Principal R&D Engineer

Principal R&D Engineer

Location: Ponte Vedra Beach / Jacksonville, FL (Onsite)
Salary: $150,000-$170,000 (negotiable based on experience)
Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire
Start Date: ASAP

About the Opportunity

SNI Technology is partnering with a rapidly growing, publicly traded medical device company to hire a Principal R&D Engineer. This organization is an innovator in orthopedic solutions and is experiencing significant growth, with strong revenue performance and an expanding product portfolio.

This is a high-impact role within a small, agile R&D team where engineers are empowered to move quickly from concept to clinical use. If you’re looking to work in an environment that prioritizes innovation, speed, and ownership—this is an opportunity to make a real difference.

Position Overview

The Principal R&D Engineer serves as a technical expert and project leader responsible for driving the design, development, and execution of new products and enhancements. This role blends hands-on design engineering with project leadership and cross-functional collaboration.

You will play a key role in bringing innovative medical devices from concept through commercialization, while mentoring junior engineers and contributing to overall R&D strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead full lifecycle product development: concept, design, prototyping, testing, validation, and production
• Drive design for manufacturability (DFM), inspection (DFI), and reliability
• Develop and execute testing protocols, verification, and validation activities
• Collaborate cross-functionally with manufacturing, quality, regulatory, and commercial teams
• Partner with customers and stakeholders to gather product requirements and translate them into design solutions
• Support pilot production, design reviews, and product launches
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to other engineers
• Ensure compliance with applicable quality standards and regulatory requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• 7+ years of mechanical engineering experience in medical devices (orthopedic preferred)
• 5+ years of experience in new product development
• Strong experience with 3D CAD (SolidWorks preferred)
• Experience with design for manufacturing and hands-on prototyping/fabrication
• Ability to work onsite 5 days/week in the Jacksonville, FL area

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing orthopedic implants or surgical instrumentation
• Hands-on experience with machining, prototyping, or fabrication
• Familiarity with ISO 13485 and FDA regulatory processes
• Experience with FEA and simulation tools
• Strong understanding of GD&T and ASME standards

Work Environment & Culture

• Fast-paced, highly innovative R&D environment
• Small, collaborative team with significant autonomy
• Strong emphasis on ownership, accountability, and speed to market
• Onsite prototyping capabilities (machine shop, 3D printing, etc.) enable rapid iteration

Relocation & Travel

• Relocation assistance available
• Initial hybrid flexibility during relocation period
• Opportunity to observe procedures and interact with end users in clinical settings