Staff R&D Engineer - Ventures Trans-Catheter Mitral Valve

Job description

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 103,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Position Summary:

We are recruiting for a Staff R&D Engineer - Ventures Trans-Catheter Mitral Valve to join our team in St. Paul, MN. This is a unique opportunity to join an early-stage development team that provides solutions to patients suffering from mitral valve disease. The position is on a fast-paced, early product development team within Abbott's Ventures Organization. The individual who fills this role will play a pivotal part in the design, development and testing of this novel trans-septal prosthetic tissue mitral valve from early clinical feasibility through commercialization. Candidate will be responsible for providing engineering support in the creation and the development of new medical device products (invasive and non-invasive).

Decision Making/Impact: Exercises judgment in selecting innovative, practical methods to achieve problem resolution. Failure to obtain results or erroneous decisions or recommendations would typically result in serious program delays and considerable expenditure of resources

Technical/Business Knowledge: Wide application of technical principles, practices, and procedures. Strong understanding of business unit function and cross group dependencies/relationships. Will perform this job in a quality system environment. Failure to adequately perform tasks can result in noncompliance with governmental regulations.

Cognitive Skills: Works on problems of diverse scope where analysis of data requires evaluation of identifiable factors. Exercises judgment within generally defined practices and policies in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions. Has a sound knowledge of various technical alternatives and their impact.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Researches, develops, designs, and evaluates mechanical and electro-mechanical materials, components, assemblies, processes and/or equipment
• Conducts feasibility studies to verify capability and functionality
• Develops new concepts from initial design to market release. Directs support personnel and coordinates project activities
• Write and submit intellectual property (patents)
• Maintains detailed documentation throughout all phases of research and development
• Investigates and evaluates existing technologies
• Reviews or coordinates vendor activities to support development
• Establishes and cultivates an extensive network of support to facilitate completion of assignments
• Participates in the development of less experienced staff by setting an example, providing guidance and work direction, and offering counsel
• May lead a project team and participates in determining goals and objectives for projects
• Influences middle management on technical or business solutions
• May interact with vendors
• Plans and organizes non-routine tasks w/approval
• Initiates or maintains work schedule and establishes priorities of work assignments

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Bio-Medical Engineering
• 8+ years of related work experience in a R&D function
• Hands-on experience with trans-catheter heart valve design
• Demonstrated ability to apply technical knowledge and judgment to complex technical problems and technical proficiency specific to mechanical problem solving in medical device design
• Experience in new product development with successful design from concept to commercialization
• Proven skills as an innovator and problem solver
• Effective communication, listening, and diagnostic skills, verbal and written, are necessary. The demonstration of effective collaboration and influencing skills will be key so that the candidate can achieve results within the cross functional team and with stakeholders around the company
• Ability to work well independently and as a member of a team is essential

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a technical field
• Expertise using ProE or Solidworks
• Experience with nitinol tube drawing, laser cutting, and shape setting

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