Director, Systems Engineering - ENT R&D
Medtronic
Summary
The Director of Systems Engineering leads a multidisciplinary engineering organization responsible for the design, integration, and lifecycle management of complex medical device systems within the ENT Operating Unit. This role drives systems architecture, requirements management, cross-functional integration, and risk oversight while partnering across hardware, software, firmware, and clinical teams to deliver reliable, innovative solutions.
Job description
Leadership & Organizational Development
- Lead, build, and scale a high-performing Systems Engineering organization, including hiring, succession planning, and leadership development.
- Foster a culture of accountability, inclusion, engagement, and continuous improvement to drive retention and organizational performance.
- Serve as a transformational leader and change agent, advancing organizational effectiveness and cross-functional collaboration across R&D.
Systems Engineering Strategy & Talent Development
- Develop and advance systems engineering capabilities aligned with emerging methodologies and ENT therapy area needs.
- Drive consistent application of DRM and systems engineering best practices across R&D functions.
- Provide functional leadership and operational oversight of the Systems Engineering organization.
- Mentor and develop engineering talent to build a strong pipeline of future technical and organizational leaders.
System Architecture & Concept Development
- Define and influence ENT platform and system architecture strategy in collaboration with Upstream Marketing to ensure portfolio differentiation and long-term competitiveness.
- Translate scientific, clinical, and technological insights into scalable system architectures and a clear product development roadmap.
- Partner with clinical experts and advisory networks to validate technical direction and inform design decisions.
- Influence cross-functional priorities and ensure alignment of architecture decisions with business and product strategy.
- Communicate architectural vision, trade-offs, and technical strategy to executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
Systems Development & Integration
- Lead systems engineering execution within a Core Team Model to enable high-quality, compliant, and on-time product launches.
- Own system-level requirements and architecture across therapy delivery systems, devices, programmers, and accessories.
- Ensure seamless integration across hardware, software, and firmware development partners.
- Drive technology reuse and platform standardization to improve efficiency, scalability, and development speed.
This role will require <25% of travel to enhance collaboration and ensure successful completion of projects.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree with 10 years of relevant experience OR Master's degree with 8 years of relevant experience
- 7 years of managerial experience
- Strong foundation in systems engineering disciplines, ideally in electrical, mechanical, biomedical, and software engineering
- Experience developing and delivering highly complex, high-reliability systems and technologies in regulated environments
- Medical device industry experience with Class I, II, or III regulated products
- Progressive leadership experience managing complex medical device technology and product portfolios
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional, matrixed teams and drive alignment across engineering, clinical, regulatory, and commercial stakeholders
- Demonstrated business acumen with strong executive presence and clear, effective communication skills
- Strong quantitative and analytical capabilities with a track record of data-driven decision-making
- 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
Benefits
- Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
- Health Savings Account
- Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
- Life Insurance
- Long-term Disability Leave
- Dependent Daycare Spending Account
- Tuition Assistance
- 401(k) Matching
- Short-term Disability
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Employee Assistance Program
- Incentive Plans
Company overview
Medtronic is a global healthcare technology leader and one of the world's largest medical device companies, founded in 1949 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company operates in over 150 countries and employs more than 90,000 people worldwide. Medtronic's mission is to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life through innovative medical technologies. The company develops and manufactures devices and therapies to treat more than 70 health conditions, including cardiac devices, cranial and spine robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. With a rich history that began with the invention of the battery-powered pacemaker, Medtronic has grown into a diversified healthcare technology company with four main business units: Minimally Invasive Therapies Group, Diabetes Group, Restorative Therapies Group, and Cardiac and Vascular Group. The company's therapies help approximately 72 million people annually and represent a significant force in advancing medical technology to address some of humanity's most challenging health problems.