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Instrumentation/Automation Service Engineer I

Abbott · WI · $22.45–$44.85 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 16, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a piece of equipment you helped bring into production. What did you have to get right?

What they are checking: Whether they understand installation, qualification and handoff when launching new equipment.

Tell me about a time you worked with production staff who were frustrated by a machine you supported.

What they are checking: Whether they can give technical guidance with patience and earn the trust of operators.

Tell me about a design function or improvement project you contributed to.

What they are checking: Whether they can participate in engineering design, which the posting lists alongside support work.

What is something you taught yourself about a machine that was not in the manual?

What they are checking: Their curiosity and depth, which predicts how well an early-career engineer grows into the role.

What would you do

How do you decide between a quick fix that gets a machine running and a deeper fix that takes longer?

What they are checking: Their judgment balancing uptime against the risk of a repeat failure.

Engineering wants to try an improvement but production says they cannot afford downtime. How would you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can work cross functionally to find a plan both sides accept.

About the work

A production machine goes down and the line is waiting. Walk me through how you triage the failure.

What they are checking: Whether they troubleshoot in a structured way that restores production quickly without masking the root cause.

What experience do you have with PLCs, sensors, motion control or robotics?

What they are checking: Whether they have the hands-on automation skills to support complex production equipment.

How does working in a regulated medical diagnostics manufacturing setting change how you make changes to equipment?

What they are checking: Whether they understand change control and documentation, since an undocumented change can invalidate a process.

How do you track recurring failures so you can find patterns?

What they are checking: Whether they use data to manage improvements across a machine's life instead of fixing the same thing repeatedly.

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The full job description

As published by Abbott.

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: This role is responsible for diagnosing and resolving failures in enterprise laboratory instruments and automation systems, conducting root cause investigations, and escalating service issues to minimize downtime. It includes performing routine preventive maintenance and calibrations to ensure equipment reliability and compliance with service standards. The position requires accurate documentation aligned with Good Documentation Practices (GDP) and regulatory requirements such as OSHA, FDA, ISO, and CLIA. Success in this role involves developing technical expertise, training others, and collaborating across teams and vendors to support troubleshooting and project execution. Flexibility, commitment to quality, and a focus on process improvement— including SOP development and workflow optimization—are essential. Shift: 1st, 8am -4:30pm Monday-Friday This position is onsite based in Madison, WI (No relocation offered) Key Accountabilities: Include, but are not limited to, the following: • Troubleshooting & Repair: Under general supervision, diagnose, repair, and resolve failures following established procedures on instrumentation and automation systems within the laboratory by applying technical expertise to restore functionality. Escalate unresolved or complex issues to senior staff. • Contribute to root cause investigations, assist with implementing corrective actions, and escalating unresolved issues as necessary to minimize operational downtime. • Preventative Maintenance & Calibration: Conduct regular preventative maintenance and calibration events of laboratory instrumentation and automation systems to ensure consistent performance, reliability, and adherence to established service procedures. • Documentation & Regulatory Compliance: Accurately document service activities in accordance with GDP, ensuring compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory frameworks such as OSHA, FDA, ISO, and CLIA. • Technical Expertise & Training: Proactively advance technical expertise/proficiency in servicing laboratory instrumentation and automated systems through continuous learning, hands-on experience, and engagement with more advanced failures/complex repairs. • Teamwork & Communication: Demonstrate consistently clear written and verbal communication in all interactions with internal and external departments • Flexibility, Quality & Process Improvement: Demonstrate adaptability in response to shifting priorities and unforeseen challenges, consistently uphold high quality standards in a fast-paced environment, and actively support process enhancements by drafting/revising procedures and identifying opportunities to optimize workflows. Physical Requirements • Ability to work on a mobile device, tablet, or in front of a computer screen and/or perform keyboarding/mousing for approximately 80% of a typical working day. • Ability to work standing for approximately 60% of a typical working day. • Ability to lift, carry, push or pull up to 4 0 pounds within the typical working day. • Ability to comply with any applicable personal protective equipment requirements. • May be exposed to hazardous materials, tissue specimens, and instruments with moving parts, lasers, heating and freezing elements, and high-speed centrifugation. • Ability to work weekdays • Ability to work nights , weekends, and/or Holidays. • Ability to be on call for nights , weekends, and/or Holidays. • Ability to work overtime, as needed Minimum Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering , Technology, Electronics or other degree relevant to essential duties; or Associate degree in Engineering, Technology, Electronics and 2 years of relevant experience OR high school diploma/GED and 4 years of relevant experience • Experience interpreting mechanical parts and assembly drawings. • Experience with electrical circuits and diagrams, including the use of electrical measurement tools such as multi-meters and analyzers. • Demonstrated ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodation. The base pay for this position is $22.45 – $44.85/hour In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted. JOB FAMILY: Engineering DIVISION: ONCO Cancer Diagnostics LOCATION: United States > Madison : 1 Exact Lane ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS: WORK SHIFT: Standard TRAVEL: Yes, 20 % of the Time MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE: No SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES: Awkward/forceful/repetitive (arms above shoulder, bent wrists), Continuous standing for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day) 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

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