Research and Development Engineer, Principle

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

Job summary

Abbott Ireland in Clonmel is seeking a senior technical lead to provide guidance in the creation and development of new medical devices. You will oversee cross‑functional work across R&D programs and ensure alignment with regulatory and quality standards.

The role requires NFQ Level 7 qualification and 6+ years in related work; you will mentor engineers, drive strategic goals, and collaborate with global teams at Abbott Vascular.

Qualifications

• NFQ level 7 qualification in a relevant discipline and 6+ years of related work experience.
• Experience in medical devices or R&D environments is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Initiates and leads technical activities for new or improved medical devices across current and next‑gen programs.
• Provides problem solving across basic to advanced engineering principles to support breakthrough technologies.
• Leads cross functional teams, mentors engineers, and influences site and divisional decisions.
• Ensures adherence to business policies, customer needs, and emerging technology trends within projects.

Education

NFQ level 7 qualification in a relevant discipline

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 6,200 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.

Purpose Statement:

Responsible for providing technical support and guidance in the creation and development of new medical devices. Is recognised as a leader in their area of expertise and provides technical oversight across multiple R&D programs.

Responsibilities

Responsible for providing technical support and guidance in the creation and development of new medical devices. Is recognised as a leader in their area of expertise and provide technical oversight across multiple R&D programs.

• Initiates and completes technical activities leading to new or improved products or processes, for current programs, next generation programmes and to meet strategic goals and objectives of the company.

• Analyses and solves problem for basic engineering principles theories and concepts through to a wide range of complex and advanced problems which required novel and new innovative approaches or a major breakthrough technology. Applies knowledge in the development of breakthrough technologies.

• Understands engineering principles theories concepts practices and techniques. Develops knowledge in the field to become a recognised leader or authority in the area specialisation and applies this knowledge in leadership roles in the company. Influencing decision both at site and divisional level.

• Demonstrates leadership and influence across project teams and across division as appropriate.

• Incorporates business policies and procedures into task completion. Understand the business needs of the company and has knowledge of the customer needs of our business. Understands the business cycle and foresight of emerging technology trends.

• Cultivates internal and external network of resources to complete tasks. Serves as a resource in the selection orientation and training to new engineers and employees. Leads project teams, determines goals and objectives.

• Mentors engineers and project teams by sharing technical expertise and providing feedback and guidance.

• Interacts cross functional; and with internal and external customers. Serves as a consultant for engineering or scientific interpretations and advice on significant matters. Acts as a spokesperson to customers on business unit current and future capabilities. Is sought out to provide technical expertise and direction in complex problems at both site and divisional levels.

• Participates in validation activity. Role may vary from providing input to owning activities such as protocol/report writing, reviewing or approval as well as managing execution. May be asked to lead validation strategies.

Qualifications / Requirements

• (Experience / Education )National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) level 7 qualification in a relevant discipline and 6+ years of related work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Technical / Business Knowledge (Job Skills)

• Monitors progress of exempt individuals, team and nonexempt technical individuals toward departmental goals. Will be performing this job in a quality system environment. Failure to adequately perform tasks can result in noncompliance with governmental regulations.

• Cognitive Skills

• Develops and/or identifies new work processes and the improved utilization of human and material resources within the assigned area or related departments; facilitates others involvement in the continuous improvement program, investigates and solves problems that impact work processes and personnel within the assigned unit.

• Influence / Leadership

• Promotes the attainment of group goals by selecting, motivating, and training capable staff. Provides leadership by communicating and providing guidance towards achieving group objectives.

• Planning / Organization

• Schedules human and material resources within a group or section in conjunction with near-term plans to ensure their availability; carries out operations within an established budget.

• Decision Making / Impact

• Assignments are expressed in the form of tasks and objectives; generally makes day-to-day decisions within established guidelines regarding work processes or schedules in order to achieve the program objectives established by senior management; consequences of erroneous decisions would normally result in serious delays to assigned projects or operations with substantial expenditure of time, human resources, and funds, without jeopardizing future business activity.

• Supervision Received

• Works under limited supervision. Independently determines and develops approach to solutions. Work is reviewed for adequacy in meeting objectives.

• Supervision Provided

• Provides direction and guidance to experienced exempt and/or skilled nonexempt levels of employees; evaluates performance of and assists in career development planning for subordinates.

• Often responsible for local functional or process activity.

Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives:

Abbott in Ireland | Benefits

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