Engineering Director Visa Sponsorship Jobs in North Carolina
North Carolina's engineering director roles are concentrated in the Research Triangle, where companies like Lenovo, Cisco, and Red Hat, along with major pharmaceutical and biotech firms, regularly hire senior engineering leaders. Charlotte's financial technology sector and the state's deep university pipeline from NC State and Duke add further opportunity for internationally qualified candidates seeking visa sponsorship.
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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
Position Summary:
The Director of Commissioning and Start-Up Engineering is a senior leadership role responsible for establishing and executing commissioning, qualification, and start-up strategies for major capital projects, facility expansions, and new manufacturing operations. This role provides enterprise-level leadership to ensure assets are delivered safely, compliantly, and on schedule while meeting AbbVie quality, operational, and business objectives. The Director leads cross-functional teams and external partners through turnover, readiness, and operational handoff in highly regulated manufacturing environments.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the development and execution of comprehensive commissioning and start-up strategies for major capital projects and manufacturing expansions.
- Develop program strategy and lead detailed execution of Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) Studies for all capital programs.
- Leads site walkdown processes against as built Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams along with Equipment installations to ensure accuracy and operational readiness.
- Provide strategic direction for CQV readiness, turnover governance, and transition-to-operations planning.
- Ensure commissioning and start-up activities align with AbbVie’s safety, quality, cost, and schedule expectations.
- Direct cross-functional teams across Engineering, Validation, Quality, Operations, Automation, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and EHS.
- Oversee readiness for utilities, process systems, cleanrooms, automation platforms, and supporting infrastructure.
- Establish and maintain project governance, milestone tracking, risk management, and escalation pathways.
- Drive operational readiness activities including SOP development, training, staffing readiness, maintenance planning, spare parts strategy, and documentation completion.
- Manage third-party contractors, consultants, and integration partners to ensure execution quality and accountability.
- Partner with site leadership and functional leaders to ensure successful transition from project delivery to stable operations.
- Ensure all turnover, commissioning, and start-up activities comply with cGMP, regulatory, and EHS requirements.
- Champion standardization, continuous improvement, and lessons learned across projects and sites.
- Influence budget, resource planning, and strategic prioritization for commissioning and start-up efforts.
- Serve as a senior escalation point for execution risks, startup issues, and readiness gaps.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related technical discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
- Typically 20+ years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing and engineering or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
- Extensive leadership experience in commissioning, qualification, validation, and plant start-up for complex facilities or capital projects.
- Demonstrated success leading large, cross-functional teams and managing multiple stakeholders in a matrixed organization.
- Strong knowledge of cGMP, regulatory expectations, EHS standards, and manufacturing quality systems.
- Proven ability to lead major facility or process start-up efforts from design transfer through operational readiness.
- Strong project leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
- Ability to influence senior leaders and drive alignment across functions and business units.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in sterile injectables, biologics, API, or oral solid dose manufacturing.
- Experience with risk-based CQV methodology and digital turnover systems.
- Experience supporting global or multi-site capital project portfolios.
- PMP, Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent leadership certification preferred.
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 a Director of Commissioning and Plant Start-Up typically include:
- Site Leadership and Site Director – overall site strategy, priorities, and operational readiness
- Engineering Leadership thru VP Level– design execution, utilities, facilities, and project delivery
- Validation / CQV Team – commissioning, qualification, and validation strategy and execution
- Quality Assurance leadership thru VP Level – cGMP compliance, documentation, and release readiness
- EHS (Environmental, Health & Safety) thru 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 VP 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
Position Summary:
The Director of Commissioning and Start-Up Engineering is a senior leadership role responsible for establishing and executing commissioning, qualification, and start-up strategies for major capital projects, facility expansions, and new manufacturing operations. This role provides enterprise-level leadership to ensure assets are delivered safely, compliantly, and on schedule while meeting AbbVie quality, operational, and business objectives. The Director leads cross-functional teams and external partners through turnover, readiness, and operational handoff in highly regulated manufacturing environments.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the development and execution of comprehensive commissioning and start-up strategies for major capital projects and manufacturing expansions.
- Develop program strategy and lead detailed execution of Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) Studies for all capital programs.
- Leads site walkdown processes against as built Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams along with Equipment installations to ensure accuracy and operational readiness.
- Provide strategic direction for CQV readiness, turnover governance, and transition-to-operations planning.
- Ensure commissioning and start-up activities align with AbbVie’s safety, quality, cost, and schedule expectations.
