Senior Distinguished Engineer, R&D

Innovation starts from the heart. At Edwards, we put patients first. We invest a significant proportion of our revenue towards research and development to drive and develop groundbreaking medical innovations for structural heart disease. As part of our R&D Engineering team, you will work closely with our Quality and Manufacturing teams to develop the latest tools and technologies to address significant, unmet clinical needs that impact patients’ lives around the world.

Patients with mitral and tricuspid heart valve disease often have complex conditions with limited treatment options. Our Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (TMTT) business unit is boldly pursuing an innovative portfolio of technologies to address a patient’s unmet clinical needs. It’s our driving force to help patients live longer and healthier lives. Join us and be part of our inspiring journey.

How you will make an impact:

The Senior Distinguished R&D Engineer position within the Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (TMTT) division at Edwards Lifesciences offers a unique opportunity to contribute in all phases of product development across multiple generations, supporting a major therapy within the business unit. The successful candidate will play a primary role in leading the development of an early stage, highly novel catheter delivery system and provide on an as-needed basis, support to the established therapies in next generation product development. This position is ideal for someone who is self-sufficient and can manage product development tasks with minimal supervision.

Early-Stage Architecture, Innovation, and System Ownership (Primary Focus)

• Owns delivery system and implant programs from unmet clinical need identification through feasibility and early development, defining system architecture and technical strategy.

• Serves as system-level hands-on technical lead, solving complex, ill-defined problems through rigorous application of engineering principles and judgment.

• Provides deep manufacturing understanding across extrusion, braiding, molding, reflow, bonding, and assembly, enabling robust design-for-manufacturing decisions early in the development process.

• Drives rapid prototyping, clinically relevant benchtop test development, and bench/clinical testing to accelerate learning and de-risk key technical assumptions.

• Partners closely with strategy, marketing, clinical, and physician stakeholders to translate unmet needs into differentiated platform solutions.

• Establishes technical vision and drives execution across complex, multi-workstream programs with minimal oversight.

Development, Technical Risk Reduction, and Organizational Leadership

• Applies disciplined, data-driven problem solving to development challenges, design maturation, and validation readiness.

• Leads ad hoc, cross-functional teams through critical technical decisions, balancing risk, schedule, and clinical impact.

• Mentors and develops senior and junior engineers, raising technical rigor, innovation quality, and decision-making standards across R&D.

Lifecycle Enablement and Enterprise Impact

• Trusted technical authority supporting teams through critical technical challenges during late-stage development, scale-up, and commercialization.

• Unblocks high-impact system, design, or process challenges through deep product, process, and clinical understanding.

• Serves as a recognized subject matter expert across R&D, influencing technical strategy beyond direct programs.

• Communicates complex technical concepts clearly to executive, clinical, and cross-functional audiences to enable alignment and decisive action.

What you'll need (Required):

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Scientific field with a minimum of 15 years of experience, including either industry or industry/education -OR- Master's Degree or equivalent in Engineering or Scientific field with a minimum of 14 years of experience, including either industry or industry/education -OR- Ph.D. or equivalent in Engineering or Scientific field with a minimum of 11 years of experience, including either industry or industry/education

What else we look for (Preferred):

• Proficiency in the usage of relevant computer software (Solidworks)

• Excellent documentation and communication skills

• Excellent interpersonal relationship skills including negotiating and relationship management skills

• Recognized as an expert within field and within the organization, both within and beyond own function

• Expert knowledge and understanding of principles, theories, and concepts relevant to Engineering

• Advanced problem-solving, organizational, analytical and critical thinking skills

• Expert understanding of processes and equipment used in assigned work

• Strong leadership skills and demonstrated ability to influence change across the organization

• Knowledge of and adherence to Edwards Environmental Health and Safety and Quality guidelines as they relate to department clean room medical device manufacturing

• Strict attention to detail

• Ability to interact professionally with all organizational levels

• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast paced environment

• Advises management and customers on advanced technical research studies and applications

• Adhere to all company rules and requirements (e.g., pandemic protocols, Environmental Health & Safety rules) and take adequate control measures in preventing injuries to themselves and others as well as to the protection of environment and prevention of pollution under their span of influence/control

Aligning our overall business objectives with performance, we offer competitive salaries, performance-based incentives, and a wide variety of benefits programs to address the diverse individual needs of our employees and their families.

For California, the base pay range for this position is $191,000 - $271,000 (highly experienced).

The pay for the successful candidate will depend on various factors (e.g., qualifications, education, prior experience).  Applications will be accepted while this position is posted on our Careers website.  

Edwards is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer including protected Veterans and individuals with disabilities.

COVID Vaccination Requirement

Edwards is committed to protecting our vulnerable patients and the healthcare providers who are treating them. As such, all patient-facing and in-hospital positions require COVID-19 vaccination. If hired into a covered role, as a condition of employment, you will be required to submit proof that you have been vaccinated for COVID-19, unless you request and are granted a medical or religious accommodation for exemption from the vaccination requirement. This vaccination requirement does not apply in locations where it is prohibited by law to impose vaccination.