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 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
• Free medical coverage for employees* via the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO
• An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution
• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree.
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

Our location in Sylmar, CA currently has an opportunity for a Staff Engineer, Electrical (MRI Safety).
 

This role develops and executes tests to assess MRI safety of electronic implantable products. We are looking for a detail-oriented engineer to apply engineering and scientific principles to the evaluation and solutions for technical problems.

**Note, this role may be filled at a lower level Sr. Engineer**

What You’ll Work On

• Contribute to safety evaluations for implantable device systems (e.g.: leaded cardiac implantable systems, lead-less implantable systems, implantable cardiac monitors, etc.).
• Perform simulations to model electromagnetic or thermal effects on implantable systems when exposed to various use-conditions. Apply appropriate excitation sources in the simulation environment to characterize the electrical response of the implanted device (such as device/tissue heating, induced voltage, malfunction, and damage etc.). Will use proficiency with simulation applications (e.g., Sim4Life, CST Microwave Studio, ANSYS HFSS, etc.) for the same.
• Will learn about MRI safety considerations for implants, remain abreast of MRI safety standards, and contribute towards implementation of state-of-the-art MRI safety test methods.
• Collect bench measurements using off-the-shelf as well as custom lab instrumentation and fixturing (including power supplies, amplifiers, oscilloscopes, network analyzers, ohm meters, current/voltage probes etc.).
• Perform mathematical calculations and statistical evaluations such as sample size determination, standard deviations, linear regressions/fitting techniques, error analysis, and probabilities etc. Utilizes analytical tools and applications (e.g., MATLAB, Excel, LabVIEW, Python, etc.) for the same.
• Prepare and submit invention disclosures and steer investigations into promising areas
• Work with internal departments and external vendors to obtain prototypes and to expand these groups capabilities
• Provide site technical leadership based on a detailed understanding of the developing clinical environment (i.e. current treatment methods, evolving clinical needs etc.).
• Maintain a detailed understanding of the quality and regulatory requirements of ABBOTT, FDA and ISO regulation. Provide input into shaping ABBOTT quality and regulatory requirements.
• Work with Project management to develop overall schedule. Manage time and task within schedule
• Support all Company initiatives as identified by management and in support of Quality Management Systems (QMS), Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and other regulatory requirements.
• Complies with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, other regulatory requirements, Company policies, operating procedures, processes, and task assignments. Maintains positive and cooperative communications and collaboration with all levels of employees, customers, contractors, and vendors.

Accountability/Supervision:

• Understands business environment and relates extensive knowledge of internal and external technological activities to trends.
• Interfaces with senior management on significant matters, often requiring the coordination of activity across organizational units.  
• Participates in the development of other technical contributors by facilitating training and providing feedback and guidance.
• May lead a project team. Provides technical leadership to business units. Acts as a mentor to less-experienced staff and may provide work direction or supervise other technical employees. 
• Exercises judgment independently. Plans and organizes project assignments of substantial variety and complexity.
• Initiates or maintains schedule for projects and project milestones.
• Establishes priorities of individual or project assignments. Selects methods and techniques to lead a project to completion. Erroneous decisions or recommendations would typically result in failure to achieve major organizational objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related discipline
• 10+ years’ experience, mainly in R&D engineering
• Experience executing simulations (using applications such as Sim4Life, CST Microwave Studio, ANSYS HFSS etc.); modeling thermal and electromagnetic effects of objects exposed to various electromagnetic excitation sources.
• Proficiency with analytical tools and applications (ex: MATLAB, Excel, LabVIEW, Python, etc.) required.
• Proficiency with typical lab instrumentation (ex: oscilloscopes, VNAs, data acquisition systems etc.) required.
• Strong verbal and written communications (including technical communication) with ability to effectively communicate at multiple levels in the organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD/MS in Electrical Engineering with background in bio-electromagnetics preferred.
• Experience designing and testing active implantable medical devices preferred.
• Basic proficiency in electrical engineering concepts is preferred. Familiarity in topics related to MRI Safety of medical implants and associated industry standards (ex: ISO 10974, ANSI/AAMI PC76, FDA Guidance on Testing and Labeling Medical Devices for Safety in the Magnetic Resonance (MR) Environment, etc.) preferred.
• Familiarity in MRI scanner RF and gradient field modeling, electromagnetic simulations inside human body models, implantable device electromagnetic and thermal modeling including in vivo scenarios involving human tissue properties, blood flow, core body temperature etc.

Apply Now

* Participants who complete a short wellness assessment qualify for FREE coverage in our HIP PPO medical plan. Free coverage applies in the next calendar year.

Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives:  www.abbottbenefits.com

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews.

The base pay for this position is $109,300.00 – $218,500.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.