Prin Materials Engineer

Medtronic • Lafayette, CO

1d • 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 At Medtronic, we bring bold ideas forward with speed and decisiveness to put patients first in everything we do. In-person exchanges are invaluable to our work. We’re working a minimum of 4 days a week onsite as part of our commitment to fostering a culture of professional growth and cross-functional collaboration as we work together to engineer the extraordinary. As a Principal Materials Engineer, you will be the recognized technical expert for the Lafayette Materials Science Lab, supporting primarily Surgical Operating Units, and also other Medtronic Operating Units. You will drive innovation and provide critical support across R&D and Manufacturing by applying advanced materials science principles to metals, polymers, and ceramics.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 7 years relevant experience; or a Master's degree with a minimum of 5 years relevant experience.

Nice To Haves

• Degree in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• Extensive experience with stainless steels and high-performance polymers in medical devices or other highly regulated industries.
• Strong background in failure analysis, fatigue, and fracture mechanics
• Hands-on expertise with advanced analytical techniques (SEM, EDS, FTIR, XRD, XRF, LIBS, microhardness).
• Knowledge of laser welding processes and associated metallurgical challenges.
• Experience with glass and ceramic materials , including preparation and analysis methods.
• Proven ability to produce clear, actionable reports that directly support engineering decisions.
• Demonstrated success collaborating across R&D, manufacturing, and supplier teams.
• Strong leadership, communication, and mentoring skills; ability to influence across diverse teams and levels.
• Track record of building or expanding lab capabilities and driving process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead material characterization and analysis, including SEM, TEM, optical microscopy, EDS, FTIR, XRD, XRF, LIBS, and microhardness testing.
• Conduct failure analysis and fractography of metallic and polymeric components, with an emphasis on stainless steel metallurgy, fatigue properties, fracture mechanics, and contamination analysis.
• Support process development and troubleshooting for welding and joining technologies (e.g., laser welding), collaborating closely with R&D and manufacturing engineers.
• Develop and apply high-quality microstructure preparation methods to ensure accurate, reproducible material evaluations.
• Provide expert guidance on materials selection, processing, and performance, including medical-grade stainless steels, high-strength/high-temperature polymers, and glass/ceramic materials.
• Deliver clear, actionable lab reports that translate technical results into meaningful insights for project teams.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to plan and execute material investigations, prioritize project needs, and maintain efficient lab operations.
• Mentor colleagues, provide technical leadership, and help shape the long-term strategy for lab capabilities and investments.

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)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees