Materials Engineer I_Neuro/Metal

Medtronic•Minneapolis, MN

41d•$72,000 - $108,000•Onsite

About The Position

At Medtronic you can begin a life-long career of exploration and innovation, while helping champion healthcare access and equity for all. You’ll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation in a more connected, compassionate world. A Day in the Life Neuromodulation & Pelvic Health | Materials Engineer I Medtronic's Neuromodulation and Pelvic Health Operating Unit develops life-changing therapies for patients living with chronic pain, movement disorders, and pelvic health conditions. Our implantable neurostimulation systems, drug delivery devices, and sacral neuromodulation therapies are designed to restore function and improve quality of life for millions of patients worldwide. This team sits at the intersection of advanced materials science and cutting-edge medical device innovation. Onsite At Medtronic, we bring bold ideas forward with speed and decisiveness to put patients first in everything we do. We're working onsite 4 days a week to drive performance, foster an environment of belonging, and collaborate to inspire as we engineer the extraordinary.

Requirements

Requires a Material Science, Material Engineering, Chemical Engineering with Materials, or Equivalent Baccalaureate degree and minimum of 2 years of relevant experience OR a Master's degree with a minimum of 0 years relevant experience.
For Baccalaureate degrees earned outside of the United States, a degree that satisfies the requirements of 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(A) is required.
Works independently with general supervision on larger, moderately complex projects and assignments.
Collaborates with experienced materials and manufacturing professionals to develop and apply understanding of implantable device materials, alloy systems, and fabrication processes.
Possesses strong detail orientation and organizational skills essential for managing material qualification programs and defect investigations.
Proficient in advanced materials characterization techniques including metallography, SEM/EDS, XRD, XRF, EBSD, and fractography.
Demonstrated working knowledge of metallic alloy systems relevant to implantable medical devices including stainless steels, Co-Cr-Mo alloys, and PtIr systems.
Familiarity with computational thermodynamic modeling tools such as Thermo-Calc and JMatPro.
Working knowledge of regulatory requirements and industry standards applicable to implantable neuromodulation and pelvic health devices.
Problem-solving mindset with ability to interpret complex material behaviors resulting from thermomechanical processing pathways.
Capable of identifying root causes in failure analysis investigations and recommending material or process enhancements to improve device performance and reliability.
Communicates primarily with internal contacts across a matrixed organization including R&D, manufacturing, and quality teams.
Shares findings, material characterization data, and failure analysis results clearly through strong written and verbal communication skills to inform design and process decisions.
Sets objectives for own job area to meet project and program goals.
Develops cross-functional relationships to support materials qualification, failure analysis, and process improvement assignments within the Neuromodulation and Pelvic Health OU.
May provide guidance to entry-level professionals or support staff on materials testing methods, metallographic preparation techniques, and laboratory best practices.
Cross sectioning, metallography, tensile testing (e.g. Instron or MTS), optical microscopy, SEM, DMA, FTIR, DSC, XRF, TGA, XPS, rheometry, GPC, electrochemical and corrosion characterization (EIS, cyclic voltammetry, potentiodynamic polarization, electrodeposition).

Responsibilities

Analyzes, researches, designs and develops materials and their related fabrication and application processes to develop and optimize materials for use in engineering design of and/or application in structures, systems and subsystems.
Applies principles of chemistry, physics, and material behavior to develop metallic, non-metallic and composite material and processing specifications, fabrication and assembly processes.
Develops, analyzes and applies material properties and design allowables, processing processes and quality engineering specifications.
Material analyses may include failure analysis of components, systems and subsystems, life predictions, and definition and requirement specifications.
May review and approve subcontractor material processing procedures.
Demonstrate expertise in material characterization, failure analysis, and materials degradation using advanced metallography, light optical microscopy, SEM/EDS, Microprobe/WDS, EBSD, XRD, XRF, DSC, and fractography.
Interpretation of materials processed through complex thermomechanical and manufacturing pathways and material qualification programs.
Characterization of advanced alloy systems including stainless steels, PtIr systems, medical Co-Cr-Mo alloys, precipitation hardenable grades, and controlled-thermal-expansion electronic packaging alloys.
Hands-on experience with integrated alloy design and development including computational thermodynamic tools, experimental melting, forging, heat treatment, and microstructural/mechanical validation.
Development of metallographic preparation techniques including electrolytic etching (controlled current density, electrolyte chemistry, polarization behavior) and phase-selective etchant formulation for complex alloy systems.
Serial metallography and defect reconstruction techniques for characterization of ultrasonic testing indications and subsurface features.
Experience applying computational thermodynamic modeling tools including Thermo-Calc and/or JMatPro to evaluate phase stability, precipitation behavior, and alloy chemistry optimization for material/process improvement.
Mechanical testing methods including hardness testing (micro and macro), tensile testing, Charpy impact (ambient and cryogenic), creep/stress rupture, fatigue, and fracture toughness testing.
Corrosion testing methodologies including salt spray, humidity exposure, KorroPad testing to evaluate passive film stability and corrosion resistance.
Experience supporting process variation reduction, stability analysis, and defect cost modeling using Excel and Python-based data analysis.
Familiarity with regulatory requirements and relevant industry standards.

Benefits

Medtronic offers a competitive Salary and flexible Benefits Package
We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every career and life stage.
Health, Dental and vision insurance
Health Savings Account
Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
Life insurance
Long-term disability leave
Dependent daycare spending account
Tuition assistance/reimbursement
Simple Steps (global well-being program).
Incentive plans, 401(k) plan plus employer contribution and match
Short-term disability
Paid time off
Paid holidays
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Employee Assistance Program
Non-qualified Retirement Plan Supplement (subject to IRS earning minimums)
Capital Accumulation Plan (available to Vice Presidents and above, or subject to IRS earning minimums).
Temporary employees are eligible for paid sick time, as required under applicable state law, and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.