Principal Engineer- Advanced Operations

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

Job summary

Stryker Corporation is seeking a Principal Advanced Operations Engineer - Technical Lead in Irvine, CA to drive manufacturing excellence across new product launches and technology transfer. You will lead cross-functional teams, shape process development, and ensure operational readiness from development to commercialization.

Responsibilities include leading manufacturing engineering initiatives, validating processes, applying lean and Six Sigma, and partnering with R&D to scale manufacturability

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 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.

Skills

Manufacturing Engineering

Operations

New Product Implementation

Process Validation

Lean Manufacturing

Automation

Quality Systems

Project Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Master’s degree

Tools

DFM

DFA

IQ/OQ/PQ

Job description

Work Flexibility: Onsite

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

Travel Percentage: 20%

Stryker Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. Stryker is an EO employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability.

Stryker Corporation will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.