Principal Research & Development (R&D) Engineer

Treace•Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

About The Position

Are you a technical expert and innovative leader looking to make a significant impact in product design and development? We are seeking a Principal R&D Engineer to manage and execute key design projects while mentoring other engineers. This role offers the opportunity to lead major product development initiatives from concept to production and contribute to the company’s short-term and long-term goals.

Requirements

Expert CAD knowledge (preferably SolidWorks) for creating parametric models and ASME Y14.5-compliant prints.
Proficient in interacting with design and manufacturing teams to balance manufacturability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
Advanced knowledge of CAD design, 3D print generation, FEA simulations, and ISO standards.
Strong ability to communicate schedules, budgets, designs, and testing results effectively to teams and stakeholders.
Ability to generate product designs based on customer input and surgeon feedback.
Comfort with cadaver work, surgical settings, and detailed research experiments to test feasibility.
Proven ability to work on cross-functional teams and assist in creating design documentation for medical devices.
Exceptional organizational and communication skills.
Strong attention to detail.
Expertise in product development, material selection, and industry best practices.
A desire to work on complex engineering problems and mentor your peers to grow the team’s capabilities.
Advanced experience using Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project).
SolidWorks proficiency required; familiarity with FEA and GD&T is a must.
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent engineering discipline
7+ years’ mechanical design and manufacturing experience of which 5+ years of actual product development experience bringing innovative product to market from conception to launch in regulated industry.

Nice To Haves

Preference is given to medical device development.

Responsibilities

Leading, participating in, and supporting activities throughout product development, including: Concept generation, Project planning, design, and execution stages, Prototyping, design for manufacturability (DFM), design for inspection (DFI), Risk assessments, pilot production, and design reviews, Verification, validation, and testing (protocol authorship, physical testing, reports), Pre-production and full production launch
Demonstrating expertise in material selection, manufacturing methods, inspection techniques, and critical measurements.
Engaging directly with customers alongside sales and marketing to gather design ideas, document concepts, and transition them into high-quality production-ready products.
Ensuring compliance with the company’s design quality system.