Senior R&D Engineer, Foot and Ankle

Stryker; Mahwah (NJ); Hybrid; USD 93,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Stryker in Mahwah, NJ is seeking a Senior R&D Engineer to own new Foot & Ankle product development from concept through prototyping, testing, design verification and validation, and manufacturing readiness. You will work with experienced engineers and surgeons to translate clinical needs into robust mechanical solutions.

This hybrid role requires a strong foundation in mechanical engineering, CAD, GD&T, and manufacturing processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Biomedical Engineering.
• Minimum 2 years of engineering experience.
• Hands-on mechanical design, CAD/3D modeling, prototyping.
• Ability to own assignments and drive to completion.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration.
• Authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, prototype, and verify mechanical components and surgical instruments.
• Translate clinical needs into engineering requirements and concepts.
• Own implants, instruments, and deliverables with cross-functional teammates.
• Develop prototypes through testing and design iterations.
• Support NPD lifecycle including design controls and manufacturing readiness.
• Collaborate with surgeons and stakeholders to incorporate feedback.
• Maintain engineering documentation per design controls and quality systems.
• Organize priorities and track deliverables; communicate status.

Skills

CAD/3D modeling

Mechanical design

Prototyping

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Ownership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering

Job description

Work Flexibility: Hybrid Advance Innovation That Improves Lives At Stryker, we are dedicated to improving lives through the development of innovative medical technologies. As a Senior R&D Engineer supporting our Foot & Amkle portfolio, you will have the opportunity to take meaningful ownership of new product development across nitinol implants, surgical instrumentation, and minimally invasive technologies that directly impact how surgeons treat their patients. You will work alongside experienced engineers and cross-functional partners throughout the product development lifecycle, from understanding clinical needs and developing concepts through prototyping, testing, design verification and validation, manufacturing development, and ultimately commercialization. You will also gain valuable exposure to surgeons and surgical procedures, helping translate clinical needs into thoughtful engineering solutions. This is an exciting opportunity for a mechanical or product development engineer who has built a strong technical foundation and is ready to take the next step through greater design ownership, project responsibility, and exposure to innovative orthopedic technologies. This is hybrid-based position that would require you to be local to our Mahwah office.

To learn more about our Foot and Ankle portfolio please click here: Foot and ankle | Stryker

What You Will Do

• Design, develop, prototype, and verify mechanical components, implants, and surgical instruments supporting new Foot & Amkle products.
• Translate clinical needs and design inputs into engineering requirements, concepts, CAD models, prototypes, and product solutions.
• Take ownership of assigned implants, instruments, components, and engineering deliverables while collaborating with other R&D engineers across the broader product system.
• Develop and evaluate prototypes through hands-on testing, engineering analysis, and iterative design to assess feasibility and product performance.
• Support products throughout the new product development lifecycle, including concept development, design refinement, V&V, design controls, manufacturing readiness, and commercialization.
• Partner directly with surgeons and clinical stakeholders to understand surgical procedures, evaluate product concepts, gather Voice of Customer feedback, and incorporate those insights into product development.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners including Quality, Advanced Operations/Manufacturing, Regulatory, Marketing, and Project Management to drive development activities and project deliverables.
• Apply knowledge of mechanical engineering, materials, manufacturing processes, GD&T, and design for manufacturing to develop robust and manufacturable products.
• Create and maintain engineering documentation in accordance with applicable design control, risk management, quality system, and regulatory requirements.
• Help coordinate R&D activities by organizing priorities, tracking engineering deliverables and timelines, communicating project status, and taking accountability for assigned work.
• Apply structured problem solving, testing, and root-cause analysis to address technical challenges throughout product development.

What You Will Need

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant engineering experience.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical design, product development, and CAD/3D modeling.
• Experience developing, prototyping, testing, or evaluating physical products or mechanical components.
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of engineering assignments, manage priorities, and drive work to completion.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively within technical and cross-functional teams.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. and not require employment-based sponsorship now or in the future.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with new product development, including progressing mechanical designs from concept through prototyping, testing, verification, and manufacturing.
• Experience designing mechanically loaded components or products, with orthopedic, implant, surgical instrumentation, or medical device experience.
• Exposure to project engineering or project management, including coordinating engineering activities, managing timelines, or driving deliverables within a larger development program.
• Experience with design controls, V&V, risk management, or product development within a regulated environment.
• Experience with GD&T, design for manufacturing, materials selection, and mechanical testing.
• Experience collaborating directly with customers, clinicians, surgeons, or other end users to translate needs and feedback into engineering solutions.

US20: $93,200 - $155,400 USD Annual Travel Percentage: 10%

Work Flexibility Remote – Role allows you to work the majority to 100% of time from an alternate workplace. These roles could have travel expectations, and you must work within the country of the job requisition location.

Field-based – You can expect to regularly work a majority to 100% of time at customer facilities and has a set territory or expectation to travel within a set boundary. Almost all sales roles would likely be qualified as field-based.

Onsite – Role is 100% located at a Stryker facility. Some ad hoc flexibility may be available depending on role, level, and job requirements. Manufacturing roles and any role that requires physical presence at the office would qualify under this category.

Hybrid – You can expect to regularly work in both an alternate workplace and a Stryker facility. Roles that are partially remote or co-located would qualify as hybrid, and the expectation to be onsite would be defined and agreed upon by your manager/supervisor.

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.

Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies and, together with its customers, is driven to make healthcare better. We offer innovative products and services in Orthopaedics, Medical and Surgical, and Neurotechnology and Spine that help improve patient and hospital outcomes. We are proud to be named one of the World’s Best Workplaces! For more information, visit: www.stryker.com