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Abbott · 13 hours ago

Senior Principal Construction Engineer

Illinois, United States

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$127K/yr - $255K/yr

15+ years exp

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. The Senior Principal Construction Engineer will oversee Abbott’s critical construction initiatives for GMP manufacturing facilities, driving innovation and ensuring alignment with global business objectives.

BiotechnologyEmergency MedicineGeneticsHealth CareHealth DiagnosticsManufacturingMedicalMedical DeviceNutritionPharmaceutical

Responsibilities

Provide strategic oversight and leadership for global GMP construction programs

Define and implement construction standards, policies, and governance frameworks

Lead cross-functional teams and influence senior stakeholders across the organization

Drive innovation in construction technologies and methodologies

Represent Abbott in industry forums and regulatory engagements

Develop long-term capital planning strategies and support portfolio management

Ensure alignment with sustainability, safety, and compliance goals

Shape Abbott’s global construction strategy, aligning with enterprise-wide capital investment goals

Lead governance reviews and ensure compliance with internal and external audit requirements

Experience and ability to plan and execute projects over $50MM

Influence capital allocation decisions through scenario planning and risk-based analysis

Serve as a key advisor to executive leadership on construction-related matters

Strong experience and understanding of selecting and managing architectural/engineering firms

Strong experience and understanding of managing and procuring construction and general contractor firms

Strong understanding of the project lifecycle including planning, design execution, commissioning, and turnover

Advocate for Abbott’s interests and oversee Construction Manager (CM) performance

Observe site activities and verify alignment with owner’s goals

Monitor safety compliance and escalate concerns

Independently verify quality and coordinate third-party inspections

Validate schedule progress and flag risks to milestones

Ensure resources are used efficiently and per contract

Review and approve/reject changes based on impact to owner

Validate pay applications and monitor budget and contingency usage

Escalate issues and facilitate resolution between parties

Provide Abbott program updates and translate technical issues

Verify regulatory compliance and support inspections

Coordinate turnover, validate readiness, and ensure documentation

Review Bill of Materials (BOM) for completeness and alignment with owner’s scope

Review bid packages for clarity, risk, and owner alignment

Participate in bid reviews, ensure transparency, and recommend selection

Approve awards based on owner’s criteria and budget

Verify Purchase Order (PO) issuance, delivery timelines, and budget compliance

Qualification

GMP construction experienceConstruction management expertiseStrategic planningConceptual estimatingProject lifecycle understandingStakeholder managementLeadership skillsCommunication skills

Required

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil Engineering, or Construction Management

15+ years of experience in construction engineering, with extensive leadership in GMP environments

Recognized expert in construction management, regulatory compliance, and strategic planning

Conceptual estimating skills for strategic cost planning and portfolio-level budgeting

Field construction experience in leading large-scale execution and resolving complex challenges, with advanced technical knowledge in civil, mechanical, and electrical systems

Willingness to travel 50–75% within the United States

Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills

Preferred

Master's degree

Benefits

Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.

Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.

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.