Senior Operational Excellence Engineer

Job description

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 22 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 5 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. This role is based at our Boulder, Colorado facility, however, there is expectation to travel locally to our Louisville, Colorado facility 1-2x a month and our Parker, Colorado facility 1x a quarter. As a Senior Operational Excellence Engineer, you will use Lean Six Sigma and problem-solving to drive lasting improvements and cut waste in manufacturing. You lead cross-functional teams, run value stream mapping and Kaizen events, and keep improvement projects on track. You collaborate across production, engineering, quality, and supply chain to build integrated processes and boost operational excellence. You analyze data, identify root causes, track performance, and align improvements with business goals. You will deploy the Medtronic Performance System (MPS), deliver process excellence plans, and advise on best practices. You will coach teams, facilitate workshops, and keep leaders informed. You will manage cost-saving programs and ensure all efforts support business objectives. Your work helps Medtronic alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life for millions. Responsibilities may include the following and other duties may be assigned. Apply Lean Six Sigma and structured problem-solving methodologies to diagnose root causes, implement sustainable improvements, and quantify business value within manufacturing processes. Facilitate cross-functional value stream mapping, process improvement workshops, and Kaizen events to identify inefficiencies, eliminate waste, and develop integrated, future-state processes. Organize, lead, and facilitate cross-functional project teams, managing the Kaizen roadmap and ensuring timely execution of improvement projects. Collaborate with production, engineering, quality, supply chain, and other departments to drive operational excellence and integrated process solutions. Develop, monitor, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to track progress and identify future improvement opportunities. Collect and analyze operational data, perform cost-benefit analyses, and present actionable insights and proposals to leadership. Guide the deployment of the Medtronic Performance System (MPS), developing and executing plans for continuous improvement and programmatic savings. Deliver training and coaching in Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, building problem-solving skills and a value stream mindset across the organization. Provide consultation, analyze best practices, and ensure alignment of improvement initiatives with business objectives. Communicate team progress, maintain engagement with leaders, and ensure improvement activities are strategically aligned with organizational goals. Required Qualifications (Must Have) Requires a Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 4 years relevant hands-on experience or advanced degree plus a minimum of 2 years relevant experience. Preferred Qualifications (Nice to Have) Advanced lean six sigma knowledge (Green/black belt certified). Strategy planning experience with aligning improvement activities to business goals. Strong change management, coaching, and mentoring competency. Ability to influence change without direct authority. Excellent communication and presentation skills, including leading training courses with the ability to convey and communicate complex concepts clearly. Project management skills with good time management, conflict resolution, training facilitation, and administrative skills. Preferred background in manufacturing, operations, or other process-intensive environments. 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 for the duration of employment. Join us in our mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life—where your unique background and perspective are valued. Benefits & Compensation Medtronic offers a competitive Salary and flexible Benefits Package A commitment to our employees lives at the core of our values. We recognize their contributions. They share in the success they help to create. We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every career and life stage. Salary ranges for U.S (excl. PR) locations (USD):$87,200.00 - $130,800.00 This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP). The base salary range is applicable across the United States, excluding Puerto Rico and specific locations in California. The offered rate complies with federal and local regulations and may vary based on factors such as experience, certification/education, market conditions, and location. Compensation and benefits information pertains solely to candidates hired within the United States (local market compensation and benefits will apply for others). The following benefits and additional compensation are available to those regular employees who work 20+ hours per week: Health, Dental and vision insurance, Health Savings Account, Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Life insurance, Long-term disability leave, Dependent daycare spending account, Tuition assistance/reimbursement, and Simple Steps (global well-being program). The following benefits and additional compensation are available to all regular employees: Incentive plans, 401(k) plan plus employer contribution and match, Short-term disability, Paid time off, Paid holidays, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Employee Assistance Program, Non-qualified Retirement Plan Supplement (subject to IRS earning minimums), and Capital Accumulation Plan (available to Vice Presidents and above, or subject to IRS earning minimums). Regular employees are those who are not temporary, such as interns. Temporary