Project Engineer, Packaging

AbbVie • North Chicago, IL

1d

About The Position

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas – immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com . Follow @abbvie on X , Facebook , Instagram , YouTube , LinkedIn and Tik Tok . An engineering professional who, working with little or no supervision, applies project management knowledge, engineering knowledge and ingenuity to complete medium size projects from concept thru project closure within or across disciplines. The Engineering professional designs, maintains, and optimizes the specialized equipment such as oral solid dose or capsules bottle filling or blister forming and filing equipment used to manufacture drugs, ensuring efficiency, safety, and strict regulatory compliance (like FDA rules) for equipment used in drug packaging, from oral solid dose tablets/capsules to complex medical devices. They focus on equipment development, qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ), troubleshooting, automation (PLCs, HMI), process improvement, and collaboration across teams for new product integration, vital for scaling up from labs to mass production. The Senior Equipment Engineer will be responsible for the ownership, qualification, process ownership, and continuous improvement of advanced automated manufacturing equipment. This includes systems that integrate robotics, machine vision, servo motion control, pneumatics, and PLC-based automation. The role requires a hands-on engineer with strong technical expertise to ensure high equipment uptime, process stability, and regulatory compliance. Experience with Uhlmann Thermoforming and IBC bottle filling a plus as well as custom medical device sub-assembly and final assembly technology solutions. Responsibilities of this engineering grade level inherently include and expand upon the responsibilities established for lower engineering grade levels. Responsible for compliance with applicable policies and procedures. Ensures quality and effectiveness of key results of major projects within function through sound design, early risk assessments, and implementation of fallback strategies. Has full awareness of the potential consequences (defects and failure modes) of design changes to established processes. Mitigates risk within functions through sound design, early risk assessments and implementation of fallback strategies. Develops, plans, coordinates and directs engineering aspects of projects of major scope and importance. Manages multiple, often concurrent projects and meets expectations. Understands the business needs and has a thorough knowledge of the customer when developing a project scope. Incorporates business foresight of emerging technological trends. Leads development of Project Charter and documents the initial requirements that satisfy the stakeholders needs and expectations. Establishes engineering project objectives and technical criteria for evaluating project results and activities of the project team. Uses established PM tools and techniques (FEP, Cash Flow Projections, Scope / Schedule Control, etc.) to stay within authorized budget limits and achieve the overall project and organizational objectives. Contributes to the development of project management best practices. Directs and manages Project Execution by performing the work defined in the project plan to achieve project objectives. Defines roles and responsibilities. Monitors and controls project work to meet the performance objectives defined in the project plan. Focuses on cost and milestone achievement to optimize resource utilization. Reviews change requests, manages and approves changes to the deliverables, organizational process assets, project documents, and the project plan. Closes the project by finalizing all activities across all the Project Management Process Groups to formally complete the project or phase. Directs others in the execution of: the design of products / processes / equipment / systems / facilities by applying engineering methods, concepts and techniques. Ensures the project design complies with all engineering standards, project objectives and customer needs. Conceptualizes complete solutions. Creates or coordinates the solutions for complex problems; integrates regulatory and operational needs; performs cost / benefit analysis. Explores multiple alternatives. Seeks input from cross functional teams in resolving major project hurdles. Resolves problems and crisis situations requiring fast, astute decisions with rapid implementation by utilizing technical training and /or e experience. Mentors others by sharing knowledge and expertise and providing feedback and guidance. Establishes relationships and good communication channels with customers; documents agreements and commitments. Acts as a trusted advisor. Balances bottom line objectives of a project with the long-term interest of customer.

Requirements

• A Bachelors Degree in Engineering, science, or closely related discipline is desired, or equivalent technical experience plus demonstrated competence, with a desired 8+ years of significant engineering and/or operational experience.
• A post-graduate education / degree is desired, and may contribute towards the desired years of experience.
• Has a career history marked by a consistent series of technical contributions and accomplishments.
• Significant contribution to product or process development or improvement through creative application of technical effort will equally be recognized.
• Possesses a strong technical knowledge and application of concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Works on problems of complex scope where analysis of situations or data involves multiple competing factors.
• Exercises judgment and advises management as to the appropriate actions.
• Interacts well with diverse groups within engineering and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external collaborators.
• Listens to and understands others' points of view and articulates tactfully and respectfully one's own perspective orally, in writing, and in presentations.
• Works well with other engineers in a collaborative, fast-paced goal-driven environment.
• Possesses interpersonal skills to negotiate and reconcile differences.
• Has demonstrated competency with financial systems and in fiscal control.
• Formal Project Management training (preferred)

Nice To Haves

• Has a technical background in health care, medical devices, pharmaceutical, biologics, or similar industries
• Experience with Uhlmann Thermoforming and IBC bottle filling a plus as well as custom medical device sub-assembly and final assembly technology solutions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary owner for automated manufacturing equipment, covering mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and control subsystems.
• Develop and execute equipment qualification protocols (IQ, OQ, PQ) to support regulated manufacturing operations.
• Support new product introductions by adapting equipment tooling, automation sequences, and test protocols.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve throughput, yield, and OEE through equipment enhancements.
• Partner with equipment vendors on upgrades, retrofits, spare parts management, and FAT/SAT processes.
• Provide training and mentorship to technicians and junior engineers on equipment operation and troubleshooting.
• Ensure compliance with EHS standards and lockout/tagout requirements during interventions.

Benefits

• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
• This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level