Principal Supplier Quality Engineer - Grand Rapids, MI
About The Position
At Medtronic, you can begin a life-long career of exploration and innovation, while helping champion healthcare access and equity for all. You’ll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation in a more connected, compassionate world. A Day in the Life The Medtronic Mindset challenges us to act boldly, move with urgency, collaborate effectively, and deliver results—the right way. At Medtronic, our most impactful technical leaders bring deep expertise, strong influence, and the ability to drive meaningful improvements across complex supplier networks. We are seeking a Principal Supplier Quality Engineer to join our Grand Rapids, MI manufacturing site and serve as a senior technical leader within the Supplier Quality organization. This role will play a critical part in strengthening supplier performance, resolving complex supplier quality issues, and driving sustainable improvements across the supplier base supporting our Cardiac Surgery portfolio. The Grand Rapids site manufactures approximately 600 finished products, including cannulae and beating heart products. The Principal SQE will partner closely with engineering, operations, and global supplier quality teams to address high impact supplier issues, guide strategic supplier initiatives, and influence quality performance across the supply chain. This role is ideal for an experienced supplier quality professional who thrives in complex technical environments, enjoys solving difficult problems, and brings the expertise and credibility to influence suppliers and cross-functional teams. At Medtronic, we bring bold ideas forward with speed and decisiveness to put patients first in everything we do. In-person exchanges are invaluable to our work. We’re working a minimum of 5 days a week onsite as part of our commitment to fostering a culture of professional growth and cross-functional collaboration as we work together to engineer the extraordinary.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Science or technical field with 7 years of work experience in Engineering and/or Quality OR Advanced degree in Engineering, Science or technical field with 5 years of work experience in Engineering and/or Quality OR PhD with 3 years work experience.
- For Baccalaureate degrees earned outside of the United States, a degree that satisfies the requirements of 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(A) is required.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced knowledge of supplier quality systems within regulated industries (medical device preferred)
- ASQ CQE, CQA, CSQP or Lead Auditor certification
- Lean / Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
- Experience leading supplier audits and supplier remediation efforts
- Experience supporting supplier qualification and supplier change management
- Strong knowledge of FDA QSR, ISO 13485, and supplier quality management systems
- Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams and external suppliers
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical communication skills
- Experience mentoring engineers or serving as a technical subject matter expert
Responsibilities
- Serve as a senior technical leader within Supplier Quality, providing expertise and guidance on complex supplier quality issues impacting the Grand Rapids site.
- Lead investigations and resolution of high-impact supplier quality issues, including nonconformances, supplier CAPAs, audit findings, and complaint-related supplier investigations.
- Drive supplier performance improvements through data-driven analysis, supplier engagement, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
- Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, and Global Supplier Quality teams to resolve supplier-related quality issues affecting incoming inspection or production.
- Lead or support supplier audits, supplier qualification activities, and supplier change management to ensure compliance with Medtronic purchasing controls.
- Support risk-based supplier oversight, identifying high-risk suppliers and implementing improvement strategies.
- Develop and monitor supplier quality performance metrics, identifying trends and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
- Provide technical leadership in cross-functional quality improvement initiatives related to supplier performance.
- Support new product development and product lifecycle activities, ensuring supplier readiness and quality controls are in place.
- Mentor and support other Supplier Quality Engineers by sharing technical expertise and best practices.
Benefits
- Health, Dental and vision insurance
- Health Savings Account
- Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability leave
- Dependent daycare spending account
- Tuition assistance/reimbursement
- Simple Steps (global well-being program)
- Incentive plans
- 401(k) plan plus 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
