Senior AutoCAD Designer - Fire Protection & Facilities

Abbott • Chicago, IL

9d • $78,000 - $156,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Abbott is seeking a highly skilled and motivated designer to support fire protection, mechanical, and piping design work within its Global Engineering Services division. The role is based at Abbott Park, Illinois, and supports critical infrastructure across Abbott facilities through technical design expertise, multidisciplinary coordination, and standardized work processes.

The position focuses on fire protection systems, including renovations and upgrades to existing building systems and the design and review of wet, dry, pre-action, and deluge sprinkler systems. It also involves developing and reviewing engineering drawings, specifications, calculations, project estimates, and construction packages; supporting construction and maintenance teams; and helping ensure that designs meet applicable codes and standards.

The successful candidate will coordinate projects with internal teams, contractors, and external consultants; evaluate and troubleshoot existing infrastructure; provide technical guidance during construction, commissioning, and startup; and contribute to engineering standards, documentation, testing, and process improvements. The role calls for strong technical judgment, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Thorough knowledge of NFPA 13 and FM Global Data Sheets for sprinkler systems.
• At least 5 years of experience in fire protection, mechanical, and/or piping system design.
• Strong knowledge of industry standards, including NFPA, ASME, and ANSI.
• Experience with engineering design tools such as AutoCAD or Revit.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering projects.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.
• Extensive experience upgrading and renovating existing building fire protection systems.
• Experience laying out and designing wet, dry, pre-action, and deluge sprinkler systems.
• Ability to review sprinkler system plans, calculations, and material submittals.
• Ability to create sprinkler demolition and construction packages for Authority Having Jurisdiction submittal.

Nice To Haves

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or progress toward licensure.
• NICET Level III Certification for Fire Protection-Water Based Systems Layout, including at least 5 years of design experience.
• Experience in pharmaceutical, healthcare, or regulated manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) requirements.
• Experience developing engineering standards and operational procedures.
• Experience preparing sprinkler system modification cost estimates and drawings for front-end planning of potential office or laboratory renovation projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical design expertise in fire protection systems, mechanical systems, and piping design.
• Prepare and communicate recommendations and corresponding action plans.
• Develop, review, and approve engineering drawings, specifications, and calculations as required.
• Coordinate design and project execution across internal teams, contractors, and external consultants.
• Ensure compliance with applicable NFPA, ASME, OSHA, and local requirements.
• Support system design for new installations, upgrades, and renovations in manufacturing and commercial environments.
• Perform system evaluations, risk assessments, and troubleshooting of existing infrastructure.
• Provide technical guidance during construction, commissioning, and system startup.
• Assist with project planning, scheduling, and resource coordination to support timely delivery.
• Review sprinkler system plans, calculations, and material submittals for alignment with Abbott standards and NFPA 13 and FM Data Sheets minimum requirements.
• Create sprinkler system modification cost estimates and drawings for front-end planning of potential office or laboratory renovations (identified as nice to have in the posting).
• Create sprinkler demolition and construction packages for submission to Authorities Having Jurisdiction.
• Support Construction and Maintenance divisions with questions and drawing requests related to modifications, maintenance, and testing of existing building sprinkler systems.
• Develop cost-effective solutions by analyzing complex issues and integrating technical and financial data to improve designs, processes, and costs.
• Mentor and collaborate with teams and stakeholders to resolve issues and achieve project goals.
• Develop standards, lead testing and validation, manage documentation, resolve issues, and support training and cross-functional initiatives.
• Lead or contribute to the development and continuous improvement of engineering standards, templates, and work processes.

Benefits

• Employees may qualify for free medical coverage in the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
• Retirement savings plan with high employer contribution.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Freedom 2 Save student debt program.
• FreeU education benefit, an affordable and convenient path to a bachelor’s degree.
• Career development opportunities with an international company.

What This Job Offers

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