Field Construction Engineer

Abbott; Illinois; On-site; USD 99,000 - 199,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Abbott is seeking an experienced Field Construction Engineer to provide onsite leadership for capital construction projects in a manufacturing environment. You will drive safe project execution, ensure work aligns with design and quality standards, and serve as the primary field liaison among project teams, contractors, operations, maintenance, and engineering stakeholders.

The ideal candidate has strong construction expertise, safety leadership, and will keep projects moving from planning

Qualifications

• 10+ years of field construction engineering or related leadership experience.
• Experience overseeing contractors on active construction sites.
• Strong commitment to construction safety and hazard mitigation.
• Ability to interpret construction drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and Project.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily onsite construction leadership and serve as the owner's representative during project execution.
• Oversee contractor activities to ensure compliance with project specifications, engineering standards, quality requirements, and safety expectations.
• Lead construction site safety efforts, including issuing and managing safe work permits and conducting safety assessments.
• Identify and resolve construction constraints, risks, and field issues affecting schedule, safety, quality, or costs.
• Coordinate shutdowns, crane lifts, equipment deliveries, and other critical construction activities.

Skills

Field leadership

Safety leadership

Stakeholder management

Construction knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management

Tools

Microsoft Project

Job description

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.

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of .
• Free medical coverage for employees* via the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO
• An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution
• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Field Construction Engineer to provide onsite leadership and oversight for capital construction projects in a manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for driving safe project execution, ensuring work is completed according to design and quality standards, and serving as the primary field representative between project teams, contractors, operations, maintenance, and engineering stakeholders. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem solver with strong construction expertise, safety leadership, and the ability to keep projects moving efficiently from planning through closeout.

What You'll Work On

• Provide daily onsite construction leadership and serve as the owner's representative during project execution.
• Oversee contractor activities to ensure compliance with project specifications, engineering standards, quality requirements, and safety expectations.
• Lead construction site safety efforts, including issuing and managing safe work permits, reviewing Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), and conducting routine safety assessments.
• Identify, communicate, and resolve construction constraints, execution risks, and field issues that could impact project schedules, safety, quality, or costs.
• Monitor construction progress against project schedules and provide feedback to contractors and project leadership regarding performance and resource allocation.
• Ensure construction work aligns with approved drawings, specifications, scope documents, and company engineering standards.
• Coordinate shutdowns, crane lifts, equipment deliveries, and other critical construction activities while minimizing operational disruptions.
• Partner with project managers to support logistics planning, site staging, safety planning, quality management, communications, procurement activities, and project closeout.
• Participate in construction meetings and provide updates on safety performance, project progress, risks, and corrective actions.
• Respond appropriately to environmental, health, and safety incidents and ensure compliance with established procedures and reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, engineering, suppliers, and external contractors to support successful project execution.
• Verify that construction sites maintain proper housekeeping, site controls, barriers, and signage to promote a safe working environment.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• 10+ years of experience in field construction engineering, construction supervision, or a related construction leadership role supporting industrial, manufacturing, commercial, or large-scale capital projects.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing contractors and coordinating field execution activities on active construction sites.
• Strong commitment to construction safety and experience implementing safe work practices, permits, and hazard mitigation measures.
• Ability to interpret construction drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Working knowledge of construction processes, scheduling principles, resource planning, and project execution.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence teams and drive accountability.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and Project.
• Ability to work effectively in a manufacturing or industrial plant environment.
• Experience identifying and resolving field construction issues while maintaining project schedule and quality objectives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Building Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, pharmaceutical, food, medical device, or industrial facility construction projects.
• Strong knowledge of building construction methods, materials, and equipment.
• Understanding of HVAC systems, piping, welding, structural systems, roofing, electrical power, instrumentation, and control systems.
• Experience coordinating crane operations, rigging activities, and complex equipment installations.
• Knowledge of construction codes, permitting requirements, safety regulations, and LEED site management practices.
• Familiarity with project scheduling software and construction management best practices.
• Knowledge of construction quality assurance and quality control processes.
• Spanish language proficiency.
• Experience working within a regulated manufacturing environment and partnering with cross-functional operations and engineering teams.

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

www.abbottbenefits.com

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal.

The base pay for this position is $99,300.00 – $198,700.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.