Principal Molding Engineer

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 DESCRIPTION:

About Abbott

Abbott is a global healthcare leader, creating breakthrough science to improve people’s health. We’re always looking towards the future, anticipating changes in medical science and technology.

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and 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.
• Free medical coverage for employees via the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO
• An excellent retirement savings plan with 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 around the world 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 a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

This position is based in Lake Forest, IL within the Core Diagnostics Division, focused on enabling smarter medical and economic decision-making across all stages of health. As a Principal Molding Engineer, you will lead molding activities to achieve strategic engineering goals while ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards. You will apply engineering expertise to support molded consumables, manage multiple projects, and serve as a subject matter expert in mold design and processing. The role includes driving product, process, quality, and cost improvements, supporting supplier and material changes, troubleshooting molding issues, and ensuring reliable component supply. You will also perform capacity analysis across molds, presses, and automation, providing recommendations to support future business needs.

What You’ll Work On

• Manage multiple molding and manufacturing projects, including schedules, budgets, and deliverables
• Develop cost estimates for capital equipment and project expenses
• Collaborate with suppliers to meet quality, cost, and performance objectives
• Lead mold design, equipment selection, and full validation of molding systems, including FAT
• Drive Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) to improve efficiency and product quality
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to resolve technical issues and support supplier transitions
• Oversee process development, validation activities, FMEA, and Design of Experiments (DOE)
• Monitor project performance and implement corrective actions for delays or cost overruns
• Support capacity planning and analyze manufacturing needs for future investment decisions
• Mentor team members and ensure compliance with quality systems, procedures, and standards

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Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or technical disciplining desired, or equivalent experience plus demonstrated competence.
• 5+ years technical work experience with 3+ years of plastic injection and/or blow molding design and process support experience, preferably in the medical device industry.
• Knowledge of plastics processes, resins, tooling required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering in a technical discipline such as Plastics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, etc.

• Knowledge of mold making and design fundamentals, molding process development, plastic resin behavior and required tooling/equipment.

• 5+ years technical work experience with 3+ years of plastic injection and/or blow molding design and process support experience

• Knowledge of plastics processes, resins, tooling required.

• 8+ years of experience in a molding engineering position preferably in the diagnostics or medical device industry.

• Knowledge of FDA QSR's and ISO requirements preferred.

• Knowledge of PFMEA and DFMEA.

• Knowledge of Abbott’s internal Design Plan process.

• Working knowledge of MS Office products including MS Word and advanced MS Excel and PowerPoint capability.

• Must have proven ability to participate in team atmosphere, exhibit and create a sense of urgency and maintain effective working relationships with peers, customers, and vendors.

• Participants who complete a short wellness assessment qualify for FREE coverage in our HIP PPO medical plan. Free coverage applies in the next calendar year.

Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: www.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 www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal.

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.

JOB FAMILY:

Product Development

DIVISION:

CRLB Core Lab:

LOCATION:

United States > Lake Forest : CP01

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS:

WORK SHIFT:

Standard

TRAVEL:

Yes, 5 % of the Time

MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE:

Not Applicable

SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES:

Continuous sitting for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day), Keyboard use (greater or equal to 50% of the workday)

Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities/Women/Individuals with Disabilities/Protected Veterans.

• EEO is the Law link

• English: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_English.pdf

• EEO is the Law link

• Espanol: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_Spanish.pdf