Principal R&D Engineer

Additional Location(s):  N/A

Diversity - Innovation - Caring - Global Collaboration - Winning Spirit - High Performance

At Boston Scientific, we’ll give you the opportunity to harness all that’s within you by working in teams of diverse and high-performing employees, tackling some of the most important health industry challenges. With access to the latest tools, information and training, we’ll help you in advancing your skills and career. Here, you’ll be supported in progressing – whatever your ambitions.           

Technical Lead Description

This Technical Lead position will be a hands-on technical leadership role for an individual with deep technical expertise for innovation and a track record of delivering complex medical device solutions. The Tech Lead will spearhead exploratory initiatives/ projects to identify unmet needs and deliver strategic, innovation-driven solutions— shaping the future of WATCHMAN structural heart solutions through next-generation technology.

Work Mode:
This position will follow an onsite schedule, requiring 5 days in-office per week from our Maple Grove, Minnesota site. Are you willing and able to meet this requirement?

Relocation

Relocation assistance is not available for this position at this time.

 
Visa Sponsorship:
Boston Scientific will not offer sponsorship or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this position at this time.

Role Overview:

• Serve as the technical lead driving next‑generation system development within the WATCHMAN portfolio.
• Apply deep technical expertise, systems thinking, and innovative problem‑solving to deliver complex medical device solutions.
• Champion user‑focused design by engaging clinicians, understanding workflows, and incorporating insights into product strategy.
• Cultivate a high‑performance team environment with clear expectations, crisp decision‑making, and strong cross‑functional collaboration.
• Develop and utilize internal and external relationships to develop innovative solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as primary technical decision‑maker for system‑level architecture and across multiple workstreams.
• Lead the creation and execution of comprehensive technical plans, experimental strategies, and test methodologies.
• Drive structured experimental design to inform data‑based decision‑making and technical trade‑offs.
• Ensure integration of design performance, material selection, manufacturability, quality‑by‑design, and long‑term implant reliability.
• Identify, communicate, and mitigate technical risks through proactive planning and cross‑functional alignment.
• Provide clear and timely technical updates to stakeholders (Engineering Leadership, TRB, Tech Forums, PMM, PIB).
• Leverage internal R&D capabilities and external partners (suppliers, co‑development groups, academic collaborators) to advance development.
• Ensure appropriate engineering analyses—including modeling, characterization, verification, and systems evaluation—are applied effectively.

• Project Planning & Execution
  • Partner with program leadership to define scope, timelines, resources, and key milestones.
  • Lead technical teams in the execution of project plans, ensuring alignment with program goals and risk posture.
  • Maintain strong communication channels through technical meetings, documentation, and coordination mechanisms.
  • Ensure compliance with quality systems, documentation standards, and design control throughout the PLCP lifecycle.

• Stakeholder & Resource Management
  • Collaborate with program management, quality, process development, regulatory, clinical, and marketing.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with clinicians, internal experts, external stakeholders, and suppliers.
  • Support resource planning to ensure appropriate staffing, skills, and budget utilization for technical workstreams.
  • Translate stakeholder input into actionable design considerations and provide multiple well‑reasoned options during trade‑off discussions.

• Technical Leadership & Mentorship
  • Provide direction and mentorship to engineers and technicians in experimental design, technical approaches, and documentation.
  • Promote best practices in engineering rigor, systems thinking, and innovation methodologies.
  • Support conflict management and enable effective team dynamics in collaboration with functional leaders.

• Functional Excellence
  • Maintain an external, forward‑looking perspective on industry trends, emerging technologies, competitive landscape, and clinical needs.
  • Advance technical excellence by applying modeling, simulation, analytical tools, and engineering best practices.
  • Drive continuous improvement in development efficiency, decision quality, and technical execution.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Biomedical, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 7–9+ years of engineering experience in medical device development, preferably in implants, delivery systems, or interventional technologies.

• Demonstrated ability to provide strong technical leadership for complex product development programs.

• Experience interacting directly with physicians and customers to inform design decisions.
• Proven problem‑solving skills with the ability to synthesize information from diverse sources and make sound decisions.
• Hands‑on engineering approach and experience across PDP phases from concept to commercialization.
• Excellent communication, documentation, collaboration, and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong critical‑thinking skills and a flexible, solution‑focused mindset.
• Experience in exploratory/early feasibility development and identifying unmet clinical needs.
• Experience driving technical trade‑off decisions balancing performance, usability, manufacturability, cost, and reliability.
• Experience with structural heart medical devices.
• Knowledge of LAAC therapy, cardiovascular clinical workflows, and physician use environments.

Requisition ID: 618904 

Minimum Salary: $ 99100 

Maximum Salary: $ 188300 

The anticipated compensation listed above and the value of core and optional employee benefits offered by Boston Scientific (BSC) – see www.bscbenefitsconnect.com—will vary based on actual location of the position and other pertinent factors considered in determining actual compensation for the role. Compensation will be commensurate with demonstrable level of experience and training, pertinent education including licensure and certifications, among other relevant business or organizational needs. At BSC, it is not typical for an individual to be hired near the bottom or top of the anticipated salary range listed above.

Compensation for non-exempt (hourly), non-sales roles may also include variable compensation from time to time (e.g., any overtime and shift differential) and annual bonus target (subject to plan eligibility and other requirements).

Compensation for exempt, non-sales roles may also include variable compensation, i.e., annual bonus target and long-term incentives (subject to plan eligibility and other requirements).

For MA positions: It is unlawful to require or administer a lie detector test for employment. Violators are subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

As a leader in medical science for more than 40 years, we are committed to solving the challenges that matter most – united by a deep caring for human life. Our mission to advance science for life is about transforming lives through innovative medical solutions that improve patient lives, create value for our customers, and support our employees and the communities in which we operate. Now more than ever, we have a responsibility to apply those values to everything we do – as a global business and as a global corporate citizen.

So, choosing a career with Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX) isn’t just business, it’s personal. And if you’re a natural problem-solver with the imagination, determination, and spirit to make a meaningful difference to people worldwide, we encourage you to apply and look forward to connecting with you!

At Boston Scientific, we recognize that nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace helps us be more innovative and it is important in our work of advancing science for life and improving patient health. That is why we stand for inclusion, equality, and opportunity for all. By embracing the richness of our unique backgrounds and perspectives, we create a better, more rewarding place for our employees to work and reflect the patients, customers, and communities we serve. 

Boston Scientific Corporation has been and will continue to be an equal opportunity employer. To ensure full implementation of its equal employment policy, the Company will continue to take steps to assure that recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion, compensation, and all other personnel decisions are made and administered without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information or any other protected class.

Please be advised that certain US based positions, including without limitation field sales and service positions that call on hospitals and/or health care centers, require acceptable proof of COVID-19 vaccination status.  Candidates will be notified during the interview and selection process if the role(s) for which they have applied require proof of vaccination as a condition of employment.  Boston Scientific continues to evaluate its policies and protocols regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and will comply with all applicable state and federal law and healthcare credentialing requirements.   As employees of the Company, you will be expected to meet the ongoing requirements for your roles, including any new requirements, should the Company’s policies or protocols change with regard to COVID-19 vaccination.

Among other requirements, Boston Scientific maintains specific prohibited substance test requirements for safety-sensitive positions.  This role is deemed safety-sensitive and, as such, candidates will be subject to a prohibited substance test as a requirement.  The goal of the prohibited substance testing is to increase workplace safety in compliance with the applicable law.