Principal Supplier Quality Engineer

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 13 Nov 2026

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

The Global Supplier Quality Supplier Change Implementation Team supports supplier transfers and supplier quality activities across the product lifecycle, with a focus on product quality, patient safety, and compliant supplier processes.
This position is based in Mounds View, MN and requires working onsite a minimum of four days per week. Periodic travel to supplier and Medtronic facilities is expected, less than 25%.

The Principal Supplier Quality Engineer will lead quality activities for supplier transfers, providing Quality Assurance Engineering expertise across design transfer, manufacturing readiness, supplier qualification, and process improvement. This role partners with suppliers and cross-functional teams to establish qualification and product acceptance strategies, execute validations, assess supplier performance, and ensure transferred products meet applicable quality and regulatory requirements.

Primary Responsibilities

• Define component qualification strategies using Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) methodologies and establish supplier qualification plans, performance measures, and release readiness criteria.
• Execute product and component qualification activities to ensure suppliers are capable of consistently delivering conforming products and materials.
• Lead Supplier Quality activities throughout the product lifecycle and provide technical guidance on supplier quality and compliance requirements.
• Develop and execute product acceptance strategies, supplier control plans, sampling strategies, and associated test method validations.
• Review and approve Engineering Change Notices, test methods, test equipment, and other quality deliverables supporting supplier transfers and manufacturing readiness.
• Evaluate supplier processes and quality systems, identify performance gaps, and provide feedback to improve supplier performance.
• Coordinate Approved Supplier List activities and Supplier Owned Quality deployment for transferred products.
• Analyze and communicate supplier quality indicators and performance data to support cross-functional business decisions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or a Technical field and 7+ years of relevant experience OR Master's degree and 5+ years of relevant experience OR PhD and 3+ years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with supplier controls, Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), supplier qualification, product validation, and Approved Supplier List management.
• Working knowledge of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards applicable to medical devices.
• Experience with metrology, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), Gauge Repeatability and Reproducibility, measurement uncertainty, capability analysis, and statistical analysis using Minitab.
• Experience with Windchill or Agile Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.
• American Society for Quality (ASQ) Certified Quality Engineer, Certified Quality Auditor, or Certified Supplier Quality Professional certification, and/or First Time Quality, Design for Six Sigma, Lean, Green Belt, or Black Belt certification.

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.

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.

The physical demands described within the Responsibilities section of this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. For Office Roles: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be independently mobile. The employee is also required to interact with a computer, and communicate with peers and co-workers. Contact your manager or local HR to understand the Work Conditions and Physical requirements that may be specific to each role.

U.S. Work Authorization & Sponsorship

At Medtronic, we are committed to fostering an environment where employees can thrive and make a meaningful impact. In alignment with our enterprise-wide workforce planning approach, U.S. work authorization sponsorship (H-1B, TN, J, etc.) is offered exclusively for Principal-level roles and above, where specialized expertise aligns with long-term business needs. Roles below the Principal level require candidates to possess unrestricted U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and for the duration of employment.

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Recruitment Fraud Alert

We are aware of phishing scams targeting job seekers. Please keep the following in mind: 

Medtronic will never ask for payment or sensitive personal information (such as bank account or Social Security details) during early stages of the hiring process. Any such requests are not legitimate. 

If you receive a suspicious message claiming to be from Medtronic, do not respond, click links, or open attachments. 

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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.

Salary ranges for U.S (excl. PR) locations (USD):$123,200.00 - $184,800.00

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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

It is the policy of Medtronic to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Medtronic will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

If you are applying to perform work for Medtronic, Inc. (“Medtronic”) in any position which will involve performing at least two (2) hours of work on average each week within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, you can find here a list of all material job duties of the specific job position which Medtronic reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. Medtronic will consider for employment qualified job applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.