Engineering Director Jobs at AbbVie with Visa Sponsorship
Engineering Director jobs at AbbVie lead complex, cross-functional teams across drug development, manufacturing, and technology infrastructure. The company has an established track record of sponsoring work visas for senior engineering talent, making it a realistic target for international candidates pursuing long-term careers in the pharmaceutical and biotech space.
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About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
The Associate Director, Commissioning and Start-Up is responsible for providing operational leadership for commissioning, qualification, and start-up activities supporting new manufacturing sites, facilities expansion, utilities, equipment, and related systems. This role ensures assets are delivered safely, compliantly, and on schedule in a state of readiness for GMP operations, while meeting AbbVie quality, operational, and business objectives. The Associate Director leads cross-functional teams and external partners while enabling a smooth transition from project execution to sustained operational performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide leadership for commissioning, qualification, and start-up activities across facilities, utilities, equipment, and supporting systems.
- Develop program strategy and lead detailed execution of Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) Studies for all capital programs.
- Develop, align, and execute commissioning and start-up strategies, plans, schedules, protocols, and turnover packages.
- Ensure readiness of systems for GMP operations in compliance with applicable regulatory, quality, safety, and company standards.
- Partner cross-functionally with engineering, validation, manufacturing, quality, EHS, automation, project management, and third-party contractors to deliver integrated startup execution.
- Manage risks, dependencies, timelines, budgets, and issue resolution throughout the project lifecycle.
- Support and oversee site walkdown processes against as built Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams along with Equipment installations to ensure accuracy and operational readiness.
- Lead troubleshooting and corrective action efforts during startup to support successful implementation and stable operations.
- Lead operational readiness and the successful integration of new assets into routine site operations.
- Support budgeting, resource planning, for commissioning and start-up efforts.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Life Sciences, or a related technical discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
- Typically, 10-12 years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing and engineering or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
- Broad experience in commissioning, qualification, start-up, validation, or operational readiness.
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams. Ability to manage multiple priorities, work through ambiguity, and drive execution in a matrixed organization.
- Strong track record of delivering results in a GMP-regulated environment.
- Strong project leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
- Ability to influence and drive alignment across functions and business units.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting facility expansions, new product introductions, or major capital projects.
- Experience in sterile injectables, biologics, API, or oral solid dose manufacturing.
- Experience with risk-based CQV methodology and digital turnover systems.
- Prior people leadership experience in a matrixed, global, or highly collaborative environment.
Leadership Competencies
- Strategic leadership
- Enterprise Mindset
- Cross-functional influence
- Accountability and decision-making
- Change leadership
- Operational excellence
- Compliance and quality focus
Work Environment:
This role may require travel to project and manufacturing sites and extended hours during critical commissioning and start-up phases.
Key internal stakeholders for an Associate Director of Commissioning and Plant Start-Up typically include:
- Site Leadership and Site Director – overall site strategy, priorities, and operational readiness
- Engineering Leadership through Director and VP – design execution, utilities, facilities, and project delivery
- Validation / CQV Team – commissioning, qualification, and validation strategy and execution
- Quality Assurance leadership thru Director Level – cGMP compliance, documentation, and release readiness
- EHS (Environmental, Health & Safety) thru Director and VP Level – safe startup, risk controls, and compliance
- Automation / IT / Digital Systems – control systems, data integrity, MES, and infrastructure readiness
- Maintenance / Reliability (MEP) Team – asset readiness, PM strategy, spares, and maintainability
- Project Management / PMO Organization – schedule, scope, budget, and governance
- Procurement / Strategic Sourcing thru Director Level – contractor and vendor management
- HR / Talent / Learning – staffing, training, and organizational readiness
- Finance – budget tracking and capital spend governance
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
Company Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
The Associate Director, Commissioning and Start-Up is responsible for providing operational leadership for commissioning, qualification, and start-up activities supporting new manufacturing sites, facilities expansion, utilities, equipment, and related systems. This role ensures assets are delivered safely, compliantly, and on schedule in a state of readiness for GMP operations, while meeting AbbVie quality, operational, and business objectives. The Associate Director leads cross-functional teams and external partners while enabling a smooth transition from project execution to sustained operational performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide leadership for commissioning, qualification, and start-up activities across facilities, utilities, equipment, and supporting systems.
- Develop program strategy and lead detailed execution of Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) Studies for all capital programs.
- Develop, align, and execute commissioning and start-up strategies, plans, schedules, protocols, and turnover packages.
- Ensure readiness of systems for GMP operations in compliance with applicable regulatory, quality, safety, and company standards.
- Partner cross-functionally with engineering, validation, manufacturing, quality, EHS, automation, project management, and third-party contractors to deliver integrated startup execution.
- Manage risks, dependencies, timelines, budgets, and issue resolution throughout the project lifecycle.
- Support and oversee site walkdown processes against as built Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams along with Equipment installations to ensure accuracy and operational readiness.
- Lead troubleshooting and corrective action efforts during startup to support successful implementation and stable operations.
- Lead operational readiness and the successful integration of new assets into routine site operations.
- Support budgeting, resource planning, for commissioning and start-up efforts.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Life Sciences, or a related technical discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
- Typically, 10-12 years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing and engineering or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
- Broad experience in commissioning, qualification, start-up, validation, or operational readiness.
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams. Ability to manage multiple priorities, work through ambiguity, and drive execution in a matrixed organization.
- Strong track record of delivering results in a GMP-regulated environment.
- Strong project leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
- Ability to influence and drive alignment across functions and business units.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting facility expansions, new product introductions, or major capital projects.
