Principal Engineer- Advanced Operations

Stryker Group; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 136,000 - 226,000; Full time

Job summary

Stryker Group in Irvine, CA seeks a Principal Advanced Operations Engineer - Technical Lead to drive manufacturing excellence for new product launches. You will lead cross-functional programs, optimize processes, and ensure operability and readiness through rigorous validation and technology transfer.

The role emphasizes collaboration with R&D, QMS, and manufacturing teams to accelerate commercialization and improve safety, quality, and cost performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing engineering, operations, or new product implementation.
• 5+ years leading complex technical projects and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead for advanced manufacturing and operations engineering initiatives supporting new product development, implementation, and commercialization.
• Provide strategic direction for manufacturing process development, optimization, scale-up, operational readiness, and technology transfer to production.
• Partner with R&D throughout the product development lifecycle to ensure manufacturability and scalability and drive engineering best practices through DFM and DFA.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
• Lead equipment qualification and process validation activities, including IQ/OQ/PQ execution.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering

Operations management

Project leadership

Lean manufacturing

Automation

Quality systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree

Job description

The Principal Advanced Operations Engineer - Technical Lead is a senior technical leader responsible for driving manufacturing excellence, process development, technology transfer, and operational readiness for new product launches. As the primary manufacturing and operations engineering authority within R&D, this role leads cross-functional initiatives to enhance manufacturability, improve operational performance, and accelerate commercialization. The position requires expertise in manufacturing engineering, process validation, lean manufacturing, automation, quality systems, and project leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the technical lead for advanced manufacturing and operations engineering initiatives supporting new product development, implementation, and commercialization.
• Provide strategic direction for manufacturing process development, optimization, scale-up, operational readiness, and technology transfer to production.
• Partner with R&D throughout the product development lifecycle to ensure manufacturability and scalability and drive engineering best practices through Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA).
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
• Lead equipment qualification and process validation activities, including IQ/OQ/PQ execution.
• Collaborate with Quality, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Regulatory Affairs, and R&D to deliver successful product launches and process implementations.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams, influence organizational stakeholders, and drive alignment on technical and operational decisions.
• Provide technical expertise in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, advanced manufacturing processes, automation, and process validation methodologies.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing engineering, operations, or new product implementation.
• 5+ years leading complex technical projects and cross-functional teams.

Preferred:

• Master's degree.
• Experience in regulated industries.
• Experience with process validation, equipment qualification, lean manufacturing, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience influencing both leaders and individual contributors cross functionally.

United States of America Pay Ranges:

• US15: $135,700 - $226,200 USD Annual