JOB DESCRIPTION:
Senior Manufacturing Technician
Abbott Diabetes Care – Kilkenny
IDA Ireland Kilkenny Business & Technology Park, Kilkenny R95 A02A
Build Your Future. Improve Lives. Grow with Abbott.
At Abbott, we don’t just manufacture products — we change lives.
Our Kilkenny facility is one of the most advanced manufacturing sites in Europe, producing FreeStyle glucose monitoring technology that supports millions of people living with diabetes worldwide. We are now expanding our team with high-impact Manufacturing Technicians who bring deep expertise, strong ownership, and the ability to drive real improvements in a fast-paced, automated environment.
Why Abbott?
Security. Opportunity. Purpose.
At Abbott, you'll enjoy the stability of a global healthcare leader alongside genuine opportunities to develop your career while contributing to products that improve lives every day.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary with attractive shift premium
- Comprehensive healthcare benefits
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing confidential wellbeing, financial and lifestyle support for employees and their families
- Fully equipped onsite gym
- Structured training and development programmes
- Opportunities to progress into senior technical, engineering and leadership roles
- A modern, highly automated manufacturing environment
- The opportunity to help manufacture life-changing healthcare technology
Shift Pattern & Hours
- Work 7 x 12-hour shifts across a 14-day cycle
- Rotating day shifts (7am-7pm) and night shifts (7pm-7am)
- Includes two weekends per month
- Mix of short weeks (2 shifts) and long weeks (5 shifts)
- Built-in extended time off throughout the month
The Role
As a Senior Manufacturing Technician, you will take ownership of equipment performance, technical problem-solving, and continuous improvement within a highly automated production environment.
This is a hands-on, high-impact role requiring deep technical expertise, strong autonomy, and the ability to influence both people and processes.
What You’ll Do
- Lead advanced troubleshooting and fault diagnosis across mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic systems
- Perform and optimise preventative maintenance strategies to improve uptime and reliability
- Drive root cause investigations using data, trends, and structured problem-solving methodologies
- Monitor and improve OEE, yield, cycle time, and equipment performance
- Use CMMS and equipment data to proactively identify and eliminate recurring issues
- Lead and implement continuous improvement initiatives across equipment and processes
- Support and influence equipment installation, validation, and upgrades
- Act as a technical point of contact, guiding and supporting other technicians and operators
- Train and certify manufacturing associates, elevating team capability
- Coordinate and oversee external contractors and technical interventions
- Ensure all activities meet safety, quality, and regulatory standards
What You’ll Bring
Core Technical Capability
- Level 6 qualification (or higher) in engineering or a related technical discipline
- 4+ year of related experience in a regulated manufacturing environment
- Very high level of hands-on experience with automated manufacturing equipment
- Strong expertise across mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic systems
- Proven ability to work directly on complex, high-speed production equipment
Troubleshooting & Problem Solving
- Advanced, systematic troubleshooting capability
- Experience conducting root cause analysis and implementing sustainable fixes
- Data-driven mindset with ability to interpret performance metrics and trends
Manufacturing Experience
- Candidates must have demonstrated experience in a regulated manufacturing environments
- Strong understanding of OEE, yield optimisation, and continuous improvement principles
- Strong working knowledge of compliance standards, with demonstrated ability to adhere to and uphold GMP practices.
Autonomy & Ownership
- Operates independently with full accountability for equipment performance
- Leads improvement initiatives and drives outcomes
- Comfortable making decisions in real-time production environments
Communication & Influence
- Clear, structured communicator across functions (engineering, quality, operations)
- Ability to influence, train, and elevate others
- Contributes beyond own role to improve team and site performance
Join Abbott Kilkenny
If you're looking for:
- Competitive pay and shift premium
- Excellent healthcare benefits and wellbeing supports
- Long-term career security with a global healthcare leader
- A modern manufacturing environment with advanced technology
- Structured training and development
- Great onsite facilities, including a fully equipped gym
- Meaningful work that helps improve people's lives
Then we'd love to hear from you. Apply today and build your future with Abbott Kilkenny.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Important Information
Please note that any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a pre-employment medical examination, including drug and alcohol screening, conducted by a Company-designated medical practitioner.
The base pay for this position is
N/AIn specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.