- Experience in sterile injectables, biologics, API, or oral solid dose manufacturing.
- Experience with risk-based CQV methodology and digital turnover systems.
- Prior people leadership experience in a matrixed, global, or highly collaborative environment.
Leadership Competencies
- Strategic leadership
- Enterprise Mindset
- Cross-functional influence
- Accountability and decision-making
- Change leadership
- Operational excellence
- Compliance and quality focus
Work Environment:
This role may require travel to project and manufacturing sites and extended hours during critical commissioning and start-up phases.
Key internal stakeholders for an Associate Director of Commissioning and Plant Start-Up typically include:
- Site Leadership and Site Director – overall site strategy, priorities, and operational readiness
- Engineering Leadership through Director and VP – design execution, utilities, facilities, and project delivery
- Validation / CQV Team – commissioning, qualification, and validation strategy and execution
- Quality Assurance leadership thru Director Level – cGMP compliance, documentation, and release readiness
- EHS (Environmental, Health & Safety) thru Director and VP Level – safe startup, risk controls, and compliance
- Automation / IT / Digital Systems – control systems, data integrity, MES, and infrastructure readiness
- Maintenance / Reliability (MEP) Team – asset readiness, PM strategy, spares, and maintainability
- Project Management / PMO Organization – schedule, scope, budget, and governance
- Procurement / Strategic Sourcing thru Director Level – contractor and vendor management
- HR / Talent / Learning – staffing, training, and organizational readiness
- Finance – budget tracking and capital spend governance
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
See all Engineering Director Jobs at AbbVie
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Engineering Director Jobs at AbbVie.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Engineering Director Jobs at AbbVie
Frame your credentials around regulated engineering environments
AbbVie operates under FDA manufacturing standards and GxP compliance requirements. Before applying, make sure your resume explicitly reflects experience in validated systems, regulated production environments, or pharmaceutical-adjacent engineering so your background maps directly to their technical leadership needs.
Target roles aligned with AbbVie's therapeutic pipeline priorities
AbbVie's Engineering Director openings cluster around immunology, oncology, and neuroscience manufacturing platforms. Search for roles tied to these therapeutic areas or their biologics facilities, where engineering leadership demand tends to be most active and sponsorship for senior hires is well established.
Clarify E-3 eligibility before your final interview round
If you're an Australian citizen, the E-3 visa is significantly faster to process than the H-1B and has no lottery. Raise your eligibility early with the recruiting team so AbbVie's immigration counsel can prepare the Labor Condition Application with DOL before an offer is extended.
Understand how PERM affects senior engineering timelines
For EB-2 or EB-3 Green Card pathways, AbbVie must run a PERM labor market test through DOL before filing your immigrant petition. At the Engineering Director level, this process typically takes six to twelve months before USCIS even receives your I-140, so factor that into your long-term planning.
Use Migrate Mate to identify active Engineering Director openings at AbbVie
Filter by role title and visa type on Migrate Mate to surface current Engineering Director positions at AbbVie that explicitly support sponsorship. Applying to verified roles saves time and gives you a clearer picture of which business units are actively hiring sponsored candidates.
Confirm cap-exempt status does not apply to your situation
AbbVie is a for-profit employer, so H-1B filings go through the annual lottery unless you're transferring from a cap-exempt institution. If you're currently on OPT or between roles, confirm your timeline with USCIS processing windows so your work authorization stays continuous through any transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AbbVie sponsor H-1B visas for Engineering Directors?
Yes, AbbVie sponsors H-1B visas for Engineering Directors. As a large pharmaceutical employer, AbbVie has a well-established immigration program that handles H-1B petitions through USCIS, including premium processing when timelines require it. Senior engineering roles typically involve complex sponsorship coordination, so their in-house legal team or outside counsel manages the process from Labor Condition Application filing through petition approval.
Which visa types does AbbVie commonly use for Engineering Director roles?
AbbVie sponsors several visa categories for senior engineering talent, including H-1B, E-3 visa for Australian citizens, TN visa for Canadian and Mexican nationals, and H-1B1 visa for Chilean and Singaporean citizens. For candidates seeking permanent residence, AbbVie supports EB-2 and EB-3 Green Card pathways through the PERM labor certification process with DOL, followed by an I-140 immigrant petition filed with USCIS.
What qualifications does AbbVie expect for a sponsored Engineering Director role?
AbbVie typically requires a bachelor's degree or higher in engineering, chemical engineering, or a closely related field, combined with substantial leadership experience in a regulated manufacturing or pharmaceutical environment. Engineering Directors are expected to manage cross-functional teams, oversee capital projects, and maintain compliance with GxP or FDA standards. Advanced degrees and experience with biologics or sterile manufacturing processes strengthen your candidacy significantly.
How do I apply for Engineering Director jobs at AbbVie?
You can search and apply for Engineering Director positions directly through AbbVie's careers portal, or use Migrate Mate to filter specifically for AbbVie roles that offer visa sponsorship. Applying through a platform that surfaces sponsorship-verified roles saves time, especially if you're targeting roles that match your specific visa type. Tailor your application to highlight regulated engineering leadership and any pharmaceutical or biotech-specific experience.
How do I plan my timeline if I need visa sponsorship for an AbbVie Engineering Director role?
If you're targeting an H-1B, the annual lottery cap-subject registration window opens in March, with employment typically starting October 1. If you're on F-1 OPT, confirm your remaining authorization period allows enough runway for the petition cycle. E-3 and TN visas move faster since they bypass the lottery entirely. For Green Card sponsorship, PERM labor certification and subsequent USCIS filings can extend the overall timeline to two years or more depending on your priority date.