Principal Mechanical Engineer, R&D - NPD

Work Flexibility: Hybrid

As a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer on Strykers Sage New Product Development team, you will play a pivotal role in designing innovative medical devices that deliver meaningful outcomes for patients. Youll lead product development efforts from concept through launch, collaborating closely across R&D and cross-functional teams to ensure safe, effective, and efficient solutions. A technical expert and strategic influencer, you will guide complex projects, mentor junior engineers, and champion best practices to drive engineering excellence and advance Sages mission: simple interventions with extraordinary outcomes.

To learn more about Strykers Sage portfolio click here: Sage

You will need to live within commuting distance of our Cary, Illinois office. This is a hybrid role, with on-site work required Monday through Wednesday and the flexibility to work remotely the remainder of the week.

What you will do

• Lead the design and development of complex modules, subsystems, and platform architectures that meet user needs and clinical requirements.

• Apply advanced engineering principles to solve cross-functional product challenges and drive innovation across new product development.

• Guide technology exploration and prototyping efforts to assess new capabilities for future products.

• Serve as a technical mentor, conducting design reviews and supporting the development of junior engineers.

• Collaborate with internal teams and key external stakeholders to shape technical strategies and customer-centric solutions.

• Act as a subject matter expert in medical device standards, design control, and regulatory documentation.

• Drive cross-functional alignment across R&D, Quality, Manufacturing, Marketing, and Regulatory to ensure project success.

• Influence business and engineering decisions through competitive insights, strategic planning, and technical leadership.

What you need

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or related discipline

• Minimum 8 years of relevant work experience in research and development

• Technical lead for at least two new product development projects with experience of full product design lifecycle, from product conception through commercialization

• Experience working in a regulated industry (e.g., medical device, aerospace, automotive, or similar)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Creo, or similar)

• Working knowledge and understanding of design principles such as Design for Manufacturability (DFM)

• Design of Class I and Class II medical devices

• In-depth knowledge of materials, manufacturing, processing methods and technologies to support complex product development

• Experience with validation and verification testing for new product development

• Strong communication skills with the ability to convey complex technical information across teams and business functions

Travel Percentage: 10%Stryker Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. Stryker is an EO employer M/F/Veteran/Disability.Stryker Corporation will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractors legal duty to furnish information.