Senior Principal Packaging Engineer - Columbus, OH

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.  Our nutrition business develops science-based nutrition products for people of all ages, from helping babies and children grow, to keeping adult bodies strong and active. Millions of people around the world count on our leading brands – including Similac®, PediaSure®, Pedialyte®, Ensure®, and Glucerna® – to help get the nutrients they need to live their healthiest life. 

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 stability of a company with a record of strong financial performance and history of being actively involved in local communities 

Position Summary

Abbott Nutrition is seeking a Senior Principal Engineer to serve as the R&D Packaging’s technical authority over the packaging innovation portfolio accountable for what enters the pipeline, what it costs, whether it can be manufactured at scale, and whether it launches on time and in compliance.

This role owns the portfolio besides individual projects. The incumbent manages the Packaging Innovation operating and capital budget, aligns the investment case for concepts advancing into New Product Development, and ensures technical authority at feasibility and launch-readiness gates across pediatric and adult nutrition at Abbott plants and across the third-party manufacturing network.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Portfolio & Investment. Own the Packaging Innovation operating and capital budget end to end, with a monthly R&D Finance review cadence and reporting to leadership.
• Develop and justify the business case for every concept seeking NPD entry, including landed cost, capital and risk mitigation.
• Sequence the multi-year roadmap against pipeline demand, asset capability, and capital availability.

Innovation & Commercialization

• Lead creative concept development for liquid and powder infant and pediatric formula, hydration beverages, and adult nutrition, partnering with Brand Marketing, Operations, Procurement, Design agencies, and suppliers.

External Manufacturing

• Act as senior packaging technical authority for the third-party manufacturing network with documentation, process controls, risk assessment, and verification of compliance with Abbott quality standards through sustained production.
• Evaluate and down-select external technologies and lead global implementation, including international markets.

Technical Capability

• Mentor engineers at all levels, establish technical standards and methodologies.
• Own the function’s business systems (Planview, Ariba, SAP/PLM, supplier agreements).

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE YOU’LL BRING

Required:

• BS in Packaging; MBA preferred. 15+ years progressive packaging experience, including 7+ leading multi-year programs and 5+ in infant and pediatric nutrition.
• Direct ownership of a functional operating and capital budget with a recurring finance review cadence at project-level cost.
• Qualification of rigid systems (extrusion blow molded bottles and tubs, injection molded components, closures) across a large multi-SKU portfolio.
• Technical leadership of external manufacturing partners under regulated quality requirements. Global implementation experience. Documented cost savings at portfolio scale.
• Deep command of rigid and flexible systems, barrier structures, packaging machinery, validation methodology, and food safety and regulatory requirements.
• Travel Requirement: 15% travel as required.

The base pay for this position is

$113,300.00 – $226,700.00

In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.

JOB FAMILY:

Engineering

DIVISION:

ANPD Nutrition Products

LOCATION:

United States > Columbus : 2900 Easton Square Place

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS:

WORK SHIFT:

Standard

TRAVEL:

Yes, 15 % of the Time

MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE:

No

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.pdfEEO is the Law link- Espanol: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_Spanish.pdf