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Sr Principal Engineer, Automation Projects

Req # JR - 199900 Location Round Lake, Illinois, United States Job Category Engineering Date posted 04/22/2026
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Overview

Being an Engineer at Baxter means you play a critical role in helping us achieve our mission to save and sustain lives. From innovative product design through to production and patient delivery, our Engineers are key to delivering results for our customers and patients worldwide.

  • Support for Parents

  • Continuing Education/ Professional Development

  • Employee Heath & Well-Being Benefits

  • Paid Time Off

  • 2 Days a Year to Volunteer

Success Profile

What makes a successful Engineer at Baxter? Take a look at some of the top traits we’re looking for and see if you’re a fit.

  • Problem Solver
  • Analytical Thinker
  • Data Driven
  • Solution Focused & Results Oriented
  • Collaborative
  • Innovative

Sr Principal Engineer, Automation Projects

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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. 

Your role at Baxter

In this role, you will provide engineering leadership and project management for manufacturing equipment that is designed and built internally by Baxter Engineering’s Process Automation team. You will lead automation projects from early concept through final design and implementation, using standard engineering principles to solve complex problems with input from the team.

You will plan and lead project work, select appropriate engineering approaches, and ensure projects are completed safely, on time, and within budget. In addition to technical leadership, you will support documentation, provide guidance to technicians, and help train others on automation technologies.

Your Team

The Engineering Process Automation team is a collaborative group that enjoys solving challenging problems that support patient needs. We work in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment and often need to adjust priorities to avoid production disruptions. The team values trust, teamwork, innovation, and continuous improvement. Leadership supports learning and professional development.

What you'll bring

  • Lead project teams by defining scope, requirements, schedules, and goals.
  • Assign project tasks and ensure work is completed as planned.
  • Work closely with engineers, designers, technicians, manufacturing teams, and outside vendors to support equipment design, procurement, build, and acceptance.
  • Lead cost estimates for major automation and capital projects.
  • Track project budgets and manage spending of approved funds.
  • Support continuous improvement of engineering processes and help advance standard automation practices.
  • Investigate manufacturing or field issues and develop design improvements.
  • Provide indirect supervision and technical guidance to technicians working on assigned projects.
  • Support technical documentation and technology training.
  • Supports global collaboration through periodic travel to Baxter sites globally.

What you'll bring

  • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering is required
  • 8 or more years of engineering experience.
  • Experience using mechanical CAD software (SolidWorks preferred).
  • Experience working in an aseptic processing or cGMP manufacturing environment preferred
  • Experience developing automated manufacturing equipment
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to lead and work within small, cross‑functional teams.
  • Ability to develop solutions that balance technical performance, cost, and business 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 $128,000 - $176,000 annually. The estimated range is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position. We may pay more or less than of the anticipated range based upon market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based on upon location, skills and expertise, experience, and other relevant factors. This position may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses. 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 are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

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.

Recruitment Fraud Notice

Baxter has discovered incidents of employment scams, where fraudulent parties pose as Baxter employees, recruiters, or other agents, and engage with online job seekers in an attempt to steal personal and/or financial information. To learn how you can protect yourself, review our Recruitment Fraud Notice.

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Address

Explore this location 25212 W Illinois Route 120 RL/Plastics
Round Lake, IL 60073
United States of America Explore This Location

Hear from Our Employees

Our company is enriched by a diverse population of individuals in more than 100 countries that work to solve, innovate, manufacture and drive better healthcare options for patients around the world.

Meet Anwesha – recently promoted to Manager, she leads a team of software engineers for our Medication Delivery business.

“I grew up in a small coastal town in India called Bhubaneswar, where we have our own traditions and culture. I think this has helped me grow personally and professionally. Working with a global team at Baxter, my background helps me to be open, appreciate and relate to people from all different places.”

Meet Sam – he has been with Baxter for over 15 years, working as an Engineering Technologist in Round Lake, IL, US.

“I have a wonderful team. They have been flexible and open to the differences in communication methods and work style necessary for me to excel. If I didn’t have that support, I wouldn’t be where I am now and I wouldn’t have been able to advance within the company. I’m proud to work at Baxter.”

Meet Erika – she has been an engineer in Round Lake, IL, US for over four years, promoted to Senior Principal Engineer in 2019.

“My involvement with National Society of Black Engineers outside of work has afforded me the opportunity to manage Baxter’s external partnership with the organization, exposing us to networking and talent that can help drive diversity and innovation, and providing opportunities for more community engagement and involvement, which I know a lot of my colleagues like.”

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