Principal Automation Engineer

The Operations & Innovation (O&I) Engineering organization partners with manufacturing sites to advance automation capabilities, improve operational performance, and accelerate deployment of emerging manufacturing technologies. The team supports automation strategy, equipment development, process optimization, and technology implementation across manufacturing operations while establishing scalable solutions that improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

The Principal Automation Engineer serves as the primary Operations & Innovation Automation Engineering representative for the Danvers, Massachusetts manufacturing site. The role is based onsite in Danvers and partners closely with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Research & Development, and site leadership teams. Periodic travel to North Haven, Connecticut and other East Region manufacturing sites is required to support project execution, collaboration, and automation initiatives. Expected travel is approximately 10-15%.

The Principal Automation Engineer provides technical leadership for automation initiatives at the Danvers manufacturing site and serves as the site’s primary Operations & Innovation engineering representative. This role supports existing automated manufacturing systems, leads development and deployment of new automation technologies, and drives the site’s automation strategy through identification, evaluation, and execution of opportunities that improve manufacturing performance and enable future growth.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Automation Engineering and Operations & Innovation representative for the Danvers manufacturing site.
• Lead automation and machine vision initiatives, including equipment qualification, performance optimization, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement activities.
• Support automated manufacturing systems through technical problem solving, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and reliability improvements.
• Develop and maintain the site’s automation roadmap and project pipeline to support operational objectives and future business needs.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement emerging automation technologies that enhance manufacturing performance and scalability.
• Partner with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Research & Development, and site leadership to prioritize and execute automation projects.
• Ensure automated systems comply with quality, validation, safety, and regulatory requirements within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Collaborate with regional automation teams to standardize solutions, share best practices, and leverage common technologies across manufacturing sites.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Controls Engineering and 7+ years of experience supporting manufacturing automation, controls, robotics, machine vision systems, industrial equipment, or automated manufacturing processes.
• Experience leading technical projects within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience troubleshooting complex manufacturing equipment and implementing sustainable corrective actions.
• Experience leading equipment qualification, validation, and change control activities, including Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), and Performance Qualification (PQ).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Engineering, Automation, Controls Engineering, Computer Vision, Data Science, or Artificial Intelligence.
• Experience collaborating across cross-functional teams to drive technical decisions and project execution.
• Experience in medical device, pharmaceutical, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience with automated assembly equipment, robotics, motion control systems, machine vision technologies, and programmable logic controller (PLC) and human-machine interface (HMI) automation platforms.
• Experience implementing advanced inspection technologies, industrial vision systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or data-driven manufacturing solutions.

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.

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):$122,400.00 - $183,600.00

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

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.