Senior Principal Tool Engineer

Medtronic; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 151,000 - 227,000; Full time

Job summary

Medtronic in the United States seeks a Senior Principal Tooling Engineer to lead the design, build and process development of injection molding tools for plastic components within New Product Development.

This role provides technical leadership in plastic part design, mold flow analysis, polymer rheology, and tooling design while guiding suppliers through tool build, validation and qualification activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; 10+ years’ experience with a bachelor, or 8+ years with an advanced degree.
• Experience leading mold tool development and supplier qualification activities.
• Strong knowledge of GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, build and process development of injection molding tools for plastic components.
• Guide suppliers through tool build, validation and qualification activities.
• Apply GD&T, tolerance stack-up analysis, DOE, MSA and SPC to support robust processes.
• Own and drive mold tool development and injection molding projects; supplier-facing role.

Skills

GD&T

Mold Flow

3D CAD

DOE

MSA

SPC

Supplier coordination

GDT

Statistical tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

3D CAD packages

Data analysis software

Job description

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 19 Sep 2026

Careers 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 Life

At Medtronic, we bring bold ideas forward with speed and decisiveness to put patients first in everything we do. This position is remote to enhance our competitive edge and expand our cross-functional collaboration efforts. This role requires 50% of travel to enhance collaboration and ensure successful completion of projects.

Molding & Capital Tooling strives to be a trusted, technical-focused organization by delivering molds on schedule, within budget, and of the highest quality, while promoting team development, innovation, and partnerships.

The Senior Principal Tooling Engineer leads the design, build and process development of injection molding tools for plastic components within New Product Development, ensuring alignment with product design, material, and manufacturing requirements. This role provides technical leadership in plastic part design, mold flow analysis, polymer rheology, and tooling design while guiding suppliers through tool build, validation, and qualification activities. The engineer applies Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), tolerance stack-up analysis, and statistical methods such as DOE, MSA, and SPC to support robust process development. This supplier-facing role also leverages 3D CAD, data analysis tools, and SPI standards to ensure high-quality molded components and reliable tooling performance.

Primary Responsibilities

• Solid understanding of Plastic Part Design / Injection Molding Guidelines.
• Knowledgeable in the use of 3D CAD packages & Data Analysis software.
• Understands Mold Flow analysis
• Rheology knowledge both Crystalline & Amorphous plastics resin (examples include polycarbonate, acrylic, PVC, Nylon and Co-polyesters)
• Demonstrated ability to guide and coordinate vendor tool design and qualification activities to meet requirements of the application and DRM guidelines
• Understands limits / fits, tolerance stack up analysis. Understanding of Geometric Dimensional Tolerancing (GDT) and application for inspection setup and tolerancing allowances of molded components
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to suppliers and contract manufacturers performing qualification and validation testing
• Use and understanding of Statistical Tools (Design of Experiments, Measurement System Analysis/Gage R&R, Process Capability and Statistical Process Control)
• Use of Society of Plastics Industry Standards (SPI) for mold build classification and texture/surface appearance recognition
• The Sr Principal Tooling Engineer is responsible for owning and driving mold tool development and injection molding projects through adherence to established product design, scientific injection molding process, tooling, resin, and equipment.
• The role is supplier facing

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 10+ years of experience with a bachelor’s degree or 8+ years of experience with an advanced degree

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in plastics, mechanical, manufacturing or industrial engineering
• Previous Medtronic/medical device experience
• Molding certifications
• Strong organizational skills
• Analytical problem solving
• High level of professionalism and strong communication skills
• Demonstrated initiative and innovation
• Ability to transfer the technical knowledge to manufacturing operations
• Review/prepare test protocols and reports in order to qualify part and product changes
• Work remotely across time zones
• Collaborate cross functionally with team members (i.e. R&D, Regulatory, Suppliers/Contract Manufacturers, Marketing, Biocompatibility, and Operations)
• Component qualification experience is a plus

For 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 Requirements

The 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 & Sponsorship

At 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.

Benefits & Compensation

Medtronic offers a competitive Salary and flexible Benefits Package

A 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):$151,200.00 - $226,800.00

This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP). This 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 Plans

It 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.