Instrument/Automation Service Engineer I OS

Abbott Laboratories; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 47,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

Abbott Laboratories is seeking an Automation Service Engineer I to install, calibrate, maintain, and repair laboratory automation equipment across clinical, R&D, manufacturing, and QA labs. The role emphasizes safety, GDP compliance, and strong technical support for customer operations.

The ideal candidate will perform calibrations, participate in troubleshooting, and mentor junior technicians while ensuring quality expectations in regulated environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field; or, in lieu, an Associate’s degree with 2 years of experience.
• 3+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience interpreting mechanical parts and assembly drawings.
• Experience with electrical circuits and diagrams and measurement tools.

Responsibilities

• Install and commission advanced automation systems per policies.
• Lead root cause investigations for automation failures and implement corrective actions.
• Perform routine preventative maintenance and calibrations.
• Complete accurate service records and comply with GDP, OSHA, FDA, ISO, CLIA, and QMS requirements.
• Mentor Level 1 technicians on troubleshooting and best practices.

Skills

Strong communication

Troubleshooting

Attention to detail

Working under pressure

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Associates degree in Engineering/Technology/Electronics with 2 years experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

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.

Position Overview:

The Automation Service Engineer I role is responsible for the installation, calibration, maintenance, and repair of both simple and complex laboratory automation equipment. The Automation Service Engineer I plays a crucial role in fostering positive interactions, providing technical support, and ensuring that customer needs are met in a timely and professional manner. The Engineer I will spend significant time (up to 65%) performing routine and complex tasks related to the calibration, maintenance, and repair of automation equipment. This encompasses automation across a range of laboratory settings, including clinical, research and development (R&D), manufacturing, and quality control laboratories. The automation used in these environments may include liquid handling robots, as well as custom and off-the-shelf automation such as 6-axis robots, work cells, and other specialized devices. Responsibilities also include operating within several regulated environments (e.g., clinical labs under CAP/CLIA and NYSDOH, production and manufacturing labs under cGMP, FDA, and ISO).

Schedule Shift - Tuesday - Friday 8:00 pm - 6:30 am.

Essential Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Installation & Qualifications: Install and commission advanced automation systems, ensuring qualifications are completed per service policies and procedures.
• Troubleshooting & Repair: Leads structured root cause investigations for automation failures and implements corrective actions.
• Preventative Maintenance & Calibration: Perform routine preventive maintenance and calibrations in accordance with service policies.
• Documentation & Compliance: Complete accurate service records, ensure documentation meets Good Documentation Practices (GDP), and comply with safety and regulatory requirements (e.g., OSHA, FDA, ISO, CLIA) and support the company’s Quality Management System (QMS). Review Level I service records when appropriate.
• Knowledge & Training: Continuously develop expertise in servicing complex automation equipment. Provides hands‑on mentorship to Level 1 technicians on troubleshooting and best practices. Understand assembly drawings in support of duties.
• Teamwork & Communication: Collaborate with cross-functional teams and service engineers to ensure effective troubleshooting and maintenance. Supports R&D, Manufacturing, and Lab Operations during automation changes and minor upgrades. Communicate clearly with colleagues, management, and external vendors.
• Flexibility & Adaptability: Work independently or as part of a team, including cross-functional, adapting to new information or unexpected situations.
• Quality: Operate under pressure, managing multiple tasks and/or deadlines while maintaining quality and attention to detail.
• Troubleshoot and support moderate automation issues, collaborating with senior engineers for more complex problems.
• Assist in identifying recurring service issues and suggest basic corrective actions.
• Perform system startups, calibrations, and qualification tasks (IQ/OQ/PQ) following established protocols.
• Conduct engineering design, platform eligibility testing, systems integration, or performance testing.
• Provide technical support and informal guidance to technicians to support daily operations.
• Contribute to small service projects, such as system upgrades and preventive maintenance improvements, under the direction of senior staff.
• Maintain service documentation, including reports, procedures, and troubleshooting guides, ensuring updates reflect current practices.
• Partner with operations and quality teams to prioritize service tasks that help maintain system availability.
• Uphold company mission and values through accountability, innovation, integrity, quality, and teamwork.
• Support and comply with the company’s Quality Management System policies and procedures.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Ability to act with an inclusion mindset and model these behaviors for the organization.
• Ability to work designated schedule.
• Ability to work nights and/or weekends, as needed.
• Ability to work overtime, as needed.
• Ability to work on-call, as assigned.
• Ability to work on a mobile device, tablet, or in front of a computer screen and/or perform typing for approximately 70% of a typical working day.
• Ability to work on a computer and phone simultaneously.
• Ability to use a telephone through a headset.
• Ability to work seated for approximately 25-40% of a typical working day. Ability to work standing for approximately 60-75% of a typical working day.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to comply with any applicable personal protective equipment requirements.
• May be exposed to hazardous materials, tissue specimens, and automation with moving parts, lasers, heating and freezing elements, and high-speed centrifugation.
• Ability and means to travel 10-20% between local locations.
• Ability to travel 10-20% of working time away from work location. May include overnight/weekend travel.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field; or, in lieu of Bachelor's degree, Associates degree in Engineering, Technology, Electronics, or similar field with 2 years of experience.
• 3+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience interpreting mechanical parts and assembly drawings.
• Experience with electrical circuits and diagrams, including the use of electrical measurement tools such as multi-meters and analyzers.
• Ability and desire to operate under pressure, managing multiple tasks and/or deadlines while maintaining quality and attention to detail.
• Exercises independent judgment within generally defined practices and procedures in selecting methods and techniques of obtaining solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to approach engineering problems methodically.
• Proficient in using computer software, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and mobile devices/tablets.
• Proven attention to detail with a track record of documenting service activities accurately and in a timely manner.
• Experience working independently and as part of a team.
• Strong communication skills, with experience in both verbal and written communication.
• Demonstrated mechanical and troubleshooting aptitude, with hands‑on experience performing on-site calibrations and preventative maintenance of automation equipment.
• Experience working in ambiguous situations, adapting to new information, and responding effectively to unexpected circumstances.
• Demonstrated ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodation.
• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience with Quality Systems, documentation requirements, and regulatory compliance (e.g., OSHA, FDA, CLIA, ISO, CAP).
• 2+ years of experience operating automation equipment (e.g., liquid handling robots) and performing hands‑on technical troubleshooting.
• Experience in loading and/or updating software applications related to automation equipment.
• Demonstrated mechanical aptitude relevant to maintenance and repair of complex automation equipment such as liquid handling robots.
• Demonstrated understanding of electrical circuits and diagrams, including the use of common electrical measurement tools such as multi-meters and oscilloscopes.
• Mechanical and troubleshooting aptitude, including experience with mechanical part and assembly drawings.
• Experience working in a Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) environment.
• Experience with database management, preferably in developing continuous database management procedures/process improvements.
• Experience with validation processes and automation qualification.
• Demonstrated ability to plan workload, allocate tasks, and scale operations to align with business priorities.
• Working knowledge of clinical laboratory service operations and activities.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and any other status protected by applicable local, state, or federal law. Applicable portions of the Company’s affirmative action program are available to any applicant or employee for inspection upon request.

The base pay for this position is $22.45 – $44.85 per hour. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.