Sr. Engineering Director- Portfolio Leader- Cardiac Surgery (CS) and Aortic (A)

Medtronic · Brooklyn Park, MN

Level: Director+
Team: Manufacturing
Base pay: $223k–$335k
Degree: Required
Experience asked: 15+ years
Industry: Medical devices
Posted: Today

The role in 30 seconds

A director-level manufacturing role at Medtronic (medical devices) in Brooklyn Park, MN. You will serve as the strategic glue between development activities, programs, and business needs.

They ask for: 15+ years · degree required
Base pay: $223k–$335k

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Manufacturing Engineer roles in Minnesota: typical posted base $101k–$155k. This one lists $223k–$335k.

Median of the low and high ends of 22 live postings that list pay, out of 37 manufacturing engineer openings in Minnesota, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Minnesota plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 36 other live manufacturing postings in Minnesota.

Base pay: About 130% above similar roles
Experience asked: More than usual (15+ vs 5+)

Skills these teams ask for most

Tooling 46%
Lean 41%
Team leadership 38%
✓ New product launch 30%
EHS / safety 27%
Root cause 24%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

It asks for 15+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Medtronic
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

Full description from MedtronicAs posted on their careers site.Show

Key Responsibilities

◆Strategic Oversight: Plans, directs and implements all aspects of Cardiac Surgery product portfolio and development of medical device products. Lead the R&D therapy leaders / teams through the evaluation, development, and lifecycle management of large-scale projects.
◆Operational Excellence : Drive improved process development capabilities to support new product development and product launches. Serve as the primary liaison between project planning and execution teams to ensure seamless delivery across hardware and software disciplines.
◆Portfolio Governance : Establish objectives, timelines, milestones, and budgets for multiple therapies. Assume Financial stewardship of the portfolio. Budget and manage operating expenses and enforce appropriate cost controls and financial discipline.
◆Risk & Resolution : Identify complex, undefined issues that impact multiple business therapies. Use significant conceptualization and reasoning skills to develop resolutions that meet productivity and quality goals.
◆Executive Influence: Act as a principal spokesperson for these therapies, conducting high-level briefings for senior R&D and CS leadership on critical outcomes and strategic proposals. Provide support for escalations within the therapy platforms.
◆Process Innovation: Continuously improve entire systems and procedures that affect program management across the organization. Drive a culture/environment of operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

✓Master’s degree in Engineering and/or scientific discipline MBA, PMP, or certification
✓Understanding of the cardiac disease states

Show full description ↓

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 Sr Engineering Director position has the primary responsibility, ownership and authority as the portfolio leader of the Cardiac Surgery (CS) surgical valve, ECLS and atrial fibrillation therapies. Reporting to the R&D VP, this position will partner with the CS leadership team to develop and implement an overarching vision and strategy for product development within CS. This individual manages the R&D therapy leaders in the Surgical Valve, Atrial Fibrillation and ECLS technology organizations and drive accountability, ownership and execution of the Product Development process and deliverables.

This position will be critical in the development and deployment of strategy that aligns with the CS strategies and initiatives to ensure new products are delivered on time and meet functional and operational goals including Quality, Manufacturability, Performance, Cost and Flawless Launch. Key partners and stakeholders include Operations, Marketing, Quality Assurance, Regulatory, Sourcing, Supply Chain, Contract Manufacturing, Finance and other CS functions as required.

We are seeking a seasoned Senior Engineering Director to lead the Cardiac Surgery (CS) portfolio focused on valve disease, atrial fibrillation and ECLS therapies. Reporting to the R&D Vice President, this position will be responsible to develop and implement an overarching vision and strategy for CS product portfolio. This individual will oversee the Surgical Valve, ECLS and AF technology organizations and drive accountability, ownership and execution of the product development process and deliverables, raising expectations on the application of DRM and EUMDR to anticipate and respond quickly to the needs of the business.

As the Cardiac Surgery portfolio leader, you will serve as the strategic glue between development activities, programs, and business needs. You will develop and deploy strategies that aligns with the CS Objectives and its operations strategies and initiatives and ensure new products are delivered on time and meet functional and operational goals including Quality, Manufacturability, Performance, Cost and Flawless Launch. This requires you to navigate deep technical interdependencies, influence related business development cycle, product requirements, and provide the overarching coordination necessary to deliver the next generation of life saving cardiac devices. Key partners and stakeholders include Operations, Marketing, Quality Assurance, Regulatory, Sourcing, Supply Chain, Contract Manufacturing, Finance and other CS functions as required.

Expectations

•A Master of Complexity: You have a proven track record of managing multi-workstream programs where product development, compliance and clinical needs intersect.
•An Influencer: You excel at gaining support for strategic programs across multiple therapies and in environments with competing objectives and perspectives.
•A Visionary Leader: You can lead large, matrixed units and vendors, providing direction and accountability even without direct-report authority.
•A Strategic Thinker: You don't just execute; you assess business strategy and recommend strategics changes or new initiatives to stay ahead of the market.

Must Have: Minimum Requirements- To be considered for this role, please ensure the minimum

are evident in your applicant profile

•Baccalaureate with minimum of 15+ years of engineering experience with 10+ years of managerial experience with 10+ years of relevant functional management experience OR advanced degree with a minimum 13 years prior relevant experience, with 10+ years of relevant functional management experience.
•Minimum of 12+ years of strategic project development experience utilizing PDP process