Medical Device Engineering Specialist

About the Job:

The Earl E. Bakken Medical Devices Center (BMDC) facilitates moving healthcare technology from idea to commercialization. Stakeholders from around the University including M Health Fairview clinicians, research faculty, research staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students come to BMDC for guidance and resources on solving healthcare needs. Some ideas are vague, some are well-formed, some are advanced, and some are in the early stages of development.

The role of this person is to support projects related to medical device creation, prototyping, and testing within the Bakken MDC. This position will contribute to ongoing projects including "Novel Device for Persons with an Extreme Bleeding Emergency" (UMNBMDC2025126) and "Design and Testing of a Novel Orthopedic Device for Meniscus Repair" (UMNBMDC2025103). Typical responsibilities include producing CAD renderings, performing engineering calculations, fabricating components through 3D printing, and conducting prototype testing and evaluation. The individual will collaborate closely with faculty and graduate students in the Bakken MDC to support the research, development, and innovation goals of the center.

Location and Work environment: The position's location will be in both Bakken MDC and in a lab in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. It is expected that less than 50% of this role will be remote.

Work Schedule: The on-campus portion of this job will be during normal working hours.

Duties/Responsibilities:

80% Finding optimal solutions for biomedical device design problems

• Creation of CAD renderings of design concepts
  • Reviewing current designs
  • Creation of new concepts based on inputs from stakeholders
  • Producing CAD drawings of components and assemblies
• Mechanical design
  • Determining loads and stresses on components
  • Sourcing components
  • Finalizing designs

20% Prototyping and testing

• Creating physical prototypes using 3D printing and/or the machine shop
• Testing prototypes
• Getting feedback from stakeholders
• Finalizing designs for systems and sub systems

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of two years as an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering
• Working knowledge/experience of CAD using Solidworks
• Machine shop experience
• Project management experience
• Microsoft Office experience
• Finite element experience
• Experience with documentation of the engineering process
• Construction of mechanical systems
• Mechanical component selection

Preferred Qualifications:

• Leadership experience in design teams
• Python for data analysis
• Design optimization using engineering tools
• 3D printing
• Experience with determining the voice of the customer (VOC)

The Bakken Medical Devices Center (BMDC), a unit of the Institute for Engineering in Medicine and part of the College of Science and Engineering and the Medical School, facilitates moving novel medical technologies from ideas to commercialization. BMDC research and development projects originate from clinical faculty with ideas for a new medical device, or from engineering faculty with a new technology, or both.

Pay Range: $15.25 per hour; depending on education/qualifications/experience.

Work Location: Hybrid; 3 days in person, 1 day remote

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

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Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.