Prin Manufacturing Engineer

Medtronic plc; Villalba (PR); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Medtronic Villalba site in Puerto Rico seeks a Principal Manufacturing Engineer to lead laser manufacturing processes, validate and sustain advanced capabilities within a regulated environment.

You will drive process controls (SPC, DOE), equipment qualification, technology transfer, and continuous improvement while partnering with R&D, Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure compliant, high-quality medical device production.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field; 7+ years in manufacturing engineering or related roles.
• Experience with laser-based manufacturing technologies in a regulated environment.
• Experience with process validation, equipment qualification, and SPC.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional engineering projects and drive process improvements.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and capability to implement effective corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, validation, optimization, and sustainment of laser manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Drive implementation of laser technologies (laser welding, cutting, marking) across manufacturing lines.
• Develop process controls using SPC, DOE, and data-driven methodologies.
• Lead equipment qualification, process validation, technology transfer, and continuous improvement projects.
• Evaluate equipment performance and implement corrective and preventive actions to boost process capability and product quality.
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain to deliver scalable, compliant manufacturing solutions.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship for laser processing technologies site-wide.
• Ensure processes, equipment, and documentation comply with regulatory and quality system requirements.

Skills

Laser-based manufacturing

SPC

DOE

Cross-functional leadership

Troubleshooting

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree in Manufacturing Engineering

PhD in a related field

Tools

SPC software

DOE tools

Laser equipment

Job description

Careers that change lives start here. Medtronic is a global leader in healthcare technology with a Mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life. Our 95,000 employees work across more than 150 countries to put patients first - developing innovative medical technologies that improve the lives of 72+ million patients each year. Your unique talents will help shape the future of healthcare while building a career grounded in purpose, growth, and impact.

A Day in the Life

The Villalba Manufacturing site manufactures medical technologies that support patients worldwide through advanced manufacturing processes and continuous improvement initiatives. The Manufacturing Engineering function partners closely with Operations, Quality, Research & Development, and Supply Chain teams to develop, optimize, validate, and sustain robust manufacturing processes that support safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

This position is based on site in Villalba, Puerto Rico, requiring close collaboration with manufacturing operations and cross-functional teams. The role serves as a technical leader for laser-based manufacturing technologies, process development, equipment implementation, and operational excellence initiatives to support supplier visits, training, benchmarking activities, and global project collaboration.

Job Description field

The Principal Manufacturing Engineer provides technical leadership for the development, implementation, optimization, and sustainment of manufacturing processes with a focus on laser technologies. This role leads complex engineering initiatives, supports advanced manufacturing solutions, and drives process performance, compliance, and product quality within a regulated manufacturing environment.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the development, validation, optimization, and sustainment of laser manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Drive implementation of laser technologies including laser welding, laser cutting, laser marking, and other precision laser applications.
• Develop manufacturing process controls utilizing Statistical Process Control (SPC), Design of Experiments (DOE), and data-driven methodologies.
• Lead equipment qualification, process validation, technology transfer, and continuous improvement projects.
• Evaluate manufacturing equipment performance and implement corrective and preventive actions to improve process capability and product quality.
• Partner with Research & Development, Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain teams to develop scalable and compliant manufacturing solutions.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and subject matter expertise for laser processing technologies across the site.
• Ensure manufacturing processes, equipment, and documentation comply with applicable regulatory and quality system requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 7+ years of manufacturing engineering experience OR Master's degree and 5+ years of manufacturing engineering experience OR PhD and 3+ years of manufacturing engineering experience.
• Experience with laser-based manufacturing technologies in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience in process validation, equipment qualification, and Statistical Process Control (SPC).
• Experience leading cross-functional engineering projects and process improvement initiatives.
• Experience troubleshooting manufacturing processes and implementing effective corrective actions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or Physics.
• Experience with laser welding, laser cutting, laser marking, laser ablation, or precision laser micromachining.
• Experience in medical device manufacturing.
• Experience in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Design of Experiments (DOE).
• Experience with automation, vision inspection systems, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Knowledge and experience on development, maintenance and / or troubleshooting of laser technology applications, including, but not limited to marking, welding, ablation manufacturing processes. Exposure and experience with laser safety for manufacturing applications.
• Knowledge and experience with Resistance solder welding (RSW) technology and manufacturing applications.
• 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.

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