Process Engineer Jobs

Process engineering is one of the career paths most tightly linked to Ireland's pharmaceutical and medtech manufacturing base, with 35 active roles spread across Dublin (11), Galway (6), Limerick (5), and the wider manufacturing corridor.

Abbott leads with 5 positions across its Irish manufacturing sites, hiring process engineers for medical device production optimisation, process validation, and continuous improvement initiatives. AbbVie in Sligo recruits 3 process engineers for its pharmaceutical manufacturing operations — roles involving process characterisation, scale-up, and technology transfer. embecta (formerly BD Diabetes Care) has 3 positions for its Dublin medical device operations.

Analog Devices adds a semiconductor process engineering dimension from Limerick. Jacobs recruits 2 process engineers for consulting engagements in pharmaceutical and biotech facility design. Eli Lilly has 2 positions at its Kinsale, Co. Cork facility — one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing expansions in Ireland's history. Merit Medical in Galway recruits process engineers for cardiovascular device manufacturing. C-Agents and Astellas Pharma contribute further demand.

What does a process engineer do? The core responsibility is designing, optimising, and troubleshooting manufacturing processes to ensure products are made consistently, efficiently, and within specification. Key skills include process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), statistical analysis (Minitab, JMP), lean manufacturing and Six Sigma, process flow design, and knowledge of relevant regulatory frameworks — FDA 21 CFR, EU GMP Annex 15, or ISO 13485 depending on the sector. A chemical, mechanical, or bioprocess engineering degree is the standard entry point, with Chartered Engineer status valued at senior levels. The career path runs from Process Engineer through Senior Process Engineer to Process Lead, Manufacturing Engineering Manager, and Director of Operations — with the pharmaceutical and medtech tracks offering among the strongest compensation in Irish manufacturing.

Ireland's position as one of the largest pharmaceutical exporters in the world ensures sustained demand for process engineers. The country hosts manufacturing sites for 9 of the top 10 global pharma companies, and the pipeline of new facility construction and expansion projects � including significant investments at Eli Lilly's Kinsale site and BioMarin's operations � creates a continuous need for engineers who can design, validate, and optimise manufacturing processes. The medtech sector in Galway adds further demand, with the concentration of cardiovascular, orthopaedic, and diabetes device manufacturers creating a regional ecosystem where process engineering expertise is highly transferable between employers.