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Distinguished Automation Engineer
- Medtronic (Santa Ana, CA)
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We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 19 May 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
In this exciting role as a Distinguished Automation Engineer, you will develop concepts, design, prototype, and build custom automation equipment to optimize manufacturing processes in the medical device industry. This global role supports multiple manufacturing sites and drives the design, development, and flawless execution of automation projects.
As this is a newly created role, you will also be responsible for establishing best practices and standards for the design, development, and validation of automation systems.
Beyond technical execution, this role will drive innovation by exploring emerging automation technologies, mentoring technical teams, influencing technical strategy, and aligning automation initiatives with broader business and operational objectives. Familiarity with regulated environments (FDA, GMP, ISO 13485) and awareness of Industry 4.0 technologies (IIoT, machine vision, robotics, and advanced analytics) is highly desirable.
A Day in the Life
+ Develop conceptual designs integrating electrical and software controls for advanced automation equipment
+ Prototype, build, and test automation solutions to validate feasibility
+ Generate clear and detailed equipment and software specifications based on process requirements
+ Prepare and present design specifications, analyses, and recommendations for review and approval
+ Collaborate with external automation vendors to manage design, build, testing, and validation activities
+ Partner with internal stakeholders across Engineering, Operations, and Quality to align strategies and project goals
+ Ensure operations and production teams are adequately trained and ready to support new automation systems before deployment
+ Lead testing, validation, and documentation efforts (IQ/OQ/PQ) to ensure successful production release
+ Provide post-go-live hypercare support to ensure flawless system deployment
+ Develop and promote best practices for automation equipment design, process control, and software change management
+ Collaborate with early-stage product development teams to influence designs for manufacturability and automation readiness
+ Design and build laboratory prototypes to test early concepts and automation control solutions
+ Mentor engineers and junior team members to build technical depth within the automation team
+ Explore and propose innovative solutions that incorporate advanced technologies such as IIoT, machine vision, and robotics
+ Assess business impact and align automation strategies with organizational goals
Must Haves
+ Bachelor’s degree and 15+ years of experience developing, building, and installing automation equipment in the life sciences or regulated industries; or an advanced degree with 13+ years of relevant experience
Nice to Have
+ Extensive PLC programming experience, including building new control systems.
+ Proficient in object-oriented programming languages (C++, C#, Java, or Python)
+ Experience integrating automation systems with MES systems for real-time data collection and control
+ Proven project management skills, with the ability to set roadmaps and manage cross-functional project pipelines
+ Experience managing external automation vendors, including defining user requirements, statements of work, and project execution oversight
+ Familiarity with regulatory requirements (FDA, GMP, ISO 13485) for manufacturing environments
+ Certified or trained in Lean, Six Sigma, or DRM (Design for Reliability and Manufacturability)
+ Strong knowledge of DFMEA, PFMEA, DFM, and DFA principles
+ Significant experience with medium- to high-volume assembly and test automation technologies, including validation protocols (IQ/OQ/PQ, MSA)
+ Familiarity with statistical analysis methods (DOE, process capability studies, process control)
+ Expertise in Industrial Engineering tools such as balance tables, process flow diagrams, line layouts, and ergonomic workstation design
+ Exceptional project management and team leadership abilities
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):$196,000.00 - $294,000.00
This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP).
This position is eligible for an annual long-term incentive plan.
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 (https://www3.benefitsolver.com/benefits/BenefitSolverView?page\_name=signon&co\_num=30601&co\_affid=medtronic)
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 (http://www.medtronic.com) .
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 (https://www.medtronic.com/content/dam/medtronic-wide/public/united-states/employee-support-services/careers/la-county-legal-notice.pdf) 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.
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.
**We change lives** . Each team member, each day, helps to improve and redefine how the world treats the most pressing health conditions, from heart disease to diabetes. Our industry leadership comes from the passion and ingenuity of our people. That’s who we are. Working alongside one another, we use science, medicine, and a profound understanding of the human body to build extraordinary technologies that can transform lives.
**We build extraordinary solutions as one team** . With one Medtronic Mindset defining how we work. Speed and decisiveness run through our DNA. Diverse perspectives inspire our bold answers to any challenge that comes our way. And we deliver results the right way, breakthrough after patient breakthrough.
**This life-changing career is yours to engineer** . By bringing your ambitious ideas, unique perspective and contributions, you will…
+ **Build** a better future, amplifying your impact on the causes that matter to you and the world
+ **Grow** a career reflective of your passion and abilities
+ **Connect** to a dynamic and inclusive culture that welcomes the challenge of life-long learning
These commitments set our team apart from the rest:
**Experiences that put people first** . Respect for people is the hallmark of our humanity. It fuels our team to positively impact even a single life. And it means we put our people first at Medtronic as well, creating a culture of belonging and always pushing to get you the career-building resources you need.
**Life-transforming technologies** . No matter your role, you contribute to technologies that transform lives. What we build empowers patients to live life on their terms.
**Better outcomes for our world** . Here, it’s about more than the bottom line. Our Mission to improve human welfare drives us. We advance healthcare, society, and equity with every design, inside and outside our walls.
**Insight-driven care** . Fresh viewpoints. Cutting-edge AI, data, and automation. You're shaping the future of healthcare technology and defining the next generation of breakthroughs in care
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.
For sales reps and other patient facing field employees, going into a healthcare setting is considered an essential function of the job and we expect our employees to comply with all credentialing requirements at the hospitals or clinics they support.
This employer participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E-Verify program, please click here (https://www.e-verify.gov/employees) .
For updates on job applications, please go to the candidate login page and sign in to check your application status.
If you need assistance completing your application please email [email protected]
To request removal of your personal information from our systems please email [email protected]
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