Senior Principal Electrical Engineer

Abbott; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 113,000 - 227,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development

HIP PPO medical plan

Retirement savings plan with employer

Tuition reimbursement

FreeU education benefit

Job summary

Abbott in Princeton, NJ seeks a Senior Principal Electrical Engineer to lead design and development in the Research and Development Instrument group. You will guide electrical engineering efforts under a disciplined product development process meeting FDA requirements, focusing on point-of-care diagnostics.

The role emphasizes technical leadership, cross‑functional collaboration, and delivering safe, compliant, high‑quality devices on schedule.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of electrical/electronic engineering experience.
• At least 2 years of engineering management experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Extensive knowledge of GxP, ISO and medical device regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical projects and help develop new products.
• Improve processes and solve complex technical problems.
• Oversee circuit design, PCB layouts, testing, and project planning.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to ensure quality.
• Ensure safety, compliance, and timely delivery.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Engineering management

Communication skills

GxP/ISO regulations

Tools

PCB design software

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 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Job Title

Senior Principal Electrical Engineer

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and your 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.
• Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
• An excellent retirement savings plan with a 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 worldwide 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 the best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

Our Princeton, NJ location has an opportunity for a Senior Principal Electrical Engineer in the Research and Development Instrument group. The person in this role will work in a lead role in one or more aspects of the electrical design and development of Instrument design under a disciplined product development process that meets FDA (Food and Drug Administration) requirements. This role is in Point of Care Diagnostics.

What You’ll Work On

We are looking for a senior-level electrical engineer who enjoys leading technical projects, helps develop new products, improves processes, solves complex technical problems, works with multiple teams and external partners, and ensures products are safe, compliant, high‑quality, and delivered on time.

• Works independently to find new technologies and better ways of doing things that can improve products and processes.
• Identifies opportunities for improvement and recommends new tools, methods, or processes to help the company meet its goals while staying compliant with industry regulations.
• May lead engineering teams responsible for designing, testing, and maintaining electronic products.
• Provides technical leadership in areas such as circuit design, circuit board layouts, product testing, and project planning.
• Delivers high‑quality engineering work on time and within project deadlines.
• Collaborates with teams involved in developing new products and services.
• Works with outside consultants to solve design and testing challenges.
• Partners with employees across different departments to ensure products are reliable, well‑designed, and meet quality standards.
• Helps ensure products meet safety, wireless, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements by working with internal teams and external testing labs.
• Research technical problems and recommends solutions that meet product performance and quality expectations.
• Participates in all stages of product development, from initial planning and design through testing, launch, and ongoing support.
• Tackles complex problems that require critical thinking, analysis, and sound judgment, even when all the information is not readily available.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in electrical / electronic engineering or related engineering field.
• Relevant experience in electrical engineering and at least 2 years of engineering management experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential.
• Extensive understanding of processes and materials used in the development and manufacturing of devices.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of GxP, ISO and medical device regulations and the development/implementation of new products/processes in a regulated environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experienced in designing and testing electronic systems from start to finish, making sure they meet industry and government safety requirements.
• Strong understanding of digital electronics, including microcontrollers, computer systems, communication technologies (such as Ethernet and serial connections), and how different electronic components work together.
• Knowledge of analog electronics, including signal processing, amplifiers, transistors, and control circuits.
• Skilled in measuring, analyzing, and troubleshooting electronic systems to ensure they perform correctly.
• Proficient with circuit board design software used to create, test, and lay out printed circuit boards (PCBs).
• Familiar with product safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing, ensuring products meet regulatory requirements around the world.
• Knowledge of regulations and standards for medical devices (especially in‑vitro diagnostic devices) is a plus.

Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: https://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 abbott.com, on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AbbottCareers.

The base pay for this position is $113,300.00 – $226,700.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.