R&D Engineer - Intermediate

Abbott; Clonmel; On-site; EUR 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Abbott Ireland is seeking an R&D Engineer to help design and develop next‑generation medical devices in Clonmel. You will drive projects through concept to validation, prototype using diverse manufacturing technologies, and collaborate with Quality, Regulatory, and Manufacturing teams to ensure robust solutions.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field and at least two years’ experience in product development, design engineering, or process development, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Biomedical, Manufacturing Engineering or related field.
• 2+ years of industry experience, preferably in medical devices.
• Hands‑on prototyping and CAD experience including SolidWorks.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop innovative medical devices from concept through validation.
• Lead projects through development lifecycle: concept, prototyping, verification, validation, manufacturing transfer.
• Develop and evaluate prototypes using injection moulding, extrusion, 3D printing and other prototyping methods.
• Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) to enable scalable production.
• Collaborate with Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to ensure compliant outcomes.
• Prepare technical reports and design reviews for stakeholders.

Skills

Product Development

Design Engineering

Process Development Engineering

Education

Bachelor’s Degree (NFQ Level 7+)

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

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.

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 Ireland Vascular Division Clonmel

Abbott Vascular is one of the world's leading vascular care businesses. Abbott Vascular is uniquely focused on advancing the treatment of vascular disease and improving patient care by combining the latest medical device innovations with world‑class pharmaceuticals, investing in research and development and advancing medicine through training and education.

Our broad line of vascular devices- which includes vessel closure, endovascular and coronary technologies-are used to treat vessel diseases of the heart, carotid arteries and peripheral blood vessels. These vessel diseases can lead to heart attack, stroke, critical limb ischemia and other serious vascular conditions.

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

Are you passionate about transforming ideas into life-changing healthcare technologies?

Join Abbott's Research & Development team in Clonmel and play a key role in developing next generation medical devices. This is an exciting opportunity to work on a multi-year innovation pipeline, collaborating with talented engineers and cross-functional teams to bring novel concepts from early-stage development through to commercialisation.

As an R&D Engineer, you will have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies, prototype innovative solutions, solve complex engineering challenges, and contribute directly to products that improve patient outcomes worldwide. If you thrive in a hands‑on, fast‑paced environment and enjoy turning creative ideas into reality, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do

As a key member of our R&D team, you will:

• Contribute to the design and development of innovative medical devices.
• Drive projects through the product development lifecycle, from concept generation and feasibility through prototyping, verification, validation, and manufacturing transfer.
• Develop and evaluate prototypes using a variety of advanced manufacturing technologies including:
• Injection moulding
• Extrusion
• Polymer and metal 3D printing
• Rapid prototyping technologies
• Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles to ensure successful scale‑up from development to production.
• Lead and support process development activities that enable efficient and robust manufacturing solutions.
• Utilise Six Sigma and structured problem‑solving techniques to investigate technical challenges and implement effective solutions.
• Collaborate closely with Quality, Manufacturing, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical, and Supply Chain teams to deliver successful outcomes.
• Support material selection, supplier engagement, and sourcing activities for both prototype and commercial device development.
• Prepare and present technical reports, design reviews, and project updates to stakeholders.
• Contribute to innovation initiatives and explore emerging technologies that can enhance future products and processes.
• Participate in product verification, validation, and risk management activities in accordance with medical device regulations.

What We're Looking For

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree (NFQ Level 7 or higher) in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Product Design, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of qualifications and experience.
• 2+ years of industry experience, preferably within the medical device sector, with a strong foundation in:
• Product Development
• Design Engineering
• Process Development Engineering

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting products through multiple stages of the development lifecycle.
• Strong CAD skills, preferably using SolidWorks.
• Hands‑on prototyping and product development experience.
• Knowledge of Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles.
• Process development and optimisation experience.
• Experience applying Six Sigma or structured problem‑solving methodologies.
• Experience working with manufacturing technologies such as injection moulding, extrusion, additive manufacturing, or similar processes.
• Experience selecting materials and sourcing components for prototype and manufacturing applications.

Personal Attributes

• We're looking for someone who is:
• A creative and adaptable problem solver.
• Curious, innovative, and eager to learn.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced development environment.
• Hands‑on and passionate about bringing ideas to life.
• A strong communicator who enjoys collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.
• Motivated by the opportunity to make a meaningful difference through healthcare innovation.

Why Join Abbott?

At Abbott, you'll work alongside some of the brightest minds in healthcare technology while helping to develop products that improve lives around the world.

In this role, you'll gain exposure to:

• Innovative and emerging medical device technologies.
• Cross‑functional collaboration across global teams.
• Advanced prototyping and manufacturing technologies.
• A strong culture of continuous learning and professional development.
• The opportunity to see your ideas progress from concept to commercial product.

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An Equal Opportunity Employer

Abbot welcomes and encourages diversity in our workforce.

We provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.

To request accommodation, please call or email