Distinguished Scientist

MiniMed•Northridge, CA

22h•$167,000 - $285,000

About The Position

At MiniMed, you can begin a lifelong career of exploration and innovation, while helping make a difference in the lives of people living with diabetes around the globe. You'll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation for a more connected, compassionate world. MiniMed is seeking a highly experienced Distinguished Scientist to provide technical leadership in the product development of insulin delivery fluid-path systems, including infusion sets, insulin reservoirs, tubing, cannulas, and associated components. This leader will drive innovation, design excellence, and reliable performance of next-generation insulin delivery technologies, supported by expertise in materials selection and biocompatibility. The Distinguished Scientist serves as a senior technical leader responsible for developing next-generation fluid-path technologies and products for insulin delivery systems, with primary emphasis on infusion sets, insulin reservoirs, tubing, cannulas, connectors, and associated components. This individual leads technical strategy from early feasibility and concept development through design, prototyping, verification, validation, design transfer, and commercialization. The role advances insulin delivery accuracy, flow performance, reliability, usability, manufacturability, and extended-wear capabilities. The Distinguished Scientist applies deep knowledge of fluid-path architecture, component design, interfaces, insulin compatibility, and device performance to solve complex engineering challenges and translate innovative technologies into robust product solutions. This leader shapes long-term fluid-path technology roadmaps and influences product architecture and platform decisions across MiniMed’s insulin delivery portfolio. As a recognized technical leader, the Distinguished Scientist mentors talent, develops external partnerships, and collaborates across R&D, systems engineering, clinical, regulatory, quality, and manufacturing teams to deliver safe, effective, and innovative products. As a secondary area of responsibility, the individual provides technical guidance on materials selection, material characterization, and biocompatibility considerations relevant to fluid-path and patient-contacting components, in collaboration with appropriate subject-matter experts. This role has significant impact on the development and commercialization of differentiated insulin delivery fluid-path technologies, including infusion sets and reservoirs. The Distinguished Scientist drives improvements in delivery performance, reliability, extended wear, patient experience, and scalable manufacturing. Through technical strategy, cross-functional leadership, and execution of complex development programs, this leader influences portfolio roadmaps, mitigates product risks, and accelerates innovative, high-quality insulin delivery solutions. Recognized technical expert in the design and development of insulin delivery fluid-path systems, including infusion sets, reservoirs, tubing, cannulas, connectors, fluid interfaces, and subcutaneous delivery components. Expertise includes fluid-flow and delivery performance, insulin compatibility, system integration, product reliability, extended-wear technology, design verification, and design transfer. Supporting knowledge of materials selection, material characterization, and biocompatibility is desirable.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with 15+ years of relevant experience; or advanced degree with 13+ years of relevant experience.
Technical leader with substantial experience developing complex medical devices, preferably insulin delivery products, infusion sets, reservoirs, or related fluid-path technologies.
Demonstrated ability to guide products from concept through design verification, validation, and commercialization is essential.
Expertise in fluid-path component design, engineering analysis, functional performance testing, reliability, failure investigation, design controls, and risk management for regulated medical devices.
Ability to assess fluid delivery performance, component interfaces, insulin compatibility, extended-wear requirements, and manufacturing constraints to make sound product-development decisions.
Proven success leading complex cross-functional technical initiatives, influencing platform architecture and technology strategy, and translating scientific and engineering advances into practical product solutions.
Strong communication, presentation, organizational, and project leadership skills, including the ability to mentor senior technical staff and work effectively in a matrixed organization.

Nice To Haves

Master or PhD in Materials Science, Polymer Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field.
Experience in medical device or combination product development, preferably involving insulin delivery systems, fluid-path components, or infusion technologies
Working knowledge of materials selection, material characterization, and biocompatibility as supporting considerations for patient-contacting and fluid-path components.
Direct product development experience with insulin infusion sets, insulin reservoirs, tubing, cannulas, connectors, or other drug-delivery fluid-path components.
Experience developing extended-wear infusion technologies and improving fluid delivery accuracy, reliability, occlusion performance, and patient usability.
Experience with insulin compatibility, drug-device interfaces, and functional performance of insulin delivery systems.
Experience in design verification, validation, reliability testing, design transfer, and manufacturing scale-up of medical devices.
Knowledge of global medical device regulations, design controls, and risk management requirements.
Experience in materials selection, material characterization, or biocompatibility evaluation for patient-contacting components.
Track record of innovation through patents, publications, technical leadership, or technology commercialization.
Experience mentoring senior technical staff, influencing portfolio strategy, supporting regulatory submissions, or managing technical teams.
Previous experience managing teams of scientists is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead product development and technical strategy for insulin delivery fluid-path systems, including infusion sets, reservoirs, tubing, cannulas, connectors, and associated components.
Drive concept generation, feasibility, design optimization, prototyping, design verification, validation support, and design transfer for new and improved insulin delivery products.
Advance fluid-path performance, including insulin delivery accuracy, flow resistance, occlusion prevention, priming, leakage prevention, mechanical integrity, and system reliability.
Lead innovation in extended-wear infusion technologies and reservoir systems to improve wear duration, consistency of delivery, patient comfort, and usability.
Evaluate insulin compatibility and functional interactions between insulin formulations and fluid-path components to support reliable in-use performance.
Identify and resolve complex product design and performance challenges through engineering analysis, experimental testing, root-cause investigation, and risk-based decision-making.
Partner with systems engineering, R&D, clinical, regulatory, quality, operations, and suppliers to translate technology concepts into scalable, manufacturable, compliant products.
Provide supporting technical guidance on materials selection, material characterization, and biocompatibility for fluid-path and patient-contacting components, working with specialized teams as appropriate.
Build external partnerships with suppliers, universities, and research organizations to evaluate emerging fluid-path technologies and accelerate product innovation.
Contribute to technical leadership through patents, publications, technical forums, and technology roadmap development.
Mentor and develop engineering and scientific talent, strengthening product-development and problem-solving capabilities across the organization.