Materials Engineer

About Abbott

Abbott is a global leader in healthcare dedicated to enhancing lives across all life stages. Our extensive portfolio includes innovative technologies in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals, and branded generic medicines, with over 114,000 employees serving in more than 160 countries worldwide.

Operating in Ireland since 1946, Abbott supports the Irish market with a broad selection of healthcare products including diagnostics, diabetes care, medical devices, and nutritional products. The company employs around 6,000 staff across ten sites including Kilkenny.

The Abbott Diabetes Care facility in Kilkenny is a cutting-edge site manufacturing FreeStyle blood glucose test strips and FreeStyle Sensors, which are key products for diabetes management.

Main Purpose of the Role

• Collaborate with the Materials Engineering Manager and Technical Services team to introduce new or modified materials/components.
• Troubleshoot material-related issues by conducting investigations, identifying root causes, reporting results, and recommending solutions.
• Identify opportunities to improve yield and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) for daily operations and assist in sustaining material and component quality on site.
• Work closely with diverse departments including Validation, PMO, Operations, Global Engineering, and Quality.

Main Responsibilities

• Use structured problem-solving methods to determine root causes of component-related manufacturing problems.
• Design and execute experiments (DOEs), analyze test data to support continuous improvement, and communicate findings.
• Perform empirical and experimental data analyses to inform decisions.
• Assist operations teams in resolving material issues to meet site objectives.
• Support validation efforts related to material changes and provide feedback on R&D material trials.
• Monitor component performance and initiate necessary actions.
• Evaluate proposed material or component design changes.
• Help resolve Quality Incidents and Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA).
• Apply insights from Line 1 to future production lines.
• Implement LEAN methodologies to advance operational excellence.
• Contribute to meeting site KPIs and maintain visual management dashboards.
• Engage in cross-functional teams to foster continuous improvement, safety, and compliance.
• Analyze complex processes to identify improvement areas and risks.
• Review data trends for potential enhancements while ensuring adherence to industry norms and global regulations.
• Advocate for new materials or methods to enhance quality and efficiency.
• Offer technical assistance to engineering colleagues and mentor junior staff.
• Provide support for Bill of Materials (BOM) and Agile activities at the site.
• Maintain thorough understanding of Abbott's Quality Policies and Procedures.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree or equivalent (NFQ Level 8) in Science, Engineering, or related field.
• At least 5 years experience working in manufacturing, preferably with GxP regulated environments.
• Hands-on experience handling materials/components including electrical, molded, or mechanical parts.
• Proven ability to resolve technical issues on high-volume automated production lines.
• Proficiency with root cause analysis tools such as 6M, Ishikawa diagrams, and DMAIC methodology.
• Knowledge of Six Sigma principles.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary package.
• Family health insurance coverage.
• Robust pension scheme.
• Life assurance benefits.
• Opportunities for career advancement.
• Work in a state-of-the-art facility.
• Experience being part of a growing business with extensive employee benefits.

Additional Information

Please note that employment offers are contingent on the successful completion of a pre-employment medical examination, which includes drug and alcohol screening conducted by a designated medical practitioner.

Abbott is committed to equal opportunity employment and fostering diversity across its workforce.