Senior Human Centered Design Researcher
About The Position
The Innovation Lab is an internal experience, design, and strategy consulting team that partners globally to solve complex challenges and drive growth using Human-Centered Design (HCD). As a Senior Human Centered Design Researcher, you will work with designers, strategists, and cross-functional partners to lead research sprints, build deep user empathy, and translate insights into actionable direction. The role focuses on early-stage research—such as contextual inquiry, interviews, and concept evaluation—to uncover unmet needs and inform product design. Your work supports innovative healthcare solutions and enables a smooth transition into development by clearly defining user needs, experience principles, and value for both users and Medtronic. We believe that when people from different cultures, genders, and points of view come together, innovation is the result —and everyone wins. Medtronic walks the walk, creating an inclusive culture where you can thrive. Our unwavering commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equity (ID&E) means zero barriers to opportunity within Medtronic and a culture where all employees belong, are respected, and feel valued for who they are and the life experiences they contribute. We know equity starts beyond our workplace, and we must play a role in addressing systemic inequities in our communications to achieve long-term sustainable impact. Anchored in our Mission, we continue to drive ID&E forward both to enhance the well-being of Medtronic employees and to accelerate innovation that brings our lifesaving technologies to more people in more places around the world. Bring your talents to an industry leader in medical technology and healthcare solutions – we’re a market leader and growing every day. You can be proud to be a part of technologies that are rooted in our long history of mission-driven innovation. You will be empowered to shape your own career. We encourage and support your growth with the training, mentorship, and guidance you need to own your future success. Together, we can transform healthcare. Join us for a career in IT that changes lives.
Requirements
- 4+ years of experience with a bachelor’s degree or 2+ years of experience with an advanced degree
Nice To Haves
- Experience working in healthcare, medical devices, or other regulated environments with exposure to healthcare systems, clinical workflows, and medical device regulatory context
- Consulting experience desired
- Bachelor’s degree in Design Research, Human Centered Design, Human Factors, Psychology, Marketing, Anthropology, Sociology, Biomedical Engineering, Service Design or a related field, or equivalent professional experience OR Master's degree in human-centered design or behavioral science discipline
- Demonstrated ability to independently lead end-to-end research initiatives, including scoping, method selection, field execution, synthesis, and delivery of actionable insights
- Strong familiarity and execution of human centered and qualitative research methods including team facilitation / moderation, contextual inquiry, ethnographic observations, in-depth interviews, usability or concept evaluation
- Proven ability to synthesize qualitative data into clear insights that inform design decisions, experience principles, and product strategy
- Professional experience conducting qualitative design research within product, service, or experience design teams
- Familiarity with front end innovation, upstream product development, early phase concept exploration, and identifying emerging trends in medical practice and technology
- Ability to influence decision-making through clear and compelling communication, with experience presenting research findings to diverse audiences and facilitating workshops and working sessions
- Ability to communicate ideas and insights visually through deliverables such sketches, workflows, concepts, features, functions of devices, etc.
- Experience supporting global or cross-cultural research initiative
- 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.
Responsibilities
- Scope, plan, and align research and Human Centered Design (HCD) activities with Medtronic Operating Unit (OU) marketing, R&D, and technology leaders, ensuring alignment on objectives, approach, deliverables, and impact
- Lead and execute multiple concurrent research sprints in partnership with OU teams, working independently in the field and/or providing strategic guidance for execution
- Develop and drive research methods that explore conceptual use scenarios, workflows, and unmet needs through contextual inquiry, observation, and qualitative engagement with users and stakeholders
- Collaborate with cross-functional partners to design and refine research materials, including recruitment criteria and processes, screeners, interview guides, and concept stimuli
- Synthesize complex qualitative data into clear, actionable insights and research outputs, with a strong emphasis on linking findings to user experience implications, product strategy, and Medtronic business objectives
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
Senior
