Principal Controls Engineer - Advanced Manufacturing Engineering
About The Position
The Principal Controls Engineer serves a critical role within Medtronic's Advanced Manufacturing Engineering organization, providing technical leadership and expertise for complex automation, controls, and manufacturing systems. This position is being added to ensure adequate support for current and future manufacturing initiatives. Based at Medtronic's North Haven, CT site, this individual will play a key role in advancing the next generation of medical device and robotic-assisted surgical technologies. Working closely with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, and Operations, the Principal Controls Engineer will lead the development, integration, optimization, and support of automation and control systems that enable new product introduction, manufacturing scalability, equipment reliability, and operational excellence. This role requires deep expertise in controls architecture, PLCs, robotics, machine vision, motion control, and equipment integration, along with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive technical solutions from concept through implementation. 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 5 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.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience OR Master's degree with a minimum of 5 years relevant experience OR PhD with a minimum of 3 years relevant experience.
- Experience programming and troubleshooting PLCs (Allen Bradley), HMIs (Allen Bradley), and vision systems, including Cognex In-Sight Spreadsheet, Cognex VisionPro, and Keyence technologies.
Nice To Haves
- Experience supporting automated manufacturing equipment utilizing PLCs, robotics, machine vision systems, or motion control technologies.
- Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI), equipment qualification, manufacturing scale-up activities, and validation experience.
- Experience in medical device, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
- Experience leading controls or automation projects from concept through implementation.
- Experience performing root cause investigations and implementing corrective actions for complex equipment or process issues.
- Experience working with equipment suppliers, system integrators, or contract manufacturers.
- Experience applying risk management or process control tools such as PFMEA, DFMEA, control plans, or hazard analyses.
- Experience mentoring engineers or serving as a technical lead for cross-functional engineering teams.
- 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
- Provide technical leadership to engineers, suppliers, and system integrators to ensure automation solutions meet performance, safety, quality, and business requirements.
- Design, develop, implement, and support control systems for manufacturing equipment, automated assembly systems, test equipment, and material handling systems.
- Lead the integration and optimization of PLCs, HMIs, robotics, motion control systems, machine vision systems, sensors, and industrial networks.
- Develop controls architectures, software, and technical requirements to support new equipment, automation projects, and manufacturing process improvements.
- Troubleshoot complex automation and equipment issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions to improve reliability, quality, and performance.
- Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, R&D, and Operations teams to support equipment development, qualification, new product introduction, and manufacturing scale-up activities.
- Develop and implement automation, process control, and data collection solutions that improve equipment uptime, operational efficiency, and product quality.
- Ensure control systems, equipment, and processes comply with applicable quality, safety, and regulatory requirements.
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
