Senior Principal Engineer, New Product Development

Innovation starts from the heart. Edwards Lifesciences is the leading global structural heart innovation company, driven by a passion to improve patient lives. With millions of patients served in over 100 countries, each team makes a meaningful contribution by improving patient outcomes and discovering lasting solutions for unmet patient needs. Our Sr. Principal, Engineer, NPD position is a unique career opportunity that could be your next step towards an exciting future.
Join our Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (TMTT) business unit as a Sr. Principal NPD Engineer to boldly pursue an innovative portfolio of technologies for patients with complex heart valve disease. We are seeking a Sr. Principal NPD Engineer to lead the transition of advanced, sensor-integrated medical devices from design into Commercial production. This role is a key leadership position within our New Product Development (NPD) team, responsible for developing the manufacturing processes, test systems, and production specifications that ensure our electronic medical devices meet global safety and performance standards from Day one.

How you’ll make an impact:

• Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Act as the lead manufacturing voice in R&D design reviews, ensuring that sensor architectures and electronic assemblies are optimized for cost-effective, high-yield production.

• Manufacturing Test Strategy: Develop and implement end-of-line production testing for safety and functionality, specifically overseeing:

  • Hipot & Leakage Current Testing: Validating production-level insulation and safety under normal and single-fault conditions.

  • EMC Assurance: Ensuring manufacturing processes (such as cable routing or shielding assembly) do not compromise the device’s IEC 60601-1-2 compliance.

• Specifications & Drawings: Develop detailed manufacturing specifications & Instructions, Bill of Materials (BOM), and assembly drawings. Partner with R&D to define critical-to-quality (CTQ) dimensions and tolerances for sensors and electronics.

• Process Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ): Lead the strategy and execution of Installation, Operational, and Performance Qualifications for new assembly lines and automated sensor calibration equipment.

• Vendor & Supply Chain Management: Interface with external electronic manufacturing services (EMS) and sensor suppliers to establish quality agreements and technical requirements for sub-assemblies.

• Risk Management: Author and maintain Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) to mitigate risks in the manufacturing of safety-critical electronic systems.

• Own device system end to end of new product development; Start thinking strategically about new product development.

• Lead strategy, prioritization, and technical support for QST, pre DV, DV – SME to Pilot on root cause investigations for manufacturing processes (prior to commercialization)

• Experience developing production-level test fixtures and tooling.

• Hands-on experience with Hipot testers, leakage current meters, and spectrum analyzers.

• Assure drawing review processes and take responsibility for tolerance stack-up compliance.

• Drive specifications from an operations perspective (i.e., DFx, tolerancing, material selection, automation), define the establishment of stability metrics, and elevate/mitigate risks through SCRR and MRR.

• Use voice of the Factory and SME product knowledge to drive improvements and standardization.

• Serve as team lead in the analysis of basic Manufacturing and Compliance issues (e.g., CAPA, non-conformance, audit observations) and provide technical support in process transfer.

• Identify opportunities for redesign/design of basic equipment, tools, fixtures, etc., to improve manufacturing processes through all design phases; drive and execute opportunities in collaboration with R&D and manufacturing organizations (Pilot or Commercial).

• Support commercial redesign opportunities and notifications of change from suppliers based on design intent of the device.

• Improve manufacturing processes using engineering methods (e.g., LEAN methods, basic statistics) for continuous process improvement and support stability metrics through design phases.

• Follow project plans to ensure deliverables are completed to customer expectations, using project management tools (e.g., Project Plan, Risk Analysis, etc.).

• Oversee manufacturing support tasks; supervise technicians and/or lower-level engineers.

• Perform other incidental duties.

What you’ll need (Required):

• Bachelor's Degree Electrical, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering. with minimum of 8 years of experience, including either industry or industry/education Required or

• Master's Degree Electrical, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering with minimum of 7 years of experience, including either industry or industry/education Required or

• Ph.D. or equivalent Electrical, Manufacturing, or Mechanical Engineering with minimum of 4 years of experience, including either industry or industry/education Required

What else we look for (Preferred):

• Strong working knowledge of IEC 60601-1 and IEC 60601-2 from a production verification standpoint.

• Proficiency in ISO 13485 Quality Management Systems and FDA 21 CFR 820.

• Recognized as an expert in own area within the organization while applying broad-based technical expertise and has full knowledge of other related disciplines

• Advanced problem-solving, organizational, analytical and critical thinking skills          

• Strong leadership skills and ability to influence change

• Works on unusually complex technical problems requiring highly innovative and creative solutions.

• Interprets internal and external business issues and recommends best practices.

• Anticipates potential challenges and proactively seeks novel approaches to resolution.

• Guides the successful completion of major programs and may function in a project leadership role

• Contributes to strategic project direction

• Ensures that technologies are up-to-date and looking ahead

• Identifies technical gaps and takes action to address them

• Interacts with senior external representatives on significant technical matters often requiring coordination between organizations

• Proven expertise in usage of MS Office Suite; CAD experience preferred

• Excellent documentation and communication skills and interpersonal relationship skills including negotiating and relationship management skills

• Ability to translate complex and technical information to all levels of the organizations

Aligning our overall business objectives with performance, we offer competitive salaries, performance-based incentives, and a wide variety of benefits programs to address the diverse individual needs of our employees and their families.
For California, the base pay range for this position is $139,000 to $196,000 (highly experienced).
The pay for the successful candidate will depend on various factors (e.g., qualifications, education, prior experience).  Applications will be accepted while this position is posted on our Careers website.  

Edwards is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer including protected Veterans and individuals with disabilities.

COVID Vaccination Requirement

Edwards is committed to protecting our vulnerable patients and the healthcare providers who are treating them. As such, all patient-facing and in-hospital positions require COVID-19 vaccination. If hired into a covered role, as a condition of employment, you will be required to submit proof that you have been vaccinated for COVID-19, unless you request and are granted a medical or religious accommodation for exemption from the vaccination requirement. This vaccination requirement does not apply in locations where it is prohibited by law to impose vaccination.