Distinguished Scientist
MiniMed
Summary
MiniMed is seeking a highly experienced Distinguished Scientist to provide technical leadership in the product development of insulin delivery fluid-path systems, including infusion sets, insulin reservoirs, tubing, cannulas, and associated components. This leader will drive innovation, design excellence, and reliable performance of next-generation insulin delivery technologies, supported by expertise in materials selection and biocompatibility.
Job description
About the Role
MiniMed is seeking a highly experienced Distinguished Scientist to provide technical leadership in the product development of insulin delivery fluid-path systems, including infusion sets, insulin reservoirs, tubing, cannulas, and associated components. This leader will drive innovation, design excellence, and reliable performance of next-generation insulin delivery technologies, supported by expertise in materials selection and biocompatibility.
The Distinguished Scientist serves as a senior technical leader responsible for developing next-generation fluid-path technologies and products for insulin delivery systems, with primary emphasis on infusion sets, insulin reservoirs, tubing, cannulas, connectors, and associated components. This individual leads technical strategy from early feasibility and concept development through design, prototyping, verification, validation, design transfer, and commercialization.
Responsibilities
- Lead product development and technical strategy for insulin delivery fluid-path systems, including infusion sets, reservoirs, tubing, cannulas, connectors, and associated components.
- Drive concept generation, feasibility, design optimization, prototyping, design verification, validation support, and design transfer for new and improved insulin delivery products.
- Advance fluid-path performance, including insulin delivery accuracy, flow resistance, occlusion prevention, priming, leakage prevention, mechanical integrity, and system reliability.
- Lead innovation in extended-wear infusion technologies and reservoir systems to improve wear duration, consistency of delivery, patient comfort, and usability.
- Evaluate insulin compatibility and functional interactions between insulin formulations and fluid-path components to support reliable in-use performance.
- Identify and resolve complex product design and performance challenges through engineering analysis, experimental testing, root-cause investigation, and risk-based decision-making.
- Partner with systems engineering, R&D, clinical, regulatory, quality, operations, and suppliers to translate technology concepts into scalable, manufacturable, compliant products.
- Provide supporting technical guidance on materials selection, material characterization, and biocompatibility for fluid-path and patient-contacting components.
- Build external partnerships with suppliers, universities, and research organizations to evaluate emerging fluid-path technologies and accelerate product innovation.
- Contribute to technical leadership through patents, publications, technical forums, and technology roadmap development.
- Mentor and develop engineering and scientific talent, strengthening product-development and problem-solving capabilities across the organization.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor's degree with 15+ years of relevant experience; or advanced degree with 13+ years of relevant experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master or PhD in Materials Science, Polymer Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field.
- Experience in medical device or combination product development, preferably involving insulin delivery systems, fluid-path components, or infusion technologies.
- Technical leader with substantial experience developing complex medical devices, preferably insulin delivery products, infusion sets, reservoirs, or related fluid-path technologies.
- Demonstrated ability to guide products from concept through design verification, validation, and commercialization.
- Expertise in fluid-path component design, engineering analysis, functional performance testing, reliability, failure investigation, design controls, and risk management for regulated medical devices.
- Ability to assess fluid delivery performance, component interfaces, insulin compatibility, extended-wear requirements, and manufacturing constraints.
- Proven success leading complex cross-functional technical initiatives, influencing platform architecture and technology strategy.
- Strong communication, presentation, organizational, and project leadership skills, including the ability to mentor senior technical staff.
- Working knowledge of materials selection, material characterization, and biocompatibility.
- Direct product development experience with insulin infusion sets, insulin reservoirs, tubing, cannulas, connectors, or other drug-delivery fluid-path components.
- Experience developing extended-wear infusion technologies and improving fluid delivery accuracy, reliability, occlusion performance, and patient usability.
- Experience with insulin compatibility, drug-device interfaces, and functional performance of insulin delivery systems.
- Experience in design verification, validation, reliability testing, design transfer, and manufacturing scale-up of medical devices.
- Knowledge of global medical device regulations, design controls, and risk management requirements.
- Experience in materials selection, material characterization, or biocompatibility evaluation for patient-contacting components.
- Track record of innovation through patents, publications, technical leadership, or technology commercialization.
- Experience mentoring senior technical staff, influencing portfolio strategy, supporting regulatory submissions, or managing technical teams.
- Previous experience managing teams of scientists is a plus.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree with 15+ years of relevant experience; or advanced degree with 13+ years of relevant experience
- Recognized technical expert in design and development of insulin delivery fluid-path systems
- Expertise in fluid-flow and delivery performance, insulin compatibility, system integration, product reliability, extended-wear technology, design verification, and design transfer
- Demonstrated ability to guide products from concept through design verification, validation, and commercialization
- Expertise in fluid-path component design, engineering analysis, functional performance testing, reliability, failure investigation, design controls, and risk management for regulated medical devices
- Proven success leading complex cross-functional technical initiatives and influencing platform architecture and technology strategy
- Strong communication, presentation, organizational, and project leadership skills
- Ability to mentor senior technical staff and work effectively in a matrixed organization
- Working knowledge of materials selection, material characterization, and biocompatibility
- Knowledge of global medical device regulations, design controls, and risk management requirements
Benefits
- Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
- Health Savings Account
- Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
- Life Insurance
- Long-Term Disability Leave
- Dependent Daycare Spending Account
- 401(k) Matching
- Short-Term Disability Coverage
- Paid Time Off & Holidays
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Employee Assistance Program
- Non-qualified Retirement Plan Supplement
- Capital Accumulation Plan
- Short Term Incentive (STI)
- Annual Long-Term Incentive Plan
Company overview
MiniMed is a leading medical device company specializing in diabetes management technologies, with a rich history dating back to its founding in 1983 by visionary entrepreneur Alfred E. Mann. Originally acquired by Medtronic in 2001, MiniMed recently became an independent publicly-traded company in 2026, trading on Nasdaq under the ticker "MMED" with a market capitalization of approximately $5.29 billion. The company is headquartered in Northridge, California, and employs nearly 8,000 dedicated professionals focused on advancing diabetes care. MiniMed is unique as the only diabetes technology company that manufactures both insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), offering integrated systems like the MiniMed 780G system with SmartGuard technology. Their flagship products include automated insulin delivery systems, continuous glucose monitoring sensors, and smart insulin pens designed to simplify diabetes management and improve patient outcomes. With a mission to make diabetes more predictable and manageable, MiniMed has established itself as a pioneer in diabetes technology, providing innovative solutions that help patients achieve better glucose control and enhance their quality of life.