, blank development, and spring-back compensation.
• Proven tooling qualification through FAI, capability studies, and tool transfer.

Responsibilities

• Lead and project-manage third-party manufacturers to deliver injection-moulding, reel-to-reel stamping, and forming solutions.
• Define requirements, evaluate technologies, and oversee specification, procurement, installation, and qualification of moulding and stamping equipment.
• Drive tooling and moulding activities at supplier sites to ensure flawless production start-up and scale-up to higher volumes.
• Work with project teams, tooling manufacturers, and high-speed reel-to-reel stamping suppliers to meet project objectives.
• Serve as SME/ITE for complex technical matters and communicate component issues to stakeholders.
• Manage metrology method development and ensure strong GD&T compliance.

Skills

Project management

Vendor management

DOE

GD&T

Troubleshooting

Communication

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Polymer Engineering, Polymer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related discipline

Master's degree (plus)

Tools

FAT/validation processes

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION:

About Abbott

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.

Abbott in Ireland

Abbott has maintained a strong presence in Ireland since 1946 and celebrates its 80th anniversary in the country in 2026. The company supports the Irish healthcare sector with a broad portfolio spanning diagnostics, diabetes care, medical devices and nutritional products. Today, Abbott employs more than 6,500 people across ten sites located in Dublin, Donegal, Clonmel, Cootehill, Galway, Kilkenny, Longford and Sligo.

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.

Diabetes Care Kilkenny

Our new manufacturing facility in Kilkenny, reflects the growing demand for Abbott's global Diabetes Care products. The facility will be a centre for world-class engineering, quality, medical device manufacturing, and other science-based professionals to produce life-changing technologies that enable people with diabetes to live the best and fullest lives they can. At Abbott in Kilkenny, you can shape your career as you help shape the future of healthcare.

Purpose of the Job

We are looking for a highly skilled Engineering Lead to drive advanced injection‑moulding and reel‑to‑reel metal stamping solutions with our global third‑party manufacturing partners. If you're passionate about tooling, precision engineering, and delivering robust manufacturing processes, this is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of high‑impact, high‑visibility projects. This role is part of the global engineering team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and project‑manage third‑party manufacturers to deliver world‑class injection‑moulding, reel‑to‑reel stamping, and forming solutions.
• Definerequirements, evaluate technologies, and oversee specification, procurement, installation, and qualification of moulding and stamping equipment.
• Drivetooling and moulding activities at supplier sites to ensure flawlessproduction start‑up and smoothscale‑up to higher volumes.

Lead the design/specification, purchase, and qualification of:

• Mould tools
• Injection‑moulding equipment
• Progressive die stamping and strip‑forming tooling
• Reel‑to‑reel feed systems
• In‑die sensing systems
• Metrology equipment and fixtures

Supplier & Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with project teams, tooling manufacturers, and high‑speed reel‑to‑reel stamping suppliers to meet all project objectives.
• Serve asSubjectMatterExpert (SME) or Independent Technical Expert (ITE) for complex technical matters.
• Communicate and report component‑related issues to internal and external stakeholders.
• Managemetrology method development and ensure strong GD&T compliance.

Engineering Excellence & Compliance

• Initiate change control documentation and lead material data creation for plastic components.
• Conduct risk assessments and ensure strong process validation, FAI, capability studies, and FAT activities.
• Troubleshoot mould tools, stamping dies, and equipment, applying structured problem‑solving and DOE methodologies.
• Maintain full compliance with Corporate, Divisional, EHS, and Quality System requirements.
• Ensure timely, accurate documentation and adherence to engineering standards.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Polymer Engineering, Polymer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline (Master's is a plus).
• Equivalent technical experience also considered.
• 8+yearsof significant engineering or operational experience in injection moulding, tooling, or high‑volume manufacturing.
• Experiencewithdie design fundamentals, tolerance stack‑up analysis, blank development, and spring‑back compensation.
• Provensuccess qualifying tooling using FAI, capability studies, and tool transfer methods.
• Experience working with injection mould tooling manufacturers, toolmakers, and supporting FAT/validation activities.
• Strong understanding of GD&T and qualification of metrology fixtures.
• Excellent communication, documentation, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong problem‑solving capability with experience in DOE for plastics process development.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional teams, manage vendors, and deliver complex projects with accountability and precision.
• Familiarity with Quality Systems, engineering standards, and Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) requirements.

What we Offer

Attractive compensation package that includes competitive pay, as well as benefits such as

• Family health insurance,
• Excellent pension