Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer, Robotics Capital & Test Systems - Surgical

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.

# A Day in the Life
Making the best possible surgery accessible to every patient. We believe the future of surgery is less invasive and more precise, predictable, and personalised.

We bring together sharp surgical expertise, extensive medical knowledge, and cutting-edge technology with a single-minded focus on each patient - wherever they are, and however they need to be treated.

Each surgical specialty faces unique challenges, yet the goal is universal: better care for patients. By understanding these differences, we deliver solutions that empower surgeons and keep patients at the heart of every decision.

We are seeking a Senior Principal Mechanical Design Engineer – Robotics Capital & Test Systems to provide technical leadership for the design and development of the physical infrastructure used to characterise, verify and validate advanced medical devices and robotic systems. The role will combine deep machine-design expertise with hands-on engineering to deliver robust fixtures, mechanisms, actuators, load-application systems, instrument interfaces, mounting structures and capital-equipment adaptations.

This is a senior individual-contributor role with significant influence across multidisciplinary teams. The successful candidate will define mechanical architecture, lead critical design decisions and establish reusable test-system platforms that safely and repeatably reproduce clinically relevant loads, motions and boundary conditions while meeting requirements for accuracy, reliability, usability, manufacturability, serviceability and cost.

The role will be based at the Mervue Campus in Galway, Ireland.

- Lead the mechanical design and development of capital equipment and test systems used for instrument performance testing, characterisation, identification, verification and engineering investigations.
- Design precision fixtures, mechanisms, actuators, load frames, load-application devices, instrument interfaces, mounting structures, guarding and capital-side adaptations.
- Translate test objectives, system requirements and measurement needs into robust mechanical architectures and detailed equipment specifications.
- Create and review 3D models, assemblies, drawings, bills of materials and design documentation using SolidWorks and Creo.
- Apply machine-design principles including structural design, mechanism and actuator selection, bearings and guides, tolerance analysis, materials, fastening, alignment and maintainability.
- Integrate mechanical systems with motors, sensors, data-acquisition hardware, controls, electrical cabinets, safety circuits and software interfaces.
- Perform engineering analysis and appropriately apply calculations, tolerance stack-ups, motor and transmission sizing, structural analysis and finite element analysis.
- Lead concept generation, feasibility, prototyping, detailed design, design reviews, build, commissioning, verification, troubleshooting and release of test equipment.
- Ensure equipment provides controlled, repeatable and traceable application of force, torque, displacement, velocity and other relevant mechanical inputs.
- Embed machine-safety, ergonomics, guarding, risk reduction and safe access for set-up, calibration, maintenance and service activities.
- Collaborate with test, systems, electrical, controls, software, quality, manufacturing, facilities and external suppliers to deliver integrated solutions.
- Lead technical problem solving, root-cause investigations and design improvements for complex interactions between instruments, robotic systems and test infrastructure.

Key Skills & Experience

- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline with 10+ years of relevant experience, OR a Master’s/advanced degree with 8+ years of relevant experience.
- Demonstrated senior-level experience in machine design, capital equipment, automation equipment, test systems or special-purpose machinery.
- Strong capability in the design of precision fixtures, mechanisms, structures, actuators, load paths and electromechanical assemblies.
- Proven hands-on capability using SolidWorks and/or Creo for 3D modelling, large assemblies, drawings and design documentation.
- Strong understanding of mechanical design principles, materials, manufacturing processes, assembly methods, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, and tolerance analysis.
- Experience selecting and sizing motors, gearboxes, linear actuators, bearings, guides, transmissions, load cells and other sensors used in test equipment.
- Experience integrating mechanical equipment with electrical, controls, software, data-acquisition and systems-engineering interfaces.
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical decisions, conduct design reviews and solve multidisciplinary equipment and test-system problems.
- Strong communication, collaboration, technical leadership and mentoring skills.
- Experience with machine safety, risk assessment, guarding, ergonomics, equipment commissioning, calibration and preventive-maintenance considerations is desirable.
- Experience in medical devices, robotics, regulated product development or high-reliability test environments is advantageous.

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.

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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.

Pay range / Rango salarial / Intervalo salarial /Fascia retributiva / Tranche de salaire / Gehaltsband / Salaribereik:  Ireland: 94,720.00 EUR - 142,080.00 EUR | 
The final salary within this range will be determined based on objective, job-related criteria, including relevant experience, skills and qualifications, in accordance with our compensation framework.
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This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP).