Principal Mechanical Engineer, R&D

Stryker; Portage (MI); Hybrid; USD 118,000 - 197,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Wellbeing program

Job summary

Stryker in Portage, MI is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer for the Surgical Technologies R&D team to lead the development of state‑of‑the‑art fluid and smoke management systems and guide cross‑functional teams. You will shape technical strategy and push breakthrough technologies to improve patient outcomes.

In this role you translate user needs into system specifications, mentor engineers, and drive data‑driven testing and validation while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Biomedical, or related field).
• Minimum eight years of relevant engineering experience.
• Experience designing and optimizing complex mechanical or electro‑mechanical systems.
• Proficiency in CAD modeling, GD&T, and CAE tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and evaluation of complex mechanical systems and platform-level architectures.
• Translate user needs into system-level specifications and influence product strategy.
• Guide advanced prototyping, testing, and resolution of high-impact design challenges using data-driven analysis.
• Mentor and influence engineering teams across the business in technical excellence and compliance.
• Assess and integrate emerging technologies to enhance product innovation.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to align technical solutions with clinical needs.
• Serve as a divisional expert in regulatory standards and engineering documentation.
• Drive cross-functional initiatives to improve processes, tools, and product performance.

Skills

CAD modeling

GD&T

CAe tools

Cross-functional leadership

Regulatory understanding

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

CAD software

CAE tools

Job description

Shape the Future of Medical Innovation

At Stryker, we’re not just building products, we’re transforming healthcare. As a Principal Mechanical Engineer for Stryker’s Surgical Technologie’s R&D team, you’ll work on developing the next generation of state-of-the-art fluid and smoke management systems that enable safer, cleaner, and more efficient surgical environments. Also, you’ll lead cross-functional teams, drive technical strategy, and develop breakthrough technologies that improve patient outcomes. This is your opportunity to lead with purpose and engineer with impact.

This is a hybrid role based role in Portage, MI.

To learn more about Stryker’s Surgical Technologies portfolio, please click here: Surgical Technologies | Stryker

What You Will Do

• Lead the design, development, and evaluation of complex mechanical systems and platform-level architectures.
• Translate user needs into system-level specifications and influence product strategy.
• Guide advanced prototyping, testing, and resolution of high-impact design challenges using data-driven analysis.
• Mentor and influence engineering teams across the business in technical excellence and compliance.
• Assess and integrate emerging technologies to enhance product innovation.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to align technical solutions with clinical needs.
• Serve as a divisional expert in regulatory standards and engineering documentation.
• Drive cross-functional initiatives to improve processes, tools, and product performance.

Required Qualifications

What You Will Need

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Biomedical, or related field).
• Minimum eight years of relevant engineering experience.
• Proven experience designing and optimizing complex mechanical or electro-mechanical systems.
• Proficiency in CAD modeling, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Design for Manufacturability (DFM), systems design, and reliability engineering.
• In-depth knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and regulatory environments.
• Ability to communicate complex technical strategies across business functions.
• Experience in medical device development or other highly regulated industries.
• Experience with fluid dynamics, air filtration, fabrication and plastics.

United States of America Pay Ranges:

• USN: $118,000 - $196,700 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.