A Day in the Life Medtronic is seeking a dynamic Associate Engineering Director to lead embedded and platform software development and sustaining engineering programs for its Surgical Robotics platform. This role requires building and managing a high-performing team of engineers, driving both new product development and existing system enhancements.
You will oversee cross-functional engineering efforts especially in software development, verification, and related domains ensuring strategic alignment with Operating Unit (OU) goals. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in embedded systems, leadership of diverse technical teams, and experience in regulated medical device environments.
Responsibilities may include the following and other duties may be assigned
- Lead embedded and platform software development across new product initiatives and sustaining programs in Surgical Robotics.
- Build, manage, and develop high-performing, cross-functional engineering teams; foster a culture of engagement, collaboration, and excellence.
- Align engineering execution with Operating Unit (OU) strategy, regulatory compliance, and delivery timelines.
- Collaborate globally across OUs, design, QA, and project management teams to ensure integrated, high-quality product development.
- Drive verification and validation activities; oversee issue resolution, design optimization, and continuous test plan improvement.
- Monitor project progress, budgets, and resource allocation; ensure cost-effective, timely delivery of engineering solutions.
- Champion best practices in software development, process improvement, and product lifecycle management within regulated environments.
- Represent the team in broader R&D forums; promote cross-functional communication and strategic alignment.
- Mentor engineers and managers; conduct design reviews and remove barriers to team success.
- Demonstrate strong leadership in risk management, decision-making, and change management.
The role requirement for the current & potential engagements with OUs would require:
- Product development experience
- People Management experience
- Software development and SW development practices and models
- Product Engineering Management critical experience
- Strategic customer engagement experience
Required Knowledge and Experience
- 18+ years in embedded and platform software development within the medical device or related industry; 8+ years in software architecture and people/project management, leading cross-functional teams of 30+.
- Managing and leading multiple teams of software managers and engineers, including hiring, performance management, and team development, preferably in the global R&D environment settings.
- Designing and developing software for complex electromechanical software systems, including embedded software development as well as RTOS, distributed computing, software Infrastructure, etc.
- Collaborating and managing software projects in both Agile/Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and traditional project management methodologies.
- Technical Expertise : Proficient in Embedded C++ (Version 11+) RTOS environments (QNX, Linux), and object-oriented design. Skilled in troubleshooting on embedded targets and applying design patterns.
- Leadership & Management : Proven track record managing global R&D teams, driving concurrent software releases using Agile/Waterfall, and ensuring compliance with global medical regulatory standards.
- Regulatory & Process Knowledge : Deep understanding of design controls, ISO 13485/14971, validation, verification, and GDP. Experienced in process optimization, establishing software metrics, and fostering turnkey engineering solutions.
- Industry Experience : Prior leadership roles in large MNCs; budgetary and departmental oversight; expert in medical device or regulated industries.
- Project Execution : Strong program and technology management skills with successful execution of complex engineering projects involving globally dispersed teams.
- Collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams, including hardware, systems, quality, regulatory, and other product development teams; Communicating technical information to both technical and non-technical audience.
- Medical robotics, medical capital equipment, or highly regulated industry experience
- Knowledge of software development workflow.
- Great communication skills: Strong ability to coordinate people and teams around unstructured challenges and moving project priorities.
- Fluency in English
- Software architecture and model-based development best practices
- Reports to Engineering Director
- Accountable to Project Manager(s) for project-related responsibilities
- Frequent interaction with team members from other disciplines, particularly hardware engineers, to develop project requirements and other project artifacts such as project schedules. Possible interaction with clinicians, third-party vendors, manufacturers, subcontractors, and other users.
- Possible interaction with clinicians, third-party vendors, manufacturers, and subcontractors.
- Required: Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Technology in Computer Sciences, Electronics or Electrical Engineering or Equivalent from a premium institute.
- Preferred: Maters in Engineering or Masters in Technology Computer Science, Bio-Medical, Electronics or Electrical Engineering or Equivalent from a premier institute.
- Responsibilities may include the following and other duties may be assigned.
- Oversees activities of the company s development and design requirements for software systems, applications and software quality assurance for enhancements and new products, including cloud-based or internet-related tools, to meet the current and future Software needs.
- Manages activities to assure programs are appropriately resourced and ensure continuous improvement in technical capability, process, and compliance.
- Manages scope, cost, and schedule within a cross-functional development team.
- Selects, develops, and evaluates personnel to ensure the efficient operation of the function.
- Autonomy: Manages large team which would typically consist of both experienced professionals and managers.
- Turns the department strategy into a commercial reality by developing, communicating and implementing business plans to achieve business results.
- Receives assignments in objective oriented terms; has latitude to reinterpret objectives.
- Organizational Impact: Initiates programs or projects based on identified business and / or tactical needs.
- Decisions impact projects or operations, affect the deadlines, resources, and funds, and the achievement of organizational objectives.
- Typically has budget or P&L accountability for a department, function or geography.
- Innovation and Complexity: Develops new objectives, new operating policies, products, processes and standards in support of the job function strategy.
- Problems and issues faced are complex, difficult and undefined, and require detailed information gathering, analysis and investigation to understand the problem.
- Communication and Influence: Communicates with internal and external customers and vendors concerning ongoing operations, programs or processes.
- Influences across functions and businesses while balancing divergent objectives to gain cooperation of other parties.
- May interact on issues that have externally divergent objectives.
- Leadership and Talent Management: Manages at least one (department, function, geography typically comprised of other People or Program managers and / or supervisors and experienced professionals.
- Recommends strategies, goals and plans for a group.
