Principal Packaging Engineer

Principal Packaging Engineer

Careers that change lives start here. Medtronic is a global leader in healthcare technology with a Mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life. Our 95,000 employees work across more than 150 countries to put patients first — developing innovative medical technologies that improve the lives of 72+ million patients each year. Your unique talents will help shape the future of healthcare while building a career grounded in purpose, growth, and impact.

The Packaging & Labeling Engineering function is responsible for the development, validation, commercialization, and continuous improvement of medical device packaging systems. The team partners with research and development, operations, quality, regulatory, manufacturing, and supply chain organizations to deliver packaging solutions that protect product integrity, support patient safety, and meet global regulatory requirements. Packaging Engineering plays a critical role in advancing packaging technologies, developing technical standards, and driving innovation across the product portfolio. This position is based in Irvine, CA. The role follows a hybrid work arrangement with an on-site presence expected four days per week and one remote workday per week. Some travel may be required.

The Principal Packaging Engineer serves as a technical leader within the Packaging & Labeling Engineering organization, driving innovation, strategy, and execution across packaging development initiatives. This role provides advanced technical expertise throughout the product lifecycle, from concept generation through commercialization, while influencing cross-functional teams, establishing best practices, and leading complex packaging and labeling programs. The position serves as a subject matter expert in packaging technologies, materials, processes, and regulatory requirements, helping shape the future direction of packaging engineering capabilities.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for packaging and labeling innovation initiatives across product development, manufacturing, and operational improvement programs.
• Lead the design, development, analysis, validation, and commercialization of medical device packaging systems, components, and assemblies.
• Establish and execute technical strategies, standards, and best practices that align packaging engineering capabilities with business objectives.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on cross-functional and cross-divisional teams, providing guidance on packaging design, technology selection, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Lead material evaluation, sourcing, testing, qualification, and implementation activities to support new products and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and review technical documentation, including design requirements, specifications, validation plans, protocols, reports, and quality system deliverables.
• Drive investigation, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement activities to improve packaging performance, reliability, and compliance.
• Mentor, coach, and provide technical guidance to packaging engineers while fostering knowledge sharing and engineering excellence across the organization.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Science and 8+ years of packaging engineering, product development engineering, research and development, or related engineering experience.
• Experience leading complex packaging development projects from concept through commercialization within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience developing packaging validation strategies, technical documentation, design requirements, and quality system deliverables.
• Demonstrated expertise in packaging materials, packaging technologies, manufacturing processes, and product development methodologies.
• Experience leading technical initiatives and influencing cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Packaging Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience in medical device packaging, biomedical materials, sterilization processes, and medical packaging design practices.
• Knowledge of Food and Drug Administration (FDA), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and medical device packaging validation requirements.
• Proven track record leading large-scale technical initiatives, engineering strategy development, and cross-functional innovation programs.
• Experience mentoring engineers, establishing technical standards, and driving adoption of engineering best practices across an organization.

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.

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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): $124,000.00 - $186,000.00. 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

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