We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 18 Jul 2025

 

At Medtronic you can begin a life-long career of exploration and innovation, while helping champion healthcare access and equity for all. You’ll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation in a more connected, compassionate world.

A Day in the Life

At 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 4 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.

The person in this role will work from Medtronic’s Operational Headquarters (OHQ) in Fridley, Minnesota.

The Senior Principal Scientist and Senior Manager of Metals, Electrochemistry, and Corrosion leads a team of highly skilled scientists within the Global Technology and Innovation – Core Technologies group. This role combines deep technical expertise with strong people leadership and strategic execution capabilities. The successful candidate will be responsible for defining and advancing the enterprise-wide strategy for metals, electrochemistry, and corrosion science in support of both current and future technology platforms.

In this role, you will interface broadly across Operating Unit (OU) Research, Technology, and Development teams to identify emerging challenges and opportunities, guiding development of core capabilities, new technologies, technical problem solving, and collaborative research initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess strong scientific credentials in metallurgy, electrochemistry, and/or corrosion science, as well as a demonstrated track record of leading high-performing technical teams and influencing across organizational boundaries.

We believe that when people from different cultures, genders, and points of view come together, innovation is the result —and everyone wins. Medtronic walks the walk, creating an inclusive culture where you can thrive. Our unwavering commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equity (ID&E) means zero barriers to opportunity within Medtronic and a culture where all employees belong, are respected, and feel valued for who they are and the life experiences they contribute. We know equity starts beyond our workplace, and we must play a role in addressing systemic inequities in our communications to achieve long-term sustainable impact. Anchored in our Mission, we continue to drive ID&E forward both to enhance the well-being of Medtronic employees and to accelerate innovation that brings our lifesaving technologies to more people in more places around the world.

Bring your talents to an industry leader in medical technology and healthcare solutions – we’re a market leader and growing every day. You can be proud to be a part of technologies that are rooted in our long history of mission-driven innovation. You will be empowered to shape your own career. We encourage and support your growth with the training, mentorship, and guidance you need to own your future success. Together, we can transform healthcare. Join us for a career that changes lives. Medtronic is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture.

CAREERS THAT CHANGE LIVES

STRATEGIC AND TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

• Lead the strategic direction and execution of the Core Technologies Metals team, aligning efforts with enterprise-wide technology and business priorities.
• Serve as a key technical authority and advisor on complex metallurgy, electrochemical, and corrosion-related challenges across product lifecycles.
• Shape and evolve the group’s capabilities in advanced materials characterization, corrosion mechanisms, coatings, and failure analysis.

CROSS FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION

• Act as a key liaison between the Core Technologies group and Operating Unit R&D organizations to identify needs, share best practices, and embed core materials knowledge into development programs.
• Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration with adjacent functions such as Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, and external research institutions.

TEAM AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT

• Provide people leadership, mentorship, and career development for a team of highly technical individual contributors and potential future leaders.
• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous learning, scientific rigor, and inclusion.

PORTFOLIO EXECUTION AND GOVERNANCE

• Oversee a portfolio of research and technology development programs from inception through implementation, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• Monitor project execution and ensure high technical standards, proper resource allocation, and clear accountability.

EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT AND THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

• Build and manage strategic partnerships with academic institutions, national labs, and industrial consortia to advance shared research objectives.
• Represent the organization at industry forums, scientific conferences, and technical committees. Contribute to peer-reviewed publications and patent filings.
• Assess competitive technology landscapes and IP opportunities, including horizon scanning and benchmarking against industries such as aerospace and automotive.

MUST HAVE (Minimum Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree
• 7+ years of experience with a bachelor’s degree or 5+ years of experience with an advanced degree
• 5+ years of managerial experience

NICE TO HAVE (Preferred Qualifications)

• Strongly Preferred:
  • Ph.D. in Metallurgy, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or other relevant technical discipline.
  • 10+ years of experience in relevant technical domains with 7+ years in people and/or technical team leadership roles.
  • Demonstrated expertise in failure analysis, materials degradation, corrosion mechanisms, and use of advanced characterization tools.
  • Proven experience developing and executing a technology strategy across complex organizations.
• Prior experience in the medical device or other regulated industries.
• Hands-on experience in adjacent disciplines including corrosion testing, surface science, and mechanical materials evaluation.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements (e.g., FDA) and relevant industry standards (e.g., ASTM, ISO).
• Experience influencing external technical standards or regulatory guidance through professional society or industry working groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical topics to both technical and non-technical audiences.

ADDITIONAL DESIRED ATTRIBUTES

• Strong systems thinking and ability to balance near-term product needs with long-term capability development.
• Experience leading change and fostering innovation in scientific environments.
• High level of emotional intelligence and organizational savvy in navigating large, matrixed organizations.

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.

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):$182,400.00 - $273,600.00

This 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 plans

About Medtronic

We lead global healthcare technology and boldly attack the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions.
Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people. 
We are engineers at heart— putting ambitious ideas to work to generate real solutions for real people. From the R&D lab, to the factory floor, to the conference room, every one of us experiments, creates, builds, improves and solves. We have the talent, diverse perspectives, and guts to engineer the extraordinary.

Learn more about our business, mission, and our commitment to diversity here.

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.