The Role
Lead sterilization, microbiology and biocompatibility quality activities across product development and manufacturing. Develop and execute quality plans, risk management, validations, supplier qualifications and audits. Oversee testing labs, analyze results, manage CAPAs/NCMRs, prepare regulatory submissions, and provide training and QA system compliance for medical device products.
Summary Generated by Built In
Title: Principal Quality Engineer
This position is based in our Campbell, California offices. This position is on-site, full-time.
Why Imperative Care?
Do you want to make a real impact on patients?
As part of our team at Imperative Care, you can help elevate care for patients suffering from stroke and other devastating vascular diseases. Every day, the technologies that we develop at Imperative Care directly impact people at the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Our focus is on the needs of the patient, and they come first in everything we do.
What You’ll Do –
The Principal Quality Engineer is the subject matter expert who establishes processes, protocols, methods, and techniques to ensure compliance with quality standards and regulatory requirements during the development, manufacture and distribution of our medical device products. This role will involve leading sterilization and biocompatibility activities and/or overseeing the work of more junior team members or contracted testing laboratories, depending on focus area.
- Develop and execute quality plans and provide strategic input throughout the product development lifecycle to ensure products comply with regulatory and internal quality systems requirements. Share data analytics related to quality metrics.
- Participate in product development by developing protocols and overseeing quality standards implementation in the design control system.
- Provides microbiological, sterilization and biocompatibility technical expertise, when applicable, during new product development activities, process modification studies and failure investigations regarding microbiological contamination control, impact to product and validated sterilization cycles. Serves as technical liaison with functional groups, contract laboratories and manufacturing sites.
- Oversee the Risk Management Report process and contribute to the development of Use Risk, Design Risk and Process Risk documentation.
- Collaborate cross-functionally on pilot production of new products and improvement projects.
- Establish and maintain quality assurance procedures and educate peers on their use.
- Manage relationships with suppliers and testing laboratories by developing quality agreements, assessing performance, troubleshooting failures and creating corrective action plans.
- Participate in supplier qualification activities, including on-site audits and evaluations.
- When a position’s focus is microbiology, sterilization and biocompatibility, lead all activities and projects related to laboratory selection, compliance audits, along with testing analyses and results interpretation.
- Develop and implement sterilization protocols and procedures according to regulations.
- Plan and execute validation studies of sterilization and assessments and requalification activities.
- Generate Biological Evaluation Plans (BEPs), analyse testing results and assess biocompatibility risks. Advise on biocompatibility tests to be performed.
- Keep accurate/detailed documentation of sterilization test results, methodologies and conclusions.
- Provide training and guidance on sterilizations requirements and best practices.
- Participate in the maintenance and compliance of quality systems, pre-production/post-production QA procedures, pre-clinical testing programs in coordination with other teams.
- Review and assess DCOs, complaints, CAPAs and NCMRs to identify new/revised risks.
- Conduct benefit-risk evaluation on products throughout the product development lifecycle and escalate unacceptable risks to management.
- Prepare reports and summaries for regulatory submissions, audits and internal reviews.
What You’ll Bring – minimum requirements for this role:
- BS in Engineering or similar discipline and 12+ years of relevant experience; or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
- Master’s degree and catheter, endovascular, or neurological device experience or related regulated industry is preferred.
- Acumen in identifying risks through CAPAs, NCMR/NCRs, SCARs, etc., and leading improvements with suppliers, stakeholders and other vendors.
- Demonstrated understanding of the audit process including audit planning, preparation, execution, presenting to auditors, reporting results and follow up.
- Hands on experience with deep knowledge in terminal sterilization modality (Ethylene Oxide preferred) and understands applicable ISO and guidance documents related to sterility assurance-Sterilization (ISO11135), Microbiology (ISO 11737 series and ISO 11138 series), Cleanrooms (ISO 14644 series, ISO 14698, AAMI TIR 52), Biocompatibility (ISO 10993 series) and Quality Systems (ISO 13485).
- Strong knowledge of quality system requirements (FDA 21 CFR Part 820, ISO 13485 or ISO 9001), risk management standards (ISO 14971) and good manufacturing practices.
- Excellent communications skills (both written and verbal), with strong ability to review technical documentation and write meticulous, clear and concise procedures.
- Strong ability to perform multiple tasks concurrently and accurately.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
- Ability to influence others with or without authority at all organizational levels.
Employee Benefits include a stake in our collective success with stock options, competitive salaries, a 401k plan, health benefits, generous PTO, and a parental leave program.
Join Us! Imperative Care
Salary Range: $173,000 – 192,000 annually
Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Imperative Care considers factors such as scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity, as well as location, market and business considerations when extending an offer. As part of our total rewards package, Imperative Care offers comprehensive benefits including a 401k plan, health benefits, generous PTO, a parental leave program and emotional health resources.
Skills Required
- BS in Engineering or similar discipline and 12+ years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and work experience
- Hands-on experience with terminal sterilization modalities (Ethylene Oxide preferred) and sterilization validation
- Deep knowledge of microbiology, sterilization assurance, and biocompatibility standards (ISO 11135, ISO 11737 series, ISO 11138 series, ISO 10993 series)
- Familiarity with cleanroom and environmental standards (ISO 14644 series, ISO 14698, AAMI TIR 52)
- Strong knowledge of quality system and regulatory requirements (FDA 21 CFR Part 820, ISO 13485 or ISO 9001) and risk management (ISO 14971)
- Experience identifying and leading corrective actions for CAPAs, NCMRs/NCRs, SCARs and supplier quality issues
- Demonstrated understanding of the audit process including planning, execution, reporting and follow-up
- Ability to develop and execute sterilization and biocompatibility validation/qualification studies and maintain documentation
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office products and ability to produce clear technical documentation and procedures
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to influence across organizational levels
- Master's degree and catheter, endovascular, or neurological device experience or related regulated industry experience
Imperative Care Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Imperative Care and has not been reviewed or approved by Imperative Care.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Posted salary bands for multiple roles are explicit and compare favorably to U.S. norms in several functions. Publicly listed ranges help anchor expectations and indicate a market‑competitive stance.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Stock options are consistently included as part of offers and total rewards. Equity is positioned as a meaningful component alongside base pay and, in some roles, bonus.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Company materials highlight generous PTO and a parental leave program as standard benefits. Multiple postings reiterate these time‑off elements across roles.
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The Company
What We Do
Imperative Care is a Silicon Valley-based medical technology company focused on developing the next generation of innovative solutions to address the vast and urgent needs in stroke intervention and peripheral thrombectomy. With a physician-driven approach and a culture of rapid innovation, we are working to improve every aspect of the stroke procedure with the goal of bringing patients the best care possible. We have two 510(k) cleared product platforms, as well as an expansive technology development pipeline. Follow us for updates as we work to change the way stroke is treated. For important safety and risk information, visit bit.ly/3yWkfEJ.
