Senior 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. 

At Baxter, we are deeply connected by our mission. No matter your role, your work has a positive impact on people around the world. As a Principal Engineer, you will provide technical leadership and engineering support for facilities, utilities, and building infrastructure across the Cleveland manufacturing campus. This role is responsible for ensuring the reliability, compliance, and continuous improvement of critical utility systems while supporting manufacturing operations, capital projects, asset management, and operational excellence initiatives.

The Principal Engineer serves as a key technical resource, partnering cross-functionally to drive safety, quality, reliability, efficiency, and regulatory compliance in a highly regulated manufacturing environment.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and engineering support to maintenance, manufacturing, quality, validation, and other site functions to improve facility and utility systems while ensuring compliance with Baxter standards, regulatory requirements, and site objectives.
• Support the reliability, performance, and compliance of critical utility systems including Water for Injection (WFI), process air, environmental air systems, HVAC, chilled water, boilers, cooling towers, potable water, steam distribution systems, and electrical infrastructure.
• Lead facilities and utilities projects from concept development through execution, commissioning, qualification, and project closeout.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts focused on reliability, efficiency, sustainability, compliance, and operational excellence.
• Lead the Cleveland site's Lean Energy Management Program and identify opportunities to optimize energy consumption and utility system performance.
• Support Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) initiatives to improve equipment reliability and lifecycle management.
• Partner with maintenance and operations teams to develop proactive maintenance strategies and asset management programs for critical infrastructure.
• Ensure compliance with preventive maintenance requirements, training expectations, documentation standards, quality systems, safety programs, and 6S principles.
• Analyze facility and utility system performance data to identify trends, improve reliability, reduce downtime, and support informed decision-making.
• Provide technical troubleshooting and root cause analysis for complex facility, utility, and infrastructure-related issues.
• Support capital planning activities, including budgeting, financial forecasting, and prioritization of infrastructure investments.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing work environment aligned with Baxter's values of Respect, Responsiveness, Courage, and Collaboration.
• Champion Baxter's commitment to patient safety, product quality, and workplace safety by ensuring decisions and actions support these critical priorities.
• Direct and coordinate internal and external resources to achieve project and operational objectives safely, efficiently, and effectively.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable GMP requirements, FDA regulations, corporate policies, SOPs, and industry standards.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment through the consistent application of 6S practices.
• Learn, understand, and apply rigorous quality standards, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated technical leadership skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive results in a matrixed environment.
• Strong communication and professional writing skills with the ability to effectively engage stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills with experience supporting mechanical, electrical, and utility systems.
• Working knowledge of regulated manufacturing environments, including FDA, cGMP, quality systems, and validation requirements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and enterprise systems such as Maximo, TrackWise, Coupa, CMMS platforms, and related business systems.
• Knowledge of industrial safety programs including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Confined Space Entry, Hot Work, Contractor Safety, and Permit-to-Work systems.
• Ability to collaborate across departments to identify, evaluate, and resolve complex facilities and utility-related challenges.
• Working knowledge of Operational Excellence methodologies, including Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, RCM, and continuous improvement tools.
• Strong project management capabilities, including scheduling, budget management, financial tracking, and resource coordination.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, schematics, engineering specifications, and work instructions.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required.
• Minimum of 8 years of engineering experience in a regulated manufacturing environment required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience supporting FDA-regulated manufacturing operations preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading capital projects, utility systems, infrastructure improvements, or reliability initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting pharmaceutical, medical device, biotech, or other highly regulated manufacturing operations strongly preferred.
• Experience with HVAC systems, cleanroom environments, WFI generation and distribution systems, boiler operations, energy management programs, and electrical power distribution systems preferred.
• Experience with reliability engineering principles, asset management programs, and preventive maintenance systems preferred.
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Lean Six Sigma, or similar certification is a plus.

Other Duties as Assigned

This job description is not intended to contain a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications required for the position. Responsibilities may be modified or assigned as business needs evolve. Employees may be required to perform additional duties and work overtime as necessary to support business operations and customer needs.

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. At Baxter, we are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices. The estimated base salary for this position is $104,000 - $130,000 annually. We may pay more or less than the anticipated range based upon market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based upon location, skills and expertise, experience, and other relevant factors. For questions about this, our pay philosophy, and available benefits, please speak to the recruiter if you decide to apply and are selected for an interview.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We cannot sponsor or transfer sponsorship of an employment visa.

US Benefits at Baxter (except for Puerto Rico)

This is where your well-being matters. Baxter offers comprehensive compensation and benefits packages for eligible roles. Our health and well-being benefits include medical and dental coverage that start on day one, as well as insurance coverage for basic life, accident, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance. Financial and retirement benefits include the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), with the ability to purchase company stock at a discount, and the 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), with options for employee contributions and company matching. We also offer Flexible Spending Accounts, educational assistance programs, and time-off benefits such as paid holidays, paid time off ranging from 20 to 35 days based on length of service, family and medical leaves of absence, and paid parental leave. Additional benefits include commuting benefits, the Employee Discount Program, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and childcare benefits. Join us and enjoy the competitive compensation and benefits we offer to our employees. For additional information regarding Baxter US Benefits, please speak with your recruiter or visit our Benefits site: Benefits | Baxter

Equal Employment Opportunity

Baxter is an equal opportunity employer. Baxter evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic.

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

Reasonable Accommodations

Baxter is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities globally. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please click on the link here and let us know the nature of your request along with your contact information.

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