Principal Automation Engineer

MED Medtronic Inc; Danvers (MA); On-site; USD 122,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental and vision insurance

401(k) plan with employer match

Short-term disability

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Medtronic is seeking a Principal Automation Engineer for the Danvers, Massachusetts manufacturing site. Based onsite, you will lead automation and machine-vision initiatives, qualify equipment, and drive reliability improvements across manufacturing operations.

You will partner with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, R&D, and site leadership to prioritize projects and grow the automation roadmap.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering and 7+ years in manufacturing automation.
• Experience leading technical projects within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading equipment qualification, validation, and change control activities (IQ/OQ/PQ).

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Automation Engineering and Operations & Innovation representative for the Danvers site.
• Lead automation and machine-vision initiatives, including equipment qualification and performance optimization.
• Support automated manufacturing systems through root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Develop and maintain the site’s automation roadmap and project pipeline.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement emerging automation technologies.
• Prioritize and execute automation projects with cross-functional teams.
• Ensure automated systems comply with quality, validation, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with regional automation teams to standardize solutions across sites.

Skills

Automation engineering

Machine vision

Troubleshooting

Project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Manufacturing equipment

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Electrical/Manufacturing/Controls Engineering

Master’s degree or higher in Engineering/Automation/Controls

Tools

IQ/OQ/PQ

PLC/HMI

Machine vision systems

Industrial robotics

Automation equipment

Job description

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 16 Oct 2026. 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.

The Operations & Innovation (O&I) Engineering organization partners with manufacturing sites to advance automation capabilities, improve operational performance, and accelerate deployment of emerging manufacturing technologies. The team supports automation strategy, equipment development, process optimization, and technology implementation across manufacturing operations while establishing scalable solutions that improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

The Principal Automation Engineer serves as the primary Operations & Innovation Automation Engineering representative for the Danvers, Massachusetts manufacturing site. The role is based onsite in Danvers and partners closely with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Research & Development, and site leadership teams. Periodic travel to North Haven, Connecticut and other East Region manufacturing sites is required to support project execution, collaboration, and automation initiatives. Expected travel is approximately 10-15%.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Automation Engineering and Operations & Innovation representative for the Danvers manufacturing site.
• Lead automation and machine vision initiatives, including equipment qualification, performance optimization, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement activities.
• Support automated manufacturing systems through technical problem-solving, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and reliability improvements.
• Develop and maintain the site’s automation roadmap and project pipeline to support operational objectives and future business needs.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement emerging automation technologies that enhance manufacturing performance and scalability.
• Partner with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Research & Development, and site leadership to prioritize and execute automation projects.
• Ensure automated systems comply with quality, validation, safety, and regulatory requirements within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Collaborate with regional automation teams to standardize solutions, share best practices, and leverage common technologies across manufacturing sites.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Controls Engineering and 7+ years of experience supporting manufacturing automation, controls, robotics, machine vision systems, industrial equipment, or automated manufacturing processes.
• Experience leading technical projects within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience troubleshooting complex manufacturing equipment and implementing sustainable corrective actions.
• Experience leading equipment qualification, validation, and change control activities, including Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), and Performance Qualification (PQ).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Engineering, Automation, Controls Engineering, Computer Vision, Data Science, or Artificial Intelligence.
• Experience collaborating across cross-functional teams to drive technical decisions and project execution.
• Experience in medical device, pharmaceutical, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience with automated assembly equipment, robotics, motion control systems, machine vision technologies, and programmable logic controller (PLC) and human-machine interface (HMI) automation platforms.
• Experience implementing advanced inspection technologies, industrial vision systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or data-driven manufacturing solutions.
• 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.

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. 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.

U.S. Work Authorization & Sponsorship

At Medtronic, we are committed to fostering an environment where employees can thrive and make a meaningful impact. In alignment with our enterprise-wide workforce planning approach, U.S. work authorization sponsorship (H-1B, TN, J, etc.) is offered exclusively for Principal-level roles and above, where specialized expertise aligns with long-term business needs. Roles below the Principal level require candidates to possess unrestricted U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and for the duration of employment.

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):$122,400.00 - $183,600.00. 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).

• 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
• Simple Steps (global well-being program)
• 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)
• 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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

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 credentialing requirements at the hospitals or clinics they support. This employer participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E-Verify program, please click here.

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