We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 22 May 2026

 

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

The Medtronic Mindset challenges us to act boldly, move with urgency, collaborate effectively, and deliver results—the right way. At Medtronic, our most impactful technical leaders bring deep expertise, strong influence, and the ability to drive meaningful improvements across complex supplier networks.

We are seeking a Principal Supplier Quality Engineer to join our Grand Rapids, MI manufacturing site and serve as a senior technical leader within the Supplier Quality organization. This role will play a critical part in strengthening supplier performance, resolving complex supplier quality issues, and driving sustainable improvements across the supplier base supporting our Cardiac Surgery portfolio.

The Grand Rapids site manufactures approximately 600 finished products, including cannulae and beating heart products. The Principal SQE will partner closely with engineering, operations, and global supplier quality teams to address high impact supplier issues, guide strategic supplier initiatives, and influence quality performance across the supply chain.

This role is ideal for an experienced supplier quality professional who thrives in complex technical environments, enjoys solving difficult problems, and brings the expertise and credibility to influence suppliers and cross-functional teams.

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 a minimum of 5 days a week onsite as part of our commitment to fostering a culture of professional growth and cross-functional collaboration as we work together to engineer the extraordinary.

         

         

Who Will Thrive Here

This role is best suited for experienced technical leaders who enjoy solving complex problems and influencing quality performance beyond their immediate scope. Successful candidates will bring:

• Deep expertise in supplier quality engineering within a regulated industry
• A track record of driving supplier performance improvements and resolving complex supplier issues
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and influencing skills
• The ability to translate technical quality challenges into clear, actionable solutions
• Comfort operating as a technical leader and subject matter expert within a team of engineers
• A proactive mindset focused on preventing issues, not just reacting to them

Responsibilities may include the following and other duties may be assigned.

• Serve as a senior technical leader within Supplier Quality, providing expertise and guidance on complex supplier quality issues impacting the Grand Rapids site.
• Lead investigations and resolution of high-impact supplier quality issues, including nonconformances, supplier CAPAs, audit findings, and complaint-related supplier investigations.
• Drive supplier performance improvements through data-driven analysis, supplier engagement, and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, and Global Supplier Quality teams to resolve supplier-related quality issues affecting incoming inspection or production.
• Lead or support supplier audits, supplier qualification activities, and supplier change management to ensure compliance with Medtronic purchasing controls.
• Support risk-based supplier oversight, identifying high-risk suppliers and implementing improvement strategies.
• Develop and monitor supplier quality performance metrics, identifying trends and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide technical leadership in cross-functional quality improvement initiatives related to supplier performance.
• Support new product development and product lifecycle activities, ensuring supplier readiness and quality controls are in place.
• Mentor and support other Supplier Quality Engineers by sharing technical expertise and best practices.

Must Have: Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Science or technical field with 7 years of work experience in Engineering and/or Quality OR Advanced degree in Engineering, Science or technical field with 5 years of work experience in Engineering and/or Quality OR PhD with 3 years work experience.

Nice to Have

• Advanced knowledge of supplier quality systems within regulated industries (medical device preferred)
• ASQ CQE, CQA, CSQP or Lead Auditor certification
• Lean / Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
• Experience leading supplier audits and supplier remediation efforts
• Experience supporting supplier qualification and supplier change management
• Strong knowledge of FDA QSR, ISO 13485, and supplier quality management systems
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams and external suppliers
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical communication skills
• Experience mentoring engineers or serving as a technical subject matter expert

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.

Join us in our mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life—where your unique background and perspective are valued.

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):$123,200.00 - $184,800.00

 

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.