Senior Engineering Program Manager

Senior Quality Program ManagerCardioVascular Surgery represents end-stage treatment in the care continuum for many cardiovascular diseases and provides an intimate relationship with the Cardiac Surgeon and Cardiac Operating Room through an unparalleled depth and breadth of technologies, including surgical heart valves, advanced aortic therapies, cardiac operating room solutions, extracorporeal life support and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) solutions. At Medtronic, we bring bold ideas forward with speed and decisiveness to put patients first in everything we do. In-person exchanges are invaluable to our work. We're working a minimum of 4 days a week onsite as part of our commitment to fostering a culture of professional growth and cross-functional collaboration as we work together to engineer the extraordinary. This position will be based in Mounds View, MN or Dexter/ Grand Rapids, MI.The Senior Quality Program Manager is a strategic individual contributor reporting to the Vice President, Quality, CardioVascular Surgery Operating Unit. This role is responsible for leading high-impact quality improvement initiatives across the business. This role will also lead the Operating Unit's Quality Strategic process.The Senior Quality Program Manager will lead complex, cross-functional efforts designed to improve product quality, compliance, operational performance, customer experience, and business outcomes. The role serves as a key integrator across functions including Research & Development, Quality (Operating Unit, Ops and Supplier), Manufacturing Engineering and Regulatory Affairs.This position requires an experienced leader capable of influencing without direct authority, driving execution across matrixed organizations, managing strategic initiatives, and effectively communicating progress, risks, and outcomes to executive leadership.ResponsibilitiesQuality Improvement Program LeadershipLead complex, cross-functional quality improvement programs across the product lifecycle, manufacturing operations, supplier network, and quality management system.Define project scope, objectives, success criteria, resource requirements, timelines, and risk mitigation plans.Apply structured problem-solving, continuous improvement, and risk management methodologies to drive sustainable results.Ensure projects deliver measurable improvements in quality performance, compliance, efficiency, and customer outcomes.Identify and remove barriers to execution through collaboration with functional leaders and key stakeholders.Establish mechanisms for tracking and reporting project performance, benefits realization, and organizational impact.Cross-Functional Team LeadershipLead matrixed teams consisting of representatives from:Research & DevelopmentOperating Unit, Supplier and Operations QualityManufacturing EngineeringRegulatory AffairsCreate strong alignment across stakeholders to ensure project objectives are understood and achieved.Facilitate decision-making and issue resolution across multiple functions and organizational levels.Influence outcomes through collaboration, credibility, and strategic leadership rather than direct authority.Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.Quality Strategy LeadershipLead the development, deployment, and execution of the CardioVascular Surgery Operating Unit Quality Strategic Plan.Partner with Quality leadership and Operating Unit leadership to translate business priorities into actionable quality objectives and improvement initiatives.Establish strategic roadmaps, milestones, metrics, and governance processes to ensure successful execution of quality priorities.Monitor progress against strategic objectives and proactively identify opportunities to enhance organizational performance.Drive alignment between enterprise quality initiatives and Operating Unit goals.Executive Communication and GovernancePrepare and deliver executive-level project updates, strategic reviews, and recommendations to Quality leadership and Operating Unit leadership.Develop concise executive communications that clearly articulate project status, risks, mitigation plans, and expected outcomes.Escalate critical risks and issues appropriately while recommending actionable solutions.Organizational LeadershipChampion a culture of quality excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.Drive adoption of quality best practices and standardized improvement methodologies.Support organizational change management efforts associated with quality transformation initiatives.Must Have: Minimum Requirements:Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality, Life Sciences, Business, or related technical discipline.Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in quality, engineering, operations, program management, or related functions.Or minimum 5 years of relevant experience in quality, engineering, operations, program management, or related functions.Experience working within a regulated industry environment.Nice to Have:Medical device industry experience.Experience within cardiovascular or related medical technology fields.Program Management Professional (PMP) certification.Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Green Belt, or equivalent process improvement certification.Demonstrated experience leading complex cross-functional projects or strategic initiatives.Experience developing and executing organizational strategic plans.Proven ability to influence stakeholders and drive results without direct reporting authority.Experience presenting program updates and recommendations to senior leadership and executives.Strong working knowledge of:Design Assurance/Design ControlsOperations or Supplier QualityRisk ManagementISO 13485 or FDA QMSRExperience leading large-scale quality transformation or continuous improvement initiatives.Demonstrated executive presence and communication skills.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 RequirementsThe 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 & SponsorshipAt 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.Recruitment Fraud AlertWe are aware of phishing scams targeting job seekers. Please keep the following in mind:Apply only through official Medtronic channels. All legitimate Medtronic recruiting communications come from approved Medtronic platforms and official @medtronic.com email addresses.Medtronic will never ask for payment or sensitive personal information (such as bank account or Social Security details) during early stages of the hiring process. Any such requests are not legitimate.If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be from Medtronic, do not respond, click links, or open attachments.If you have any questions, concerns regarding the authenticity of a communication alleged to have been made by or on behalf of Medtronic, please contact us immediately at View email address on click.appcast.io & CompensationMedtronic 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):$171,200.00 - $256,800.00This 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