Senior Principal Engineer, Pharma Process Excellence

AbbVie; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical/dental/vision insurance

401(k)

Long-term incentive programs

Job summary

AbbVie is seeking an experienced professional to design and optimize site-level manufacturing processes in Durham, NC. The role focuses on defining operating ranges, critical parameters, and acceptance criteria to ensure efficient, high-quality production.

You will lead cross-functional workstreams, validate processes, and document results for review and approval. We expect 8+ years in pharma, a Bachelor’s in engineering, and strong problem-solving, communication, and leadership abilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering discipline is required.
• 8+ years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Knowledge of Engineering standards.
• Demonstrated leadership and team building skills.
• Strong problem-solving abilities.
• Proven track record of managing projects through to completion.
• Excellent communication skills with layers of management.

Responsibilities

• Designs site-level processes and improvements by defining operating ranges, critical parameters, and acceptance criteria that support efficient, high-quality production.
• Leads process improvement and optimization workstreams, defining the technical approach, coordinating trial execution with production, and documenting results.
• Conducts process validation and troubleshooting for manufacturing processes by analyzing performance data, investigating deviations, and drafting corrective actions and supporting documentation for review and approval.
• Establishes technical standards for process documentation and change execution, ensuring methods, assumptions, and evidence are complete.
• Guides engineers through technical decisions by running working sessions, documenting decision logic, and tracking actions to closure.
• Delivers high‑quality technical outputs for complex projects and programs; defines and validates methods, documents results and key assumptions, ensures adherence to applicable standards and controls, and communicates technical progress, impacts and recommended mitigations to project leads and stakeholders.

Skills

Technical leadership

Problem solving

Communication skills

Engineering standards

Project management

Team building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical)

Job description

AbbVie is seeking an experienced professional to design and optimize site-level manufacturing processes in Durham, NC. The role focuses on defining operating ranges, critical parameters, and acceptance criteria to ensure efficient, high-quality production.

You will lead cross-functional workstreams, validate processes, and document results for review and approval. We expect 8+ years in pharma, a Bachelor’s in engineering, and strong problem-solving, communication, and leadership abilities.