Principal Control & Automation Engineer
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 onsite 4 days a week as part of our commitment to fostering a culture of professional growth and cross-functional collaboration as we work together to engineer the extraordinary. The person in this role will work from the Medtronic facility located in Dexter, Michigan. This role will require 20% of travel to Grand Rapids, MI to enhance collaboration and ensure successful completion of projects. The Principal Controls & Automation Engineer is a senior technical leader responsible for driving automation strategy and execution across the Dexter and Grand Rapids, Michigan manufacturing sites. This role focuses on PLC‑based controls engineering, industrial automation systems, robotics integration, and equipment validation within a regulated manufacturing environment. The position will play a key role in transitioning manual processes to automated solutions, strengthening controls architecture standards, ensuring robust system validation, and representing Medtronic’s technical and quality expectations with vendors and internal stakeholders. We believe that when people from different cultures, genders, and points of view come together, innovation is the result —and everyone wins. Medtronic walks the walk, creating an inclusive culture where you can thrive. Our unwavering commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equity (ID&E) means zero barriers to opportunity within Medtronic and a culture where all employees belong, are respected, and feel valued for who they are and the life experiences they contribute. We know equity starts beyond our workplace, and we must play a role in addressing systemic inequities in our communications to achieve long-term sustainable impact. Anchored in our Mission, we continue to drive ID&E forward both to enhance the well-being of Medtronic employees and to accelerate innovation that brings our lifesaving technologies to more people in more places around the world. Bring your talents to an industry leader in medical technology and healthcare solutions – we’re a market leader and growing every day. You can be proud to be a part of technologies that are rooted in our long history of mission-driven innovation. You will be empowered to shape your own career. We encourage and support your growth with the training, mentorship, and guidance you need to own your future success. Together, we can transform healthcare. Join us for a career that changes lives.
Requirements
- 7+ years of experience with a bachelor’s degree or 5+ years of experience with an advanced degree
Nice To Haves
- Strong PLC programming and troubleshooting experience (ladder logic, structured text, or similar controls languages).
- Hands‑on controls engineering experience in automated manufacturing environments.
- Experience integrating robotics and automated equipment within production lines.
- Background in equipment commissioning, controls debugging, and production support.
- Experience supporting validation and regulated manufacturing environments.
- Vendor coordination or technical leadership experience in automation projects.
- Automation development, equipment design, or deployment experience in medical device or comparable industries (automotive, aerospace, defense, etc.)
- 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.
Responsibilities
- Lead automation initiatives from concept through design, FAT/SAT, validation, and production deployment.
- Architect, program, and maintain PLC‑based automation systems using industry‑standard controls platforms.
- Develop and standardize controls architectures for automated manufacturing equipment.
- Integrate industrial robots with PLC control systems, including communication protocols, safety interlocks, and motion coordination.
- Troubleshoot and optimize automation equipment to improve uptime, throughput, reliability, and product quality.
- Support equipment commissioning, system debugging, and start‑up activities for new and modified automation systems.
- Execute equipment validation activities (IQ/OQ/PQ) and ensure automation systems meet regulatory and quality requirements.
- Collaborate with manufacturing engineering, quality, and operations teams to deploy scalable automation solutions.
- Provide technical oversight and hold vendors accountable for controls design, programming quality, and project execution.
- Identify opportunities to automate manual manufacturing processes and improve production efficiency.
Benefits
- 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)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
