Principal Engineer, Early Innovation R&D

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine • Raritan, NJ

4d • $117,000 - $201,250 • Onsite

About The Position

Johnson & Johnson MedTech Surgery is currently seeking a Principal Engineer to join our R&D Innovation & Partnerships team located onsite at our Raritan, NJ location. This role will help shape the next generation of surgical, wound closure, digitally enabled, and engineered system solutions by identifying and assessing external innovation, translating clinical and customer unmet needs into system-level requirements, and advancing high-potential technologies through structured due diligence, concept generation, feasibility planning and assessment, and early development. The Principal Engineer will partner across R&D, Global Strategic Marketing, Business Development, Clinical, Medical Affairs, Regulatory, Quality, Supply Chain, Digital, and external partners to support portfolio decisions and accelerate meaningful innovation for patients and customers.

Requirements

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, Robotics, Biomedical Engineering, or a related technical discipline is required.
• A minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in medical device R&D, systems engineering, electromechanical product development, connected devices, digital health, software-enabled products, advanced engineering, external innovation, or related technical roles is required.
• Experience leading front-end innovation activities, including customer discovery, unmet need definition, concept development, architecture definition, feasibility testing, prototype development, technical de-risking, and transition to development programs is required.
• Experience evaluating external technologies and partners, conducting technical due diligence, and making evidence-based recommendations is required.
• Working knowledge of medical device design controls, systems engineering, risk management, verification and validation, requirements management, quality systems, and regulated product development is required.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical, clinical, and business information clearly to senior leaders, clinicians, technical teams, and external partners is required.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in systems engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, electromechanical engineering, robotics, biomedical engineering, or a related technical discipline is preferred.
• Experience with engineered medical systems, electromechanical platforms, connected medical devices, sensors, actuation, automation, software-driven products, data platforms, AI/ML-enabled solutions, digital health technologies, or clinical decision support tools is preferred.
• Experience integrating hardware, software, sensing, data, user interface, and disposable or device components into regulated medical device systems is preferred.
• Prior experience in strategic partnerships or external innovation is preferred
• Design Excellence, Six Sigma, TRIZ, Design Thinking, Stanford Biodesign, or other structured innovation and problem-solving methodology experience
• Active network within medical device engineering, digital health, connected device, software, automation, robotics, health technology, or relevant startup ecosystems.

Responsibilities

• Identify, assess, and recommend external technologies, platforms, and partnership opportunities aligned to J&J MedTech Surgery’s Wound Closure & Healing strategy and innovation pipeline.
• Conduct technical due diligence on startups, academic innovations, licensing opportunities, and strategic collaborations, including evaluation of clinical need, technical feasibility, intellectual property, regulatory pathway, quality considerations, scalability, and strategic fit.
• Develop technology landscapes, target scans, competitive intelligence, and evidence summaries across priority surgical, wound closure, engineered systems, electromechanical, connected device, automation, sensing, software, and digital solution spaces.
• Translate customer, clinical, workflow, and technology insights into problem statements, user needs, system requirements, subsystem requirements, architecture considerations, risk profiles, and evidence-based recommendations.
• Engage clinicians, key opinion leaders, academic collaborators, suppliers, incubators, accelerators, and external innovation partners to maintain a robust innovation pipeline.
• Lead front-end innovation activities, including customer discovery, unmet need definition, opportunity framing, concept generation, system architecture exploration, feasibility planning, prototype evaluation, integration testing, and proof-of-concept execution.
• Partner cross-functionally to advance opportunities from assessment through technology de-risking, system integration, prototype builds, verification strategy, and transition to formal product development, as appropriate.
• Prepare and communicate technical assessments, business cases, risk profiles, and recommendations to senior leaders and governance forums to support portfolio prioritization and investment decisions.
• Follow all applicable laws and regulations, J&J policies and procedures, design control expectations, quality system requirements, health, safety, and environmental practices.
• Up to 20% travel may be required.

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• short- and long-term disability
• business accident insurance
• group legal insurance
• consolidated retirement plan (pension)
• savings plan (401(k))
• long-term incentive program
• Vacation – up to 120 hours per calendar year
• Sick time - up to 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington – up to 56 hours per calendar year
• Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays – up to 13 days per calendar year
• Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal