Principal Engineer, R&D

Edwards Lifesciences • Irvine, CA

1d • $121,000 - $171,000

About The Position

The Principal Engineer, R&D, is part of the Design and Simulation Team within the Surgical Structural Heart (SSH) R&D group. The role advances design capabilities and contributes to improving current and emerging technologies and therapies for cardiac surgery. It uses engineering principles, design tools, predictive engineering methods, and computational modeling to support device design and performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering or scientific field with 6 years of experience, including industry or industry/education experience; OR a master's degree or equivalent in an engineering or scientific field with 5+ years of such experience; OR a Ph.D. or equivalent in an engineering or scientific field with 2+ years of such experience.
• Demonstrated proficiency in nonlinear mechanics, plasticity, and advanced computational modeling techniques (FEA).
• Understanding of general engineering design principles and working knowledge of design of experiments (DOE) and other engineering workflows.
• Ability to interact professionally with all organizational levels and proactively escalate issues to appropriate management.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment and work independently without close supervision.
• Strict attention to detail.
• Excellent documentation, communication, and interpersonal relationship skills, including discretion and judgment in decision-making.
• Knowledge of the cGMP manufacturing environment in the medical device industry, including FDA/TUV guidelines and quality system regulations in general.
• Ability to participate and present at meetings with internal and external representatives.
• Ability to develop peer, cross-functional, and cross-business relationships to support best-practice sharing and team effectiveness.
• Adhere to company rules and requirements, including Environmental Health & Safety rules, and take appropriate measures to prevent injury and pollution and protect the environment.

Nice To Haves

• A master's or Ph.D. degree in materials science or mechanical engineering.
• 2+ years of experience in engineering design.
• 2+ years of experience in structural, mechanical, or fatigue analysis.
• Familiarity with the mechanics of soft tissues.
• Experience with scripting environments such as Python and MATLAB.

Responsibilities

• Lead the improvement, design, and optimization of complex tests; analyze results, provide recommendations, and develop reports based on engineering principles.
• Support project teams in optimizing device design and performance using design tools and predictive engineering methods such as CAD, FEA, and optimization.
• Analyze and evaluate experimental data to create and validate computational models.
• Present analysis results to stakeholders and contribute to internal reports and technical summaries.
• Identify issues, achieve resolution, and resolve significantly complex problems in designing parts, components, and subsystems.
• Collaborate with R&D, Regulatory, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain in a cross-functional team environment to meet project objectives.
• Travel domestically and internationally as needed, up to 5%.

Benefits

• Competitive salaries
• Performance-based incentives
• A wide variety of benefits programs to address the diverse individual needs of employees and their families

What This Job Offers

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