Principal, R&D Engineer

Vizient, Inc.; Edina (MN); On-site; USD 156,500 - 290,100; Full time

Job summary

Vizient, Inc. seeks a hands-on software engineer for a new R&D unit. You will ship real products used by Vizient members, validating ideas through rapid experiments and production-ready implementations.

You will collaborate with product leaders, move from concept to prototype to production, and shape the future of Vizient's R&D ecosystem with practical technical decisions and immediate impact.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to ship software in real environments.
• Comfort with ambiguous problems and real constraints.
• Ability to translate product goals into working software and outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Partner with product leaders to understand problems, users, and rationale.
• Shape solutions collaboratively or execute independently when needed.
• Move from idea to prototype to production with speed and durability.
• Make pragmatic technical decisions balancing speed and learning.
• Help define how the R&D unit operates as it grows.

Skills

Strong software engineering

Bias toward shipping

Ambiguity handling

Translate product intent to software

Track record of usable builds

2-5 years experience archetype

Job description

When you're the best, we're the best. We instill an environment where employees feel engaged, satisfied and able to contribute their unique skills and talents while living and working as their authentic selves. We provide extensive opportunities for personal and professional development, building both employee competence and organizational capability to fuel exceptional performance through an inclusive environment both now and in the future.

This is not a typical R&D role -- and it's not meant to be.

We're building something new inside Vizient -- and we're starting small on purpose.

This team operates like a set of focused startups: small, hands-on, and accountable for shipping real products that real customers use. The difference is that access to customers, data, and scale is already solved -- from day one.

You won't be exploring ideas in isolation. You'll be building, validating, and deploying software directly into live environments, with immediate feedback and a clear line of sight from problem to impact.

What You'll Work On

• Customer-facing tools used by real Vizient members
• Rapid experiments and prototypes designed to learn quickly
• Products that ship, evolve, and ship again -- in rapid succession
• Platform work that unlocks future product velocity

How You'll Work

• Partner closely with product leaders to understand problems, users, and rationale
• Shape solutions collaboratively when it makes sense, or execute independently when that's more effective
• Move fluidly from idea to prototype to production
• Make pragmatic technical decisions that balance speed, learning, and durability
• Help define how this R&D unit operates as it grows

What We're Looking For

• Strong software engineering fundamentals and a bias toward shipping
• Comfort working on ambiguous problems with real users and real constraints
• Ability to quickly understand product intent and translate it into working software
• A track record of building things that were actually used
• 2‑5 years of experience is common, but not required -- judgment and capability matter more than tenure
• Healthcare experience is not required

Why This Role Is Different

• It's a foundational role in a new business unit with room to grow
• You'll have real ownership and influence from the start
• You'll ship software into live environments, not slide decks or internal demos
• You'll help shape what R&D looks like at Vizient long-term

Requirements:

• Demonstrated success in leading high‑impact projects or initiatives in a fast‑paced, innovative environment
• Proven experience collaborating with cross‑functional stakeholders and influencing technical direction at an organizational level
• Prior exposure to large‑scale systems, cloud‑native platforms, and enterprise‑grade software development

Estimated Hiring Range:

At Vizient, we consider skills, experience, and organizational needs in our compensation approach. Geographic factors may adjust the range estimate and hires typically fall below the top range. Compensation decisions are tailored to individual circumstances. The current salary range for this role is $156,500.00 to $290,100.00. This position is also incentive eligible.

Benefits

Vizient has a comprehensive benefits plan! Please view our benefits here:

http://www.vizientinc.com/about-us/careers

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Females/Minorities/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The Company is committed to equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, gender identity, ethnicity, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status or any other category protected by applicable law.