Automation COE Strategy Leader

Job description

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 27 Jun 2026 At Medtronic you can begin a life-long career of exploration and innovation, while helping champion healthcare access and equity for all. You’ll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation in a more connected, compassionate world. A Day in the LifeAt Medtronic, we bring bold ideas forward with speed and decisiveness to put patients first in everything we do. In-person exchanges are invaluable to our work. We're working onsite 4 days a week as part of our commitment to fostering a culture of professional growth and cross-functional collaboration as we work together to engineer the extraordinary. In your role, you may work from the following Medtronic sites: • Mounds View, Minnesota • Rice Creek, Minnesota • North Haven, Connecticut • Danvers, Massachusetts • Tempe, Arizona • Tijuana, Mexico • Galway, IR This role will require <25% of travel to enhance collaboration and ensure successful completion of projects. In this role, you will lead the advancement of automation technologies that enhance product quality and transform production across the enterprise. You will partner closely with global R&D teams, operating units, and manufacturing sites to define and execute long-term automation strategies spanning new product introductions (NPIs), process improvements, and automation of existing product portfolios. Leading the Automation Center of Excellence (COE), you will serve as the connection point across COE Strategy Leaders, Automation Development and Deployment organizations, and regional automation teams to ensure alignment of priorities and execution. You will establish equipment standards and scalable platform strategies, build strong stakeholder relationships, and identify emerging automation opportunities through collaboration with internal and external partners. You will drive alignment across manufacturing strategies and network design, maintain a forward-looking automation roadmap, and accelerate innovation through rapid feasibility testing and deployment into manufacturing and new product introductions. We believe that when people from different cultures, genders, and points of view come together, innovation is the result —and everyone wins. Medtronic walks the walk, creating an inclusive culture where you can thrive. Our unwavering commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equity (ID&E) means zero barriers to opportunity within Medtronic and a culture where all employees belong, are respected, and feel valued for who they are and the life experiences they contribute. We know equity starts beyond our workplace, and we must play a role in addressing systemic inequities in our communications to achieve long-term sustainable impact. Anchored in our Mission, we continue to drive ID&E forward both to enhance the well-being of Medtronic employees and to accelerate innovation that brings our lifesaving technologies to more people in more places around the world. Bring your talents to an industry leader in medical technology and healthcare solutions – we’re a market leader and growing every day. You can be proud to be a part of technologies that are rooted in our long history of mission-driven innovation. You will be empowered to shape your own career. We encourage and support your growth with the training, mentorship, and guidance you need to own your future success. Together, we can transform healthcare. Join us for a career that changes lives. CAREERS THAT CHANGE LIVES Leads the Center of Excellence (COE) for Automation, defining enterprise direction for automation strategy, development, and deployment across manufacturing. Acts as the primary interface between MIT COE Strategy Leaders, manufacturing technology-focused COEs, and Automation Development and Deployment organizations to ensure alignment of priorities and execution. Builds and maintains long-term enterprise automation roadmaps spanning new product introductions (NPIs), process improvements, and automation of existing product portfolios. Integrates automation strategy into manufacturing strategies and network design decisions, aligning with product portfolios and long-term business needs. Identifies and defines equipment standards and scalable equipment platform opportunities to accelerate automation deployment and reduce complexity across sites. Identifies and prioritizes automation opportunities across NPIs, sustaining improvements, and new technology adoption. Drives bidirectional alignment between regional automation leaders and enterprise strategy, to understand portfolios, gaps, and deployment progress, incorporating site learnings into global roadmaps. Partners with R&D, AME, and Technology Development teams to embed design-for-automation principles and enable rapid technology validation and scaling. MUST HAVE (Minimum Qualifications) 10+ years of experience with a bachelor’s degree or 8+ years of experience with an advanced degree NICE TO HAVE (Preferred Qualifications) Strongly Preferred: Previous Medtronic experience Experience with automation systems including robotics, controls, vision systems, and high-speed automated assembly Experience across manual, semi-automated, and fully automated manufacturing environments, including scaling automation across global sites Proven ability to define and execute long-term (5–10 year) automation and manufacturing technology roadmaps Experience identifying and standardizing equipment platforms and automation architectures across multiple product lines or sites Experience working across global manufacturing networks and influencing regional automation strategies Demonstrated ability to align cross-functional stakeholders including R&D, Manufacturing Engineering, and Operations Strong strategic thinking and ability to translate business and product needs into automation roadmaps Experience driving Design for Automation (DfA), Design for Test (DfT), and Design for Inspection (DfI) principles Ability to lead through influence across a matrixed global organization Strong communication skills with ability to engage senior leadership and technical teams Proficiency in Microsoft 365 tools (Teams, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, SharePoint) Ability to synthesize inputs from product portfolios, manufacturing For Baccalaureate degrees earned outside of the United States, a degree that satisfies the requirements of 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(A) is required. Physical Job Requirements The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position, but they are not an exhaustive list of all the required responsibilities and skills of this position. The physical demands described within the Responsibilities section of this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. For Office Roles: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be independently mobile. The employee is also required to interact with a computer, and communicate with peers and co-workers. Contact your manager or local HR to understand the Work Conditions and Physical requirements that may be specific to each role. U.S. Work Authorization & Sponsorship At Medtronic, we are committed to fostering an environment where employees can thrive and make a meaningful impact. In alignment with our enterprise-wide workforce planning approach, U.S. work authorization sponsorship (H-1B, TN, J, etc.) is offered exclusively for Principal-level roles and above, where specialized expertise aligns with long-term business needs. Roles below the Principal level require candidates to possess unrestricted U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and fo