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 Principal Packaging Engineer is a key member of the Packaging Development function, supporting the design, development, verification, and continuous improvement of packaging systems for sterile medical devices. This role partners with cross-functional teams to commercialize new products, enhance existing packaging solutions, and ensure compliance with regulatory and quality requirements across the product lifecycle. This position may be based in Rice Creek (West), MN or Plymouth (Berkshire), MN and follows a flex work model with four days onsite and one day remote each week. Up to 10% travel may be required in this role.

The Principal Packaging Engineer leads packaging development activities for sterile medical devices, supporting both new product development and sustaining engineering initiatives. This role is responsible for designing and verifying packaging systems, driving process and material improvements, and providing technical leadership on packaging-related projects. The individual will work independently, collaborate across functions, and help advance packaging technologies that meet customer, patient, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and verification of packaging systems and components for sterile medical devices, including products sterilized using Ethylene Oxide, Steam, and Gamma methods.
• Develop and execute packaging verification strategies, including protocol development, testing, analysis, and technical reporting to support product release.
• Evaluate packaging materials and processes and implement improvements that enhance product quality, performance, manufacturability, and compliance.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support product commercialization, sustaining engineering, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage shelf-life and biocompatibility testing activities for new packaging material combinations and packaging system changes.
• Apply Food and Drug Administration (FDA), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and packaging industry requirements to ensure compliant package design and validation.
• Support supplier selection, qualification, and material approval activities while serving as a technical liaison with packaging vendors.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to Packaging Engineers and Associate Packaging Engineers as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 7+ years of professional experience, or advanced degree with 5+ years of professional experience.
• Experience developing, validating, or supporting packaging systems for regulated products.
• Experience authoring technical documentation, including protocols, reports, specifications, or validation documentation.
• Experience supporting Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), and Performance Qualification (PQ) activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of medical device packaging experience or related medical device industry experience.
• Experience working with ISO, ASTM International (ASTM), and packaging-related standards.
• Working knowledge of project management methodologies and tools.
• Experience identifying, evaluating, and implementing process or material improvements.
• Demonstrated analytical, decision-making, written communication, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with cross-functional stakeholders.

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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Apply only through official Medtronic channels. All legitimate Medtronic recruiting communications come from approved Medtronic platforms and official @medtronic.com email addresses.

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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 - $186,000.00This 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 two (2) hours of work on average each week within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, you can find here a list of all material job duties of the specific job position which Medtronic reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. Medtronic will consider for employment qualified job applicants with arrest or conviction records