- Direct cross-functional teams across Engineering, Validation, Quality, Operations, Automation, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and EHS.
- Oversee readiness for utilities, process systems, cleanrooms, automation platforms, and supporting infrastructure.
- Establish and maintain project governance, milestone tracking, risk management, and escalation pathways.
- Drive operational readiness activities including SOP development, training, staffing readiness, maintenance planning, spare parts strategy, and documentation completion.
- Manage third-party contractors, consultants, and integration partners to ensure execution quality and accountability.
- Partner with site leadership and functional leaders to ensure successful transition from project delivery to stable operations.
- Ensure all turnover, commissioning, and start-up activities comply with cGMP, regulatory, and EHS requirements.
- Champion standardization, continuous improvement, and lessons learned across projects and sites.
- Influence budget, resource planning, and strategic prioritization for commissioning and start-up efforts.
- Serve as a senior escalation point for execution risks, startup issues, and readiness gaps.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related technical discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
- Typically 20+ years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing and engineering or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
- Extensive leadership experience in commissioning, qualification, validation, and plant start-up for complex facilities or capital projects.
- Demonstrated success leading large, cross-functional teams and managing multiple stakeholders in a matrixed organization.
- Strong knowledge of cGMP, regulatory expectations, EHS standards, and manufacturing quality systems.
- Proven ability to lead major facility or process start-up efforts from design transfer through operational readiness.
- Strong project leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
- Ability to influence senior leaders and drive alignment across functions and business units.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in sterile injectables, biologics, API, or oral solid dose manufacturing.
- Experience with risk-based CQV methodology and digital turnover systems.
- Experience supporting global or multi-site capital project portfolios.
- PMP, Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent leadership certification preferred.
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 a Director of Commissioning and Plant Start-Up typically include:
- Site Leadership and Site Director – overall site strategy, priorities, and operational readiness
- Engineering Leadership thru VP Level– design execution, utilities, facilities, and project delivery
- Validation / CQV Team – commissioning, qualification, and validation strategy and execution
- Quality Assurance leadership thru VP Level – cGMP compliance, documentation, and release readiness
- EHS (Environmental, Health & Safety) thru 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 VP 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
Engineering Director Job Roles in North Carolina
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Search Engineering Director Jobs in North CarolinaEngineering Director Jobs in North Carolina: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for engineering directors in North Carolina?
North Carolina's largest visa sponsors for senior engineering roles include Lenovo (its North American headquarters is in Morrisville), Cisco, Red Hat, and Fidelity Investments in the Research Triangle, along with pharmaceutical and biotech employers such as Pfizer, Merck, and Biogen. Charlotte-based fintech and banking firms including Bank of America and LendingTree have also filed H-1B visa petitions for engineering leadership positions.
Which visa types are most common for engineering director roles in North Carolina?
The H-1B is the most frequently used visa for engineering directors in North Carolina, as the role qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a related bachelor's degree or higher. Senior candidates with multinational employer history may qualify for the L-1A intracompany transferee visa. Individuals with exceptional recognition in their field sometimes pursue the O-1A, while Australian citizens have access to the E-3 visa as an H-1B alternative.
Which cities in North Carolina have the most engineering director sponsorship jobs?
The Research Triangle region, covering Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, accounts for the largest share of engineering director sponsorship activity in North Carolina, driven by its concentration of technology, software, and life sciences employers. Charlotte is the second-largest hub, particularly in fintech and enterprise software. Smaller but growing clusters exist in Cary and Morrisville, where Lenovo and several SaaS companies are headquartered.
How to find engineering director visa sponsorship jobs in North Carolina?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship availability, making it straightforward to search for engineering director roles in North Carolina without having to manually screen each posting. You can filter by location and seniority level to surface companies actively willing to sponsor. Given that engineering director positions involve significant employer investment, browsing Migrate Mate's board helps identify organizations with an established sponsorship track record in this state.
Are there any state-specific considerations for engineering directors seeking visa sponsorship in North Carolina?
North Carolina's Research Triangle benefits from strong university pipelines through NC State, Duke, and UNC Chapel Hill, which means employers in the region are generally experienced with international hiring and the H-1B process. The state's life sciences sector, one of the largest in the U.S., adds sponsoring capacity beyond pure technology firms. Engineering director roles are senior enough that employers typically engage experienced immigration counsel, which tends to produce more structured and well-supported sponsorship processes.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored engineering director jobs in North Carolina?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.