Sr. Engineering Program Director, Quality Strategy & Investigation Excellence

Medtronic•North Haven, MN

About The Position

Medtronic is seeking a senior leader to build and sustain capabilities in Reliability Engineering, Statistics & Analytics, and Root Cause Excellence. Working across a global matrix of Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, R&D, Clinical, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Customer Experience, and Digital organizations, this role will strengthen investigation effectiveness, accelerate problem resolution, improve CAPA effectiveness, and advance predictive, proactive, data-driven quality management. The position leads strategic workstreams covering investigation methodology, Quality Reliability Engineering capability development, advanced analytical approaches, and critical quality event support. It balances strategy and execution, coaches technical experts, aligns stakeholders, and develops long-term organizational capability. The role also oversees aspects of medical device and software design and development, technical quality and reliability systems, technology evaluation, new concept development, feasibility studies, R&D documentation, supplier and consultant coordination, and personnel development. As a program management leader, the incumbent oversees multiple major strategic programs and initiatives across the organization, establishes portfolio objectives and budgets, and leads matrixed teams. The role requires advanced leadership and technical expertise, strong cross-functional influence, and the ability to address complex problems affecting multiple businesses or functions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and at least 15 years of relevant experience, including 10 or more years of managerial experience; or an advanced degree and at least 13 years of relevant experience, including 10 or more years of managerial experience.
Advanced management and leadership knowledge to lead cross-department project teams or manage across multiple functions.
Mastery in a specific technical area or broad expertise across multiple related disciplines.
For bachelor's degrees earned outside the United States, the degree must satisfy the requirements of 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(A).

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, Materials Science, or a related discipline.
Experience in medical device, aerospace, defense, semiconductor, automotive, energy, or another high-reliability industry.
Expertise in advanced root cause methods such as Shainin Red X, Fault Tree Analysis, Apollo RCA, Event & Causal Factor Analysis, Physics of Failure, reliability-centered investigations, or 6-Sigma.
Experience building or leading Reliability Engineering, Failure Analysis, Investigation Excellence, or Quality Intelligence organizations.
Expertise in reliability methods such as Weibull analysis, reliability growth, accelerated life testing, and reliability modeling.
Expertise in advanced statistical methods such as DOE, regression modeling, predictive analytics, Bayesian methods, and complex data interpretation.
Experience deploying enterprise-wide technical training and certification programs.
Experience developing communities of practice and technical career frameworks.
Formal certifications in Reliability Engineering, Six Sigma, Shainin Red X, Quality Engineering, Statistics, or related disciplines.

Responsibilities

Establish and lead a centralized Investigation Excellence Engineering capability.
Develop organizational strategy for Root Cause Analysis and advanced quality analytics.
Lead deployment and governance of advanced investigation methodologies, including Shainin Red X, Lean Six-Sigma, and other structured problem-solving approaches.
Provide escalation support for critical investigations, major quality events, recalls, and CAPAs.
Build communities of practice and technical career pathways for Quality Reliability Engineers.
Develop and mentor technical experts in investigation disciplines.
Establish standards for investigation quality, analytical rigor, and root cause determination.
Partner with Quality, Engineering, Manufacturing, and R&D leaders to identify emerging signals and improve product performance.
Advance predictive, data-driven, and proactive quality management.
Plan, direct, and implement aspects of the design and development of medical device products or software systems.
Develop, evaluate, implement, and maintain technical quality assurance, control, or reliability systems and standards.
Oversee investigation and evaluation of existing technologies.
Guide conceptualization of new methodologies, materials, machines, processes, or products, and direct concepts from initial design to market release.
Manage feasibility studies to determine whether designs can function as intended.
Monitor documentation maintenance throughout research and development.
Coordinate activities with outside suppliers and consultants to support timely delivery.
Select, develop, and evaluate personnel to support efficient operation of the function.
Oversee strategic program portfolios, team performance, timelines, milestones, budgets, and program execution.
Communicate strategic proposals and critical program outcomes to senior and executive leadership.

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.
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.