Prin Test Engineer - Neuro

Principal Test Engineer

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.

Position Overview

As a Principal Test Engineer in the Neuromodulation Therapy Delivery team, you will serve as a technical leader responsible for the design, execution, and analysis of complex test systems for therapy delivery products. You will play a critical role in requirements development, feasibility studies, design verification, and root-cause analysis, ensuring product safety, efficacy, and reliability. You will collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, clinical, and regulatory teams, and mentor junior engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute test strategies: Lead requirement development, feasibility, and design verification testing for DBS therapy delivery systems.
• Surgical procedure familiarity: Leverage understanding of DBS implant procedures to inform test method development and risk analysis.
• Preclinical study leadership: Design and lead animal and human cadaver studies focused on loading and deformation of delivery systems.
• Root cause analysis: Investigate and resolve failures in test systems, procedures, and product requirements using structured problem-solving techniques.
• Fatigue testing: Design and conduct fatigue tests (including SN curve generation) for conductor systems using Bose and MTS test systems.
• Mechanical analysis: Perform stress and strain analyses of tubing and conductors; apply curvature measurement techniques for fatigue assessment and flexural modulus measurement.
• Statistical data analysis: Apply advanced statistical methods to interpret test results and drive decision-making.
• Imaging & analysis: Utilize imaging modalities (X-ray, Bi-plane, CT, O-arm) and CT reconstruction software for measurement and analysis of therapy delivery products.
• Electrical characterization: Conduct electrical testing, including AC impedance and dielectric strength assessments of insulation systems.
• Custom tool development: Create and maintain custom data analysis tools (e.g., MATLAB) for test automation and data interpretation.
• Documentation: Author detailed test protocols, reports, and regulatory submission documents.
• Mentorship: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and cross-functional teams.

Required Qualifications

Bachelors degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Biomedical, Electrical, or related field); and minimum of 7 years of relevant experience OR Master's degree with a minimum of 5 years relevant experience OR PhD with 3 years relevant experience.

To Be Successful In This Role

8+ years of experience in medical device testing, preferably in neuromodulation or therapy delivery systems. Demonstrated expertise with DBS therapy delivery systems and implant procedures. Extensive experience with fatigue testing, SN curve generation, and mechanical/electrical characterization. Proficient in imaging modalities and reconstruction software for measurement and analysis. Strong statistical analysis skills and familiarity with relevant software. Proficiency in MATLAB or similar data analysis/programming tools. Excellent communication, technical writing, and leadership skills. Experience with regulatory standards for medical devices (e.g., FDA, ISO 13485). Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with Bose and MTS test systems. Track record of leading preclinical studies (animal and cadaver). Advanced knowledge of stress/strain analysis and curvature measurement techniques. Experience in developing automated test systems and custom analysis tools.

Physical Job Requirements

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position, but they are not an exhaustive list of all the required responsibilities and skills of this position. The physical demands described within the Responsibilities section of this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Benefits & Compensation

Medtronic offers a competitive salary and flexible benefits package. A commitment to our employees lives at the core of our values. We recognize their contributions. They share in the success they help to create. We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every career and life stage. Salary ranges for U.S (excl. PR) locations (USD):$128,800.00 - $193,200.00. This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP). The base salary range is applicable across the United States, excluding Puerto Rico and specific locations in California. The offered rate complies with federal and local regulations and may vary based on factors such as experience, certification/education, market conditions, and location. Compensation and benefits information pertains solely to candidates hired within the United States (local market compensation and benefits will apply for others). The following benefits and additional compensation are available to those regular employees who work 20+ hours per week: 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, and Simple Steps (global well-being program). The following benefits and additional compensation are available to all regular employees: 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), and Capital Accumulation Plan (available to Vice Presidents and above, or subject to IRS earning minimums).

About Medtronic

We lead global healthcare technology and boldly attack the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people. We are engineers at heart— putting ambitious ideas to work to generate real solutions for real people. From the R&D lab, to the factory floor, to the conference room, every one of us experiments, creates, builds, improves and solves. We have the talent, diverse perspectives, and guts to engineer the extraordinary.

We Change Lives

Each team member, each day, helps to improve and redefine how the world treats the most pressing health conditions, from heart disease to diabetes. Our industry leadership comes from the passion and ingenuity of our people. That's who we are. Working alongside one another, we use science, medicine, and a profound understanding of the human body to build extraordinary technologies that can transform lives.

We Build Extraordinary Solutions As One Team

With one Medtronic Mindset defining how we work. Speed and decisiveness run through our DNA. Diverse perspectives inspire our bold answers to any challenge that comes our way. And we deliver results the right way, breakthrough after patient breakthrough.

This Life-Changing Career Is Yours To Engineer

By bringing your ambitious ideas, unique perspective and contributions, you will… Build a better future, amplifying your impact on the causes that matter to you and the world Grow a career reflective of your passion and abilities Connect to a dynamic and inclusive culture that welcomes the challenge of life-long learning

These Commitments Set Our Team Apart From The Rest:

• Experiences that put people first. Respect for people is the hallmark of our humanity. It fuels our team to positively impact even a single life. And it means we put our people first at Medtronic as well, creating a culture of belonging and always pushing to get you the career-building resources you need.
• Life-transforming technologies. No matter your role, you contribute to technologies that transform lives. What we build empowers patients to live life on their terms.
• Better outcomes for our world. Here, it's about more than the bottom line. Our Mission to improve human welfare drives us. We advance healthcare, society, and equity with every design, inside and outside our walls.
• Insight-driven care. Fresh viewpoints. Cutting-edge AI, data, and automation. You're shaping the future of healthcare technology and defining the next generation of breakthroughs in care

It is the policy of Medtronic to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Medtronic will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

For sales reps and other patient facing field employees, going into a healthcare setting is considered an essential function of the job and we expect our employees to comply with all