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Principal Engineer

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Engineering

Posted Sep 19, 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

How do you mentor an engineer without taking the problem away from them?

What they are checking: The posting names mentoring others by sharing expertise and providing feedback.

Tell me about being the technical voice in a room of senior leaders who wanted a different answer.

What they are checking: The posting names interacting with senior management on significant technical matters as a trusted advisor.

This is at North Chicago. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: Honest fit with the location the posting states.

What would you do

How do you set scope with marketing, product development and manufacturing when they want different things?

What they are checking: The posting names working with all three to establish scope, priorities and schedules.

About the work

Tell me about a complex project you designed and carried to completion on your own judgment.

What they are checking: The posting describes working with little or no supervision on complex assignments.

Walk me through an early risk assessment on a design change.

What they are checking: The posting names sound design, early risk assessments and fallback strategies.

How do you think about failure modes when you change an established process?

What they are checking: The posting names full awareness of defects and failure modes from design changes.

Walk me through designing an experiment with several variables and what you did with the data.

What they are checking: The posting names designing complex experiments with multiple variables and detailed analysis.

How do you run an economic analysis when the alternatives compete?

What they are checking: The posting names economic analysis and feasibility studies for competing project alternatives.

How do you keep cost, scope and schedule honest on several projects at once?

What they are checking: The posting names maintaining project controls and managing concurrent projects.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

An engineering professional who, working with little or no supervision, applies advanced scientific knowledge, engineering knowledge, mathematics, and ingenuity to complete complex assignments related to a specific technical field or discipline. A Principal Engineer has full knowledge of other related disciplines beyond their own area of expertise. Responsibilities • Responsibilities of this engineering grade level inherently include and expand upon the responsibilities established for lower engineering grade levels. • Responsible for compliance with applicable policies and procedures. Ensures quality and effectiveness of key results of major projects within function through sound design, early risk assessments, and implementation of fallback strategies. Has full awareness of the potential consequences (defects and failure modes) of design changes to established processes. Mitigates risk within functions through sound design, early risk assessments and implementation of fallback strategies. • Identifies, plans, and conducts medium- to large-size projects within engineering specialty requiring custom, risk-managed execution plans, investigations, and/or equipment. Manages multiple, often concurrent, projects and meets deadlines. • Maintains project controls and reporting for cost, scope and schedule; develops execution strategy including procurement; balances multiple demands within an Understands the business needs of the company, and has a thorough knowledge of the customer and clinical needs when developing a project scope. Incorporates business foresight of emerging technological trends. • Works with marketing, product development, and manufacturing to establish scope, priorities, and schedules on multiple projects. - Independently performs economic analysis and feasibility studies related to complex and often multiple competing project alternatives. Responsible for achieving the project's financial targets in support of business objectives. • Analyzes business forces (customers, suppliers, competitors, technologies, government regulations) in major markets to identify trends and recommend responses. Independently executes, and/or directs others in the execution of: the design of products/processes/equipment/systems/facilities by applying novel engineering theories, concepts, and techniques within the disciplines. experiments, often with multiple variables, gathers data, and performs detailed analysis. A • Designs and leads complex experiments, often with multiple variables, gathers data, and performs detailed analysis. Assesses relevance. Conceptualizes complete solutions. Creates or coordinates the design solutions for novel or complex problems; integrates regulatory and operational needs; assesses cost benefit. Explores multiple alternatives. Structures studies and integrate cross-disciplinary and cross-functional issues to arrive at optimal cause of action. • Applies technology in innovative ways. Combines technologies to anticipate or address customer needs; shares solutions across sites; employs proven solutions to increase effectiveness of engineering methodology or manufacturing process. Mentors others by sharing technical expertise and providing feedback and guidance. • Where appropriate, provides tasks/project assignment opportunities for employee development and evaluates performance. Represents the organization as the prime technical contact on contracts and projects. • Interacts with both senior management and external personnel on significant technical matters often requiring coordination between organizations. Submits articles for internal or external publication. Acts as a trusted advisor. Balances bottom line objectives of a project with long-term interest of customer. Is identified as a Subject Matter Expert in the discipline. Participates in internal teams to develop and align procedures and standards. May influence validation strategy. #LI-JW1 • A Bachelors Degree in Engineering, science, or closely related discipline is desired, or equivalent technical experience plus demonstrated competence, with a desired 8+ years of significant engineering and/or operational experience. A post-graduate education/degree is desired, and may contribute towards the desired years of experience.Has demonstrated competency within a discipline. • Has a career history marked by a consistent series of technical contributions and accomplishments. Significant contribution to product or process development or improvement through creative application of technical effort will equally be recognized. • Possesses a strong technical knowledge and application of concepts, practices, and procedures. Works on problems of complex scope where analysis of situations or data involves multiple competing factors. Exercises judgment and advises management as to the appropriate actions. • Interacts well with diverse groups within engineering and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external collaborators. • Listens to and understands others' points of view and articulates tactfully and respectfully one's own perspective orally, in writing, and in presentations. • Works well with other engineers in a collaborative, fast-paced goal-driven environment. • Possesses interpersonal skills to negotiate and reconcile differences. • Has a technical background in health care, medical devices, pharmaceutical, biologics, or similar industries (preferred). • Has demonstrated competency with financial systems and in fiscal control. 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

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