Staff Engineer, Process Development & Automation

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. Staff Engineer, Process Development & Automation Location: Madison, WI (US) | Employment type: Full-time | Travel: ~10%

Position Overview The Staff Engineer, Process Development & Automation leads, manages, implements, and provides technical engineering support for a variety of process automation hardware, software applications, and laboratory instruments. This position collaborates cross-functionally with internal and external partners to enhance existing workflows and develop new automated workflows in a complex, rapidly evolving clinical laboratory. Responsibilities may include guiding the Lab Service, Process Development & Automation, and Laboratory Operations teams through automation selection, system design, integration, commissioning, and project documentation. The role’s influence extends to technical, quality, and business teams, as well as other engineers within laboratory operations.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Engineering Design

• Apply in-depth knowledge to key technical and testing activities; conceive and direct or conduct experiments and engineering studies that inform significant tactical, strategic, and compliance decisions.
• Develop complex process architectures and functional specifications based on user and workflow requirements.
• Plan and direct or conduct complex engineering design, platform eligibility testing, systems integration, and performance/validation testing.
• Solve unusual or highly technical/scientific problems and provide expert input into technical decisions and recommendations.
• Take scientific bench protocols from the bench to the automation system.
• Develop new products and technologies for emerging and existing markets.
• Contribute constructively to others’ designs through design reviews across multiple platforms, and facilitate reuse by communicating available technologies and opportunities across organizations.

Project & Program Leadership

• Lead major project teams and major cross-organizational programs; lead and coach multiple efforts and teams to deliver work successfully.
• Work with business stakeholders to define strategy and requirements, and to define and execute a collection of projects across the business.
• Work with project managers and cross-functional teams on user requirements, factory acceptance tests, validation planning, site acceptance tests, pre-installation planning, initial installation, setup, maintenance, and improvement for new or upgraded instrumentation and automation systems.
• Collaborate and negotiate deliverables with other functional organizations.
• Work with senior management on product development initiatives, applying company knowledge and industry expertise to help lead them.
• Provide input to senior management for strategic and functional decisions, and help develop decision-making guidelines and problem-solving techniques.

Operations, Troubleshooting & Continuous Improvement

• Drive support and response to complex system problems, counseling internal and external vendors and Laboratory Service Engineers on corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead technical investigation and troubleshooting of laboratory systems.
• Lead recommendations and implementation of changes that ensure ongoing high-quality performance of laboratory equipment.
• Lead continuous improvement projects that drive cost reduction and lab efficiency.
• Independently address routine issues using documented procedures and historical case research.
• Adhere to the maintenance schedule.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure new and existing instrumentation (automation and non-automation) meets safety requirements and compliance standards.
• Maintain records and follow laboratory procedures to meet regulatory requirements such as FDA, CLIA, and/or CAP.
• Support and comply with the company’s Quality Management System policies and procedures.

Influence, Mentorship & Communication

• Communicate and influence decisions across multiple functional areas and platforms; evaluate and “sell” alternative solutions, effectively influencing outcomes.
• Serve as a recognized expert resource on issues across projects and product lines, and as a role model for project management, communication, and cross-group influence.
• Teach and mentor others on technical and development issues, including other process and development engineers, the service engineering team, and laboratory technicians.
• Regularly demonstrate leadership behaviors: Pioneering, achieving, caring, and enduring.
• Communicate issues, problems, and results that affect timelines, accuracy, and reliability of data.
• Maintain and continuously develop personal knowledge and expertise related to the service of complex clinical laboratory equipment.
• Uphold the company mission and values through pioneering, achieving, caring, and enduring.

Skills & Competencies

• Advanced knowledge of engineering theories, practices, and procedures, applied to complete assignments.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to follow procedures, maintain detailed records, and manage time effectively across competing priorities.
• Highly motivated, able to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Adaptable and open to change; able to work in ambiguous situations and respond to new information and unexpected circumstances.
• Creativity and latitude, including the ability to multi-task and work productively in a demanding environment with changing priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field; or an Associate’s degree in Engineering, Technology, Electronics, or a similar field plus 2+ years of relevant industry experience.
• 8+ years of experience in engineering or a relevant industry.
• 2+ years of experience leading and developing projects or colleagues.
• Extensive experience in process optimization involving complex workflows with both system equipment and software components, ensuring user and business requirements are met.
• Successful track record of leading projects from inception to implementation with cross-functional participation.
• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Demonstrated ability to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with NGS sequencing automation and process scaling.
• Significant experience scripting liquid handling instruments (Hamilton, Tecan, etc.).
• Prior experience with work cell design and optimization of NGS laboratory library creation.
• Experience working in a CAP/CLIA and/or other regulated production environment.
• Working knowledge of databases, laboratory information management systems, and other file management applications.

Physical Requirements & Work Conditions

• Work seated and in front of a computer screen and/or typing approximately 80% of a typical working day.
• Work standing approximately 20% of a typical working day.
• Lift up to 50 pounds for less than 5% of a typical working day.
• Comply with all applicable personal protective equipment requirements.
• Travel approximately 10% of working time for occasional training, out-of-state vendor site visits, and travel between Abbott Cancer Diagnostic sites.
• Regular and reliable attendance; occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

Equal Opportunity Statement Our success relies on the experiences and perspectives of a diverse team. We foster a culture where all employees can develop personally and professionally with a sense of respect and belonging. If you require an accommodation, please contact us. We are an equal 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, or any other status protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.

The base pay for this position is $99,300.00 – $198,700.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.