Calibration Team Lead - Analytical & Field Instrumentation

Abbott; Illinois; On-site; USD 78,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free medical coverage

Excellent retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Education benefit

Job summary

Abbott Park, IL hosts a leadership role within the Global Engineering Services division, directing calibration, field service, and support activities for analytical instrumentation across Abbott Park and Des Plaines. You will set priorities, develop staff, and ensure service levels align with customer commitments.

The role emphasizes strong metrology expertise, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement through Lean initiatives, with opportunities to influence instrument strategies and

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Engineering, Electronics Technology, Physical Sciences, Chemistry, Metrology, Instrumentation Technology, or related technical discipline; or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in metrology, calibration, instrumentation, analytical services, field service, or related technical operations.
• Minimum 2 years of demonstrated leadership experience through direct supervision, team leadership, project leadership, or technical leadership responsibilities.
• Strong knowledge of calibration principles, measurement science, uncertainty analysis, traceability requirements, and instrumentation systems.
• Experience operating within regulated environments including medical device, diagnostics, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or manufacturing industries.
• Ability to analyze technical data, troubleshoot complex instrumentation issues, and effectively prioritize work assignments.
• Experience with enterprise computerized calibration management systems (Maximo or equivalent).
• Strong communication, coaching, and customer relationship management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop a team of calibration and field service technicians supporting Abbott Park and Des Plaines operations.
• Establish work priorities and assign resources to ensure customer commitments, service levels, and business objectives are achieved.
• Monitor team performance, workload distribution, productivity, technical competency, safety performance, and quality metrics.
• Support hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, succession planning, and employee development activities.
• Foster a culture of accountability, customer service, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Direct calibration, maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and qualification activities for analytical, laboratory, manufacturing, utility, and facility instrumentation.
• Ensure the execution of calibration services supporting analytical instruments, pipettes, measurement standards, and field instrumentation.
• Perform as-needed calibrations and provide technical guidance and escalation support for service, calibration, qualification, and measurement-related issues for complex instrumentation in each of the measurement disciplines.
• Ensure measurement traceability through effective management of standards, reference materials, and calibration systems.
• Participate in the development and implementation of calibration methods, procedures, and measurement best practices.
• Review and approve calibration records, and support investigations involving out-of-tolerance conditions, instrument failures, deviations, and corrective actions.
• Build strong working relationships with internal customers, vendors, quality, engineering, manufacturing, facilities, and research organizations.
• Act as the primary point of contact for calibration service delivery and customer support activities.
• Provide technical and compliance consultation regarding instrument selection, measurement systems, and calibration/metrology practices.
• Drive customer satisfaction through responsive service, effective communication, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure calibration records, test records, work orders, and related documentation are completed accurately and maintained in accordance with established procedures.
• Ensure compliance with applicable FDA, ISO, GMP, GLP, GxP, and Abbott quality system requirements.
• Support audits, inspections, investigations, CAPA activities, and regulatory assessments.
• Promote safe work practices and ensure compliance with all environmental, health, and safety requirements.
• Monitor operational metrics and identify opportunities to improve service quality, efficiency, turnaround time, and resource utilization.
• Lead or participate in Lean, Operational Excellence, automation, and standardization initiatives.
• Support implementation of new technologies, calibration systems, and process improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Calibration

Metrology

Instrumentation

Quality systems

Regulatory compliance

Troubleshooting

Project management

Education

Associate degree in Engineering or related

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Maximo

Job description

Abbott Park, IL hosts a leadership role within the Global Engineering Services division, directing calibration, field service, and support activities for analytical instrumentation across Abbott Park and Des Plaines. You will set priorities, develop staff, and ensure service levels align with customer commitments.

The role emphasizes strong metrology expertise, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement through Lean initiatives, with opportunities to influence instrument strategies and