Principal R&D Engineer

Envista Holdings Corporation • Mission Viejo, CA

116d • $125,700 - $188,600

About The Position

We’re seeking a visionary Principal R&D Engineer to lead the design and development of cutting-edge dental devices—from electromechanical systems and endodontic tools to curing lights and restorative delivery systems. In this role, you’ll drive projects from concept through commercialization, champion engineering excellence, and collaborate cross-functionally to deliver high-performance, regulatory-compliant solutions that elevate clinical outcomes. If you're passionate about innovation, continuous improvement, and mentoring the next generation of engineers, we’d love to meet you.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field with minimum of 6 years relevant work experience OR Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field with minimum of 4 years relevant work experience.
• Proven track record in plastic injection molding, metal machining, metal heat treatment or similar processes.
• Expertise with SolidWorks highly preferred.
• Extensive experience in electro-mechanical design and development highly preferred.
• Experience managing projects via project management system (i.e. Microsoft Project, Workfront or similar) required.
• Knowledge of CNC programming/machinery highly preferred.
• Ability to manage complex projects required.
• Intermediate Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, and Excel required.
• Aptitude to quickly learn business systems required.
• Strong verbal and technical written communication skills in English required.
• Ability to build strong partnerships with other departments.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment required.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to develop a business case required.
• Strong presentation skills are required.
• Ability to handle situations with confidence, tact, and resourcefulness required.
• Detail-oriented and the ability to solve complex problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists required.
• Proven skills in active listening with a seeking-to-understand approach.
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of dental devices including electromechanical and optical systems, endodontic motors and files, burs, polishers, hand-held extrusion devices for restorative materials, and dental curing lights.
• Drive projects from concept through commercialization, including feasibility studies, prototyping, design verification/validation, and transfer to manufacturing.
• Develop innovative solutions to improve product performance, reliability, and clinical outcomes, while maintaining compliance with FDA, ISO 13485, and other regulatory standards.
• Own the design process, including CAD modeling, design reviews, and execution of design control documentation from concept to launch readiness.
• Conduct testing and verification of new designs and design changes to ensure they meet performance, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain detailed documentation of design iterations, test results, and product specifications.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams including product management, project management, manufacturing, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and customer support to ensure seamless product development and launch.
• Serve as a technical liaison with external partners, suppliers, and clinicians to align on product requirements and performance expectations.
• Provide technical support for the current product line, addressing field issues and implementing design improvements.
• Maintain a strong understanding of current manufacturing processes and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure all product developments and changes comply with relevant industry standards and internal quality systems.
• Participate in continuous improvement activities such as Kaizen events, 5S, root cause analysis, value stream mapping, and process optimization.
• Support internal and external audits and contribute to regulatory submissions as needed.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership across multiple projects.
• Lead technical reviews and ensure adherence to best practices in design and development.

Benefits

• Annual performance bonus
• Medical/dental/vision benefits
• 401K match

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees