Engineer, FORGE (Future Operations Leaders Growth and Excellence) Program

Stryker; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan

Employee stock purchase plan

Wellbeing program

Job summary

Stryker in Kalamazoo, MI is seeking graduates to join the FORGE program. You’ll begin in Operations Engineering and rotate through two additional functional areas, gaining hands-on experience in device manufacturing, process optimization, and cross‑functional teamwork.

The 20‑month program blends hard engineering training with leadership development, including six sigma, design transfer, GD&T, and global interactions. Mentorship and global projects accelerate growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's in an engineering discipline with December 2026 or spring 2027 graduation dates.
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (or equivalent).
• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship and willing to travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Quality Engineering to provide manufacturing support.
• Provide engineering support for projects including change analysis, risk analysis, and manufacturing readiness.
• Troubleshoot issues affecting safety, quality, cost, or delivery of components and finished devices.
• Conduct qualification, verification, and validation activities for medical devices.
• Design, develop, and improve manufacturing processes and operations; support new product development.
• Train and provide work direction to operators and technicians.

Skills

Engineering degree

GPA 3.0

Legal work authorization

Travel internationally

Self-starter

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication

Reading engineering drawings

FDA/regulatory experience beneficial

PC skills

Education

B.S or M.S in Engineering

Job description

Who we want

Challengers. People who seek out the hard projects and work to find just the right solutions.

Teammates. Partners who listen to ideas, share thoughts and work together to move the business forward.

Charmestic networkers. Relationship-savvy people who intentionally make connections with both internal partners and external contacts.

Strategic thinkers. Individuals who propose innovative ideas and consistently exceed their performance objectives.

Customer-oriented achievers. Individuals with an unparalleled work ethic and customer-focused attitude who bring value to their partnerships.

Game changers. Persistent interns who will live out Stryker’s mission to make healthcare better.

The Program

This role is part of the FORGE (Future Operations Leaders Growth and Excellence) Program that provides engineering and leadership development across several areas of Stryker’s business. Engineers in this role will have the opportunity for on‑site functional rotations between the Operations Engineering, Continuous Improvement, and Operations Organization, gaining highly valuable experience in key areas of Device Manufacturing Business. The program is 20 months in duration and begins in September of each year. Core training opportunities in both hard engineering and soft personal skills for example, validation activities in regulated industry, design transfer requirements, GD&T, additive manufacturing, six‑sigma greenbelt, presentation skills, finance, and global interactions are integrated into the program. Exposure to Senior Leadership within Stryker and networking opportunities including global interactions across the business are a fundamental part of the program.

What you get out of the program

Stryker, a global leader in medical technology takes great pride in their people, and that’s why we’re looking to expand our talent. As a result, we are looking for the best and brightest graduates to strengthen our team and drive our business going forward.

A development journey that’s tailored to you! The FORGE Program is designed specifically for highly talented individuals who are looking for an accelerated career progression. Participants will benefit from:

• Networking with Senior Leadership
• Exposure to cutting edge technology
• Executive mentorship
• Global collaboration & training programs

All resulting in inspiring & fulfilling careers, enduring friendships, and accelerated career progression!

Functional Rotation Opportunities

As a program participant, graduates will begin their journey with Operations Engineering, then rotate through two other functional areas before returning to Operations Engineering.

Operations Engineering

Manufacturing Engineers are key players in supporting Manufacturing and Operations of Stryker products. The function focuses on opportunities to increase capacity, reduce scrap, improve safety, monitor existing processes, and identify and implement process improvements while adhering to medical device manufacturing regulations.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Quality Engineering to provide manufacturing support.
• You will be responsible for providing manufacturing engineering support to specific projects including change analysis, risk analysis, and manufacturing readiness.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues relating to the safety, efficacy, quality, cost, or delivery of components and finished devices.
• Conduct qualification, verification, and validation activities to produce medical devices.
• You will be responsible for completing engineering work and contribute to new product development teams and product support, typically including the following activities: technology development, test of materials or products, preparation of specifications, six sigma, process studies, process improvements, and report preparation.
• Design, procure, and fabricate tooling and fixtures.
• Design, document, and improve manufacturing processes and operations that control the safety and efficacy of finished devices.
• Train, develop, and/or provide work direction to operators and technicians.
• Participate on cross-functional project teams. Coordinate, manage, and document project work and progress, and recommend appropriate revisions.
• Participate in design control efforts related to risk analysis (failure mode and effect analysis) & design reviews.
• You will interface with product builders or extrusion technicians, production supervisors, and engineers in troubleshooting problems on the production floor.
• Identify and implement process/product improvement alternatives to increase/optimize yield, efficiency, throughput, and/or performance.
• Design, develop, test, and validate equipment and processes; analyze and interpret process models and recommend process improvements.
• All other duties as assigned.

What You Need

• B.S or M.S. in Engineering; Mechanical, Industrial & Operations, Manufacturing, or related discipline. We will only consider candidates with December 2026 or spring of 2027 graduation dates
• 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA (or equivalent)
• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. and not require employment-based sponsorship now or in the future
• Ability to travel internationally
• Self-starter with demonstrated efficient work methods, analytical & problem‑solving skills and ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast‑paced environment.
• The individual should enjoy working in a fast paced, dynamic and results orientated team environment.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to effectively work cross‑functionally and externally as required.
• Basic knowledge of manufacturing processes, materials, product and process design.
• Must be able to read and interpret complex engineering drawings and have the ability to understand geometrical dimensioning and tolerancing.
• Experience in an FDA regulated or regulated industry beneficial.
• High level of PC Skills required.
• Excellent attention to detail.

The Company

Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies and, together with our customers, is driven to make healthcare better. We offer innovative products and services in Orthopedics, Medical and Surgical, and Neurotechnology and Spine that help improve patient and hospital outcomes.

We grow talent. We give you the opportunity to develop your career based on your strengths and potential, including the possibility to move geographically, functionally, laterally and vertically. Stryker is a career destination for engaged, passionate and talented people who are driven to seek the innovation, growth and opportunity that only we offer. detailed job description here.

Pay Transparency Details

United States of America Pay Ranges:

• Puerto Rico: $64,400 - $94,400 USD Annual
• USN: $69,500 - $110,900 USD Annual
• US5: $73,000 - $116,400 USD Annual
• US10: $76,500 - $122,000 USD Annual
• US15: $79,900 - $127,500 USD Annual
• US20: $83,400 - $133,100 USD Annual
• US30: $90,400 - $144,200 USD Annual

Health benefits include: Medical and prescription drug insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, personalized healthcare support, wellbeing program and tobacco cessation program. Financial benefits include: Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), 401(k) plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), basic life and AD&D insurance, and short-term disability insurance.

Stryker offers innovative products and services in MedSurg, Neurotechnology, Orthopaedics and Spine that help improve patient and healthcare outcomes. Alongside its customers around the world, Stryker impacts more than 150 million patients annually. Depending on customer requirements employees and new hires in sales and field roles that require access to customer accounts as a function of the job may be required to obtain various vaccinations as an essential function of their role.