Principal Materials Engineer - Polymer Shaping and Molding
About The Position
The Principal Materials Engineer will support development, evaluation, and implementation of polymer materials and manufacturing technologies within Medtronic’s Polymer Shaping & Molding Center of Excellence. The role combines hands-on technology development with technical consultation to advance manufacturing readiness, evaluate emerging materials and processes, and support integration of new technologies into product development and manufacturing environments. The position is part of the Manufacturing Innovation & Technology team within Operations Innovation, which develops and advances manufacturing technologies for product development, industrialization, and global manufacturing. The Polymer Shaping & Molding team focuses on polymer molding, micro-molding, additive polymer manufacturing, and emerging material technologies. The role may be based in Minneapolis or Fridley, Minnesota, follows an onsite model with work onsite four days per week, and requires up to 25% travel. The role works with manufacturing sites, suppliers, academic partners, external development organizations, product development teams, and manufacturing teams. It supports technology feasibility and readiness, material and process evaluation, technical investigations, and manufacturing practice review.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree with 7+ years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree with 5+ years of relevant experience, or PhD with 3+ years of relevant experience.
- Experience in polymer materials engineering and manufacturing process development.
- Experience with polymer molding, micro-molding, additive manufacturing, dip molding, or related polymer processing technologies.
- Experience analyzing technical data and documenting results in technical reports.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Biomedical Engineering.
- Experience in medical device manufacturing or product development.
- Experience collaborating with global stakeholders, suppliers, academic institutions, or contract manufacturers.
- Experience supporting manufacturing technology transfer, industrialization, or new product introduction activities.
Responsibilities
- Lead feasibility, readiness, and technology development activities for polymer molding, micro-molding, additive manufacturing, and related shaping technologies.
- Evaluate and qualify new polymer materials, additives, tooling approaches, and forming techniques for manufacturing applications.
- Apply materials science, chemistry, and physics principles to develop material specifications, processing parameters, and manufacturing solutions.
- Partner with suppliers, contract manufacturers, academic institutions, and technology developers to mature materials and manufacturing processes.
- Provide technical consultation to new product development, new product integration, and manufacturing teams on established materials and processing technologies.
- Conduct material characterization, failure analysis, life prediction assessments, and technical investigations to support product and process performance.
- Analyze experimental and manufacturing data and communicate findings through technical reports and recommendations.
- Review and support approval of external material processing procedures and manufacturing practices when applicable.
Benefits
- Competitive salary and flexible benefits package.
- Short-term incentive through the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP).
- Health insurance.
- Dental insurance.
- Vision insurance.
- Health Savings Account.
- Healthcare Flexible Spending Account.
- Life insurance.
- Long-term disability leave.
- Dependent daycare spending account.
- Tuition assistance or reimbursement.
- Global well-being program (Simple Steps).
- Incentive plans.
- 401(k) plan with 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
