Principal Process Development Engineer- Laser

Medtronic; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 129,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental and vision insurance

401(k) plan with employer match

Paid time off

Tuition assistance/reimbursement

Job summary

Medtronic in Tempe, AZ seeks a Principal Process Development Engineer to drive laser-based manufacturing processes from development through transfer to production. You will lead experiments, validate processes, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure robust, cost-effective solutions for laser joining, cutting of metal and glass.

The role requires hands-on laser system experience, strong DOE/DFSS knowledge, and a track record of delivering process improvements in a high-volume

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 7+ years hands-on experience with laser systems and optical components or PhD with 3+ years relevant experience.
• Experience in laser applications including joining, cutting, marking.
• Knowledge of DRM/DFSS and data-driven method use in process development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the innovation, development and/or optimization of new manufacturing concepts, processes and procedures for transfer to manufacturing operations.
• Champion the use of DRM and data-driven methods through process development.
• Define robust process flows for new products with process owners and product development teams.
• Own process characterization and validation activities to ensure maturity before transfer to manufacturing.
• Coordinate experiments and product builds to establish robust processes.
• Implement yield monitoring systems and address yield issues with cross-functional teams.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and documentation per quality systems.

Skills

Laser systems & optics

DRM/DFSS

DOE / statistics

G-code programming

Lean Six Sigma

Statistical methods

Minitab

JMP

Education

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Physics/Optics/Materials Science/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Minitab

JMP

Job description

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 6 Oct 2026Careers 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 LifeAt Medtronic, we bring bold ideas forward with speed and decisiveness to put patients first in everything we do. In-person exchanges are invaluable to our work. We’re working onsite 5 days a week as part of our commitment to fostering a culture of professional growth and cross-functional collaboration as we work together to engineer the extraordinary.This Principal Process Development Engineer will be responsible for the development of laser based processes through release to manufacturing. The Engineer will lead process development and process improvement projects in laser joining and laser cutting of metal and glass materials. Process development work scope may span across multiple process areas with a primary focus in laser equipment. They will coordinate risk burn down and problem-solving experiments by utilizing DRM/DFSS (Design and Reliability for Manufacturing / Design For Six Sigma) and data driven methods. They will also be responsible for managing the validation activities for the development work including requirements flow down, effective control and monitoring strategies and ensuring compliance to regulations and safety for our patients.Responsibilities may include the following and other duties may be assigned.Lead the innovation, development and/or optimization of new manufacturing concepts, processes and procedures for transfer to manufacturing operations.Champion the use of Design for Reliability and Manufacturing (DRM) and data driven methods through process developmentWork with process owners and product development teams to define robust process flows for new productsWork with technology development to understand new process technologies for research and development towards release to manufacturing operations.Own requirements flow down from product design to process development, including working with process owners to disposition inputs / outputs to deliver efficient, cost effective and robust control and monitor strategiesOwn equipment scouting, down selection, qualification and characterization.Own process characterization and process validation activities to ensure maturity and stability of processes when released to manufacturing.Own the interfaces and interactions between processes and determine product integration risksLead risk assessments and risk burn down activities for process interfaces and interactionsProvide input into product and process design based on an understanding of the integration risksApplies statistical methods and science-based decisions to design experiments and implement improvementsCoordinate and/or perform necessary experiments and product builds to establish robust processesImplement and own yield monitoring systems and procedures for equipment and processes developedMonitor, root cause and resolve process yield issues during product and process developmentLead the identification and implementation of corrective actions for yield issues in collaboration with process owners and product engineersReviews product development requirements for compatibility with processing methods to determine costs and schedulesInteracts with product design and development personnel to ensure that processes and designs are compatibleGenerates and maintains documentation per quality system regulationsEnsures processes and procedures are in compliance with regulationsRequired Knowledge and Experience: Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 7 years relevant hands-on experience with laser systems and optical components or advanced degree plus a minimum of 5 years relevant experience with laser systems and optical components OR PhD with 3 years relevant experience.Preferred Experience (Nice to Have):Experience in laser applications, including laser selection, optics package selection and ideally in joining, cutting, and markingExperience with G-code or other programming languages to support laser system recipe developmentExperience with DRM / Design for Six Sigma, Lean Sigma, or Green/Black Belt Lean Sigma certificationKnowledge of DOE, statistical analysis methods and data analysis tools (Minitab, JMP, etc.)Strong problem-solving skillsExperience with wafer fabrication processesExperience in developing a process from concept to transfer in manufacturing and/or experienceworking in a high-volume manufacturing environmentAdvanced degree in Physics, Optics, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or similar disciplineFor 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 RequirementsThe 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 & SponsorshipAt 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.Recruitment Fraud AlertWe are aware of phishing scams targeting job seekers. Please keep the following in mind:Apply only through official Medtronic channels. All legitimate Medtronic recruiting communications come from approved Medtronic platforms and official @medtronic.com email addresses.Medtronic will never ask for payment or sensitive personal information (such as bank account or Social Security details) during early stages of the hiring process. Any such requests are not legitimate.If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be from Medtronic, do not respond, click links, or open attachments.If you have any questions, concerns regarding the authenticity of a communication alleged to have been made by or on behalf of Medtronic, please contact us immediately at [e-mail] .Benefits & CompensationMedtronic offers a competitive Salary and flexible Benefits PackageA 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):$128,800.00 - $193,200.00This 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).The following benefits and additional compensation are available to those regular employees who work 20+ hours per week: 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 , and Simple Steps (global well-being program).The following benefits and additional compensation are available to all regular employees: 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) , and 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. Please note some of the above benefits may not apply to workers in Puerto Rico.Further details are available at the link below:Medtronic benefits and compensation plansIt 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.If you are applying to perform work for Medtronic, Inc. (“Medtronic”) in any position which will involve performing at least two (2) hours of work on average each week within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, you can find here a list of all material job duties of the specific job position which Medtronic reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. Medtronic will consider for employment qualified job applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.