Principal Engineer

This is where
your work makes a difference.

At Baxter, we believe every person—regardless of who they are or where they are from—deserves a chance to live a healthy life. It was our founding belief in 1931 and continues to be our guiding principle. We are redefining healthcare delivery to make a greater impact today, tomorrow, and beyond.

Our Baxter colleagues are united by our Mission to Save and Sustain Lives. Together, our community is driven by a culture of courage, trust, and collaboration. Every individual is empowered to take ownership and make a meaningful impact. We strive for efficient and effective operations, and we hold each other accountable for delivering exceptional results.

Here, you will find more than just a job—you will find purpose and pride.

Marion, NC

Principal Engineer

• Direct technical strategy for automation and control systems:
  Define technical vision and provide high‑level architectural guidance to ensure all automation and control systems align with long‑term business and regulatory strategies;
• Lead full lifecycle of complex projects:
  Manage advanced automation projects from design and development through validation, commissioning, and launch within highly regulated manufacturing environments;
• Ensure regulatory compliance:
  Develop and execute all control and automation systems in strict adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), FDA regulations, and 21 CFR Part 11 requirements, applied to pharmaceutical industry;
• Administer and architect robust network and control platforms:
  Manage Factory Talk Services Platform and configure industrial networks, including implementing secure network segmentation with Allen‑Bradley Stratix switches;
• Evaluate and implement new manufacturing technologies:
  Research, recommend, and integrate advanced "smart factory" technologies, including robotics, data analytics, and proprietary machinery, to optimize processes;
• Manage external vendors and project risks:
  Oversee the selection and negotiation with vendors, and identify and mitigate technical risks in project design and execution;
• Guide and mentor engineering teams:
  Provide technical leadership to guide root cause investigations, support continuous improvement, and resolve complex equipment issues.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics Engineering or a related field plus 5 years of related experience
• Will accept any level of experience in the following skills:
  • Coordinate resource allocation and technical execution for all projects within the manufacturing environment, ensuring compliance with all regulatory guidelines;
  • Integrate and validate GMP protocols into project plans and processes to ensure compliance with industry regulations and maintain product quality;
  • Develop and integrate Human‑Machine Interface (HMI) (Allen‑Bradley, Iconics) for operational control and visualization;
  • Validate and implement machine‑level safety control solutions for pharmaceutical manufacturing, specifically using Allen‑Bradley technologies to achieve SIL‑3 certification;
  • Execute software/hardware integration tests to validate system functionality using Rockell Platform;
  • Program and commission Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and HMIs using industry‑standard platforms (Allen‑Bradley);
  • Configure and integrate industrial vision systems (Cognex) for quality control and process verification;
  • Program and deploy industrial robotic systems including Staubli, Fanuc, and Yaskawa for manufacturing automation;
  • Lead control validation activities, including Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), and pharma qualification protocols (IQ, OQ, PQ);
  • Supervise cross‑functional engineering teams, including mechatronics and control system programmers, for projects within a pharmaceutical setting;
    Verify mechanical drawings for conformance to design intent, tolerances, and quality standards for all manufacturing runs;
  • Diagnose and resolve complex system issues in automated equipment, including Rockwell PLCs and drives;
  • Review and verify engineering designs and electrical diagrams to identify potential risks and ensure system integrity, a critical step in the execution…