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Senior Manager, Robotics and Vision Systems

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Manufacturing

Posted Sep 10, 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

You'd facilitate workshops with cross-functional stakeholders to surface opportunities. How do you run one where operators speak up rather than just engineers?

What they are checking: Whether they can draw out operators' practical knowledge in workshops, since the people doing the work often see the best opportunities.

What would you do

The role includes identifying and incubating emerging robotics, vision and physical intelligence technologies from outside companies. How do you tell a real capability from a demonstration?

What they are checking: Whether they can tell a robust capability from a staged demonstration, which is where automation programs often waste time and money.

The role is mostly onsite in the lab at North Chicago with travel several times a year. Does that work for you?

What they are checking: Whether they are comfortable with mostly onsite lab work and occasional travel, confirming it fits their life before they commit.

About the work

This role builds robotics roadmaps with manufacturing sites. Walk me through how you'd run opportunity discovery at a site that hasn't automated much.

What they are checking: Whether they can find good automation opportunities by watching the work and talking with operators at a site new to robotics.

The posting names vision hardware setup, lighting techniques and camera hardware selection. Walk me through how you'd specify a vision system for an inspection task.

What they are checking: Whether they can specify cameras, lighting and setup for a real inspection task, the most technical skill this posting names.

How do you decide whether a robotics opportunity is worth doing? What makes you say no?

What they are checking: Whether they choose projects by value, feasibility and risk, and can say no to exciting ideas that would not pay off.

How do you take something that worked at one site and make it repeatable at the others?

What they are checking: Whether they can turn one site's success into a standard approach other sites can adopt, rather than a one-off project.

What changes about robotics deployment in a regulated pharmaceutical plant compared with general manufacturing?

What they are checking: Whether they understand validation, change control and documentation in pharma, which make robotics deployment slower and stricter than elsewhere.

A deployment isn't performing after startup. Walk me through how you'd troubleshoot it.

What they are checking: Whether they stay accountable after startup and troubleshoot methodically, because a robot that underperforms quickly loses the site's trust.

The posting asks for an engineering or computer science degree, prefers a master's in robotics, and wants experience training other engineers. Where do you sit against that?

What they are checking: Whether they honestly meet the stated degree and teaching expectations, which matter because this role trains other engineers.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

This role partners with manufacturing sites to develop detailed robotics roadmaps, lead opportunity discovery, and translate site needs into a prioritized portfolio of automation initiatives aligned to Factory of the Future strategy. The position identifies, evaluates, and incubates emerging robotics, vision, automation, and physical AI technologies, then supports scale-up by defining repeatable deployment models, reducing implementation cycle time, and helping sites move from pilots to sustained adoption. Technical ownership of robotics and vision system design, integration, troubleshooting, standards, and lifecycle support remains a key secondary responsibility in enabling scalable, safe, and consistent adoption across the network. Responsibilities • Partner with manufacturing sites to develop detailed robotics roadmaps, lead opportunity discovery, and translate site needs into a prioritized portfolio of automation initiatives supported by clear business cases, value assumptions, implementation requirements, and expected operational impact. • Build and maintain site-by-site roadmaps and technology roadmaps that align business priorities, operational needs, technical feasibility, and long-term Factory of the Future strategy. • Identify, evaluate, and incubate emerging robotics, vision, automation, and physical AI technologies by engaging new, innovative, and cutting-edge external companies, technology partners, and internal subject matter experts to develop scalable solutions for deployment across AbbVie. • Facilitate seminars, workshops, and discovery sessions with cross-functional stakeholders to surface opportunities, align areas of focus, and generate actionable project concepts. • Create and develop scalable physical products and support the scale-up of proven technologies by defining repeatable deployment models, reducing implementation cycle time, and helping sites move from pilots to sustained adoption. • Work cross-functionally with engineering, operations, digital, quality, safety, and site teams to establish company-wide standards, practices, and deployment approaches that enable scalable robotics adoption. • Serve as a strategic connector across sites, functions, and vendors to accelerate deployment readiness, share lessons learned, and promote consistent execution of robotics and automation programs. • Provide robotics and vision systems technical expertise to support solution definition, equipment selection, functional requirements, integration methods, and compliance with applicable company standards. • Collaborate with process, controls, engineering, operations, equipment suppliers, and integration partners to translate manufacturing requirements into robust robotic, vision, automation, and physical AI applications. • Support deployment, startup, troubleshooting, optimization, lifecycle planning, and retrospective reviews for robotics and vision systems, helping capture lessons learned and improve future deployments. • Bachelor’s in electrical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent experience. • Should have a master’s in robotics or similar. A background in robotics is preferred. A background in computer vision and machine/deep learning will also be extremely beneficial. In addition, 5-10 years of experience is a must. • Experience with teaching / set up of robots and Vision Hardware Set Up, Lighting Techniques, Camera Hardware Selection • Experience with the design, build, and start-up of manufacturing systems. • Experience with design, set up, and debugging of automation systems. • Ability to manage multiple complex projects and assignments with a high level of autonomy. • Strong skills in robotics, computer vision, and programming languages are typically required. • Train other engineers • Working with outside vendors/integrators may be needed. • Work onsite in the lab most of the time • Willing to travel several times per year. • 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. • Demonstrated and been recognized for excellence in breadth and depth of knowledge in robotics and vision systems. • Interacts well with diverse groups across the corporation and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external collaborators. Possesses interpersonal skills to negotiate and reconcile differences, while optimizing overall organizational goals. 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 thisposting 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 anduntil 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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