Senior Manufacturing Engineer - Injection Molding (Richmond, IN)

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.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Working at Abbott
At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and your 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.
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 a 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 worldwide 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 the best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.
The Opportunity
This position works out of our Richmond, IN location in the Abbott Nutrition division. 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 them get the nutrients they need to live their healthiest lives.
What You'll Work On
Food Packaging & GMP Compliance
Ensure all molding operations, tooling, and material handling meet Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and food‑contact packaging requirements.
Maintain compliance with site hygiene rules, foreign‑material controls, resin traceability, allergen‑free production, and sanitation standards.
Partner with Quality to support audits, corrective actions, and documentation aligned with FDA food‑contact or relevant regulatory standards.
Process Ownership & Improvement
Own and optimize injection molding process windows to meet safety, quality, and OEE targets.
Lead IQ/OQ/PQ validations, capability studies, and golden setup documentation.
Apply SPC, DOE, and scientific molding principles to reduce scrap and drive consistent quality.
Mold Design & Maintenance Programs
Influence mold design with toolmakers (cooling layout, venting, gating, materials, coatings).
Own the preventive and predictive mold maintenance program, including refurbishment standards and tooling lifecycle tracking.
Troubleshoot mold issues (venting, wear, gate erosion, leaks, stack alignment) and coordinate timely repairs.
Project Management & Execution
Lead mold transfers, new tool qualifications, press installations, resin changes, and capacity expansions.
Build and manage project timelines with clear deliverables, risks, and stakeholder communication.
Coordinate vendor activities including FAT/SAT, run-at-rate, and site acceptance criteria.
Shop-Floor Leadership & Development
Provide hands‑on support to technicians and setup personnel on machine setup, process troubleshooting, and standard work.
Deliver training on GMP expectations, scientific molding practices, quality checks, and safety compliance.
Drive floor-level engagement through gemba walks, daily tier meetings, and real-time issue escalation.
Lean Six Sigma & Troubleshooting
Apply DMAIC, A3, SPC, DOE, 5 Why, Fishbone, and SMED to eliminate variation and improve flow.
Lead kaizens to reduce changeovers, improve material handling, and optimize packaging-specific checks.
Standardize best practices and sustain improvements through documentation and visual controls.
Safety, Compliance & Documentation
Ensure compliance with safety rules, LOTO, machine guarding, and resin handling procedures.
Maintain accurate mold history logs, process sheets, control plans, PFMEAs, SOPs, and GMP records.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Plastics Engineering, or related field.
5–7+ years of injection molding experience in high‑volume manufacturing.
Direct experience with mold design fundamentals and mold maintenance programs.
Hands‑on troubleshooting of presses, hot runner systems, auxiliaries, and automation.
Demonstrated project management with on‑time execution of tooling or process changes.
Lean Six Sigma tools (Green Belt preferred).
Working knowledge of GMPs, HACCP principles, and food-packaging manufacturing practices.
Strong ability to coach and teach technicians on processes, safety, and GMP requirements.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with scientific molding.
Familiarity with Moldflow/Sigmasoft and CAD review (SolidWorks).
Experience in regulated environments relevant to food packaging (e.g., FDA 21 CFR for food-contact plastics).
Knowledge of resin families used in food-contact applications.
3D Printing Knowledge
Demonstrated Machining and Fabrication Capabilities
The base pay for this position is
$78,000.00 – $156,000.00
In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.
JOB FAMILY:Engineering
DIVISION:ANSC Nutrition Supply Chain
LOCATION:United States > Richmond : 4200 W. Industries Rd
ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS:
WORK SHIFT:Standard
TRAVEL:No
MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE:No
SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES:Continuous standing for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day), Wear ear plugs, Work in noisy environment
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