Distinguished Automation Engineer

: We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 19 May 2025

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

In this exciting role as a Distinguished Automation Engineer, you will develop concepts, design, prototype, and build custom automation equipment to optimize manufacturing processes in the medical device industry. This global role supports multiple manufacturing sites and drives the design, development, and flawless execution of automation projects. As this is a newly created role, you will also be responsible for establishing best practices and standards for the design, development, and validation of automation systems. Beyond technical execution, this role will drive innovation by exploring emerging automation technologies, mentoring technical teams, influencing technical strategy, and aligning automation initiatives with broader business and operational objectives. Familiarity with regulated environments (FDA, GMP, ISO 13485) and awareness of Industry 4.0 technologies (IIoT, machine vision, robotics, and advanced analytics) is highly desirable.

A Day in the Life

• Develop conceptual designs integrating electrical and software controls for advanced automation equipment

• Prototype, build, and test automation solutions to validate feasibility

• Generate clear and detailed equipment and software specifications based on process requirements

• Prepare and present design specifications, analyses, and recommendations for review and approval

• Collaborate with external automation vendors to manage design, build, testing, and validation activities

• Partner with internal stakeholders across Engineering, Operations, and Quality to align strategies and project goals

• Ensure operations and production teams are adequately trained and ready to support new automation systems before deployment

• Lead testing, validation, and documentation efforts (IQ/OQ/PQ) to ensure successful production release

• Provide post-go-live hypercare support to ensure flawless system deployment

• Develop and promote best practices for automation equipment design, process control, and software change management

• Collaborate with early-stage product development teams to influence designs for manufacturability and automation readiness

• Design and build laboratory prototypes to test early concepts and automation control solutions

• Mentor engineers and junior team members to build technical depth within the automation team

• Explore and propose innovative solutions that incorporate advanced technologies such as IIoT, machine vision, and robotics

• Assess business impact and align automation strategies with organizational goals

Must Haves

• Bachelor's degree and 15+ years of experience developing, building, and installing automation equipment in the life sciences or regulated industries; or an advanced degree with 13+ years of relevant experience

Nice to Have

• Extensive PLC programming experience, including building new control systems.

• Proficient in object-oriented programming languages (C++, C#, Java, or Python)

• Experience integrating automation systems with MES systems for real-time data collection and control

• Proven project management skills, with the ability to set roadmaps and manage cross-functional project pipelines

• Experience managing external automation vendors, including defining user requirements, statements of work, and project execution oversight

• Familiarity with regulatory requirements (FDA, GMP, ISO 13485) for manufacturing environments

• Certified or trained in Lean, Six Sigma, or DRM (Design for Reliability and Manufacturability)

• Strong knowledge of DFMEA, PFMEA, DFM, and DFA principles

• Significant experience with medium- to high-volume assembly and test automation technologies, including validation protocols (IQ/OQ/PQ, MSA)

• Familiarity with statistical analysis methods (DOE, process capability studies, process control)

• Expertise in Industrial Engineering tools such as balance tables, process flow diagrams, line layouts, and ergonomic workstation design

• Exceptional project management and team leadership abilities

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 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. For Office Roles: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be independently mobile. The employee is also required to interact with a computer, and communicate with peers and co-workers. Contact your manager or local HR to understand the Work Conditions and Physical requirements that may be specific to each role.

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):$196,000.00 - $294,000.00 This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP).

This position is eligible for an annual long-term incentive plan.

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).

Regular employees are those who are not temporary, such as interns. Temporary employees are eligible for paid sick time, as required under applicable state law, and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Please note some of the above benefits may not apply to workers in Puerto Rico.

Further details are available at the link below:

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.

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.

If you are applying to perform work for Medtronic, Inc. (“Medtronic”) in any position which will involve performing at least two (2) hours of work on average each week within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, you can find here a list of all material job duties of the specific job position which Medtronic reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. Medtronic will consider for employment qualified job applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.