Principal Mechanical Engineer, R&D

About the role

At Stryker, we’re not just building products, we’re transforming healthcare. As a Principal Mechanical Engineer for Stryker’s Surgical Technologies R&D team, you’ll work on developing the next generation of state-of-the-art fluid and smoke management systems that enable safer, cleaner, and more efficient surgical environments. You’ll lead cross‑functional teams, drive technical strategy, and develop breakthrough technologies that improve patient outcomes. This is a hybrid role based in Portage, MI. Stryker offers innovative products and services in MedSurg, Neurotechnology, Orthopaedics and Spine that help improve patient and healthcare outcomes. Alongside its customers around the world, Stryker impacts more than 150 million patients annually.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and evaluation of complex mechanical systems and platform‑level architectures.
• Translate user needs into system‑level specifications and influence product strategy.
• Guide advanced prototyping, testing, and resolution of high‑impact design challenges using data‑driven analysis.
• Mentor and influence engineering teams across the business in technical excellence and compliance.
• Assess and integrate emerging technologies to enhance product innovation.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to align technical solutions with clinical needs.
• Serve as a divisional expert in regulatory standards and engineering documentation.
• Drive cross‑functional initiatives to improve processes, tools, and product performance.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Biomedical, or related field).
• Minimum eight years of relevant engineering experience.
• Proven experience designing and optimizing complex mechanical or electro‑mechanical systems.
• Proficiency in CAD modeling, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), and Computer‑Aided Engineering (CAE) tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Design for Manufacturability (DFM), systems design, and reliability engineering.
• In‑depth knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and regulatory environments.
• Ability to communicate complex technical strategies across business functions.
• Experience in medical device development or other highly regulated industries.
• Experience with fluid dynamics, air filtration, fabrication and plastics.

Pay

USN: $118,000 - $196,700 USD Annual

Benefits

• Health benefits: Medical and prescription drug insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, personalized healthcare support, wellbeing program and tobacco cessation program.
• Financial benefits: Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), 401(k) plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), basic life and AD&D insurance, and short‑term disability insurance.