Principal Engineer - Medical Connectors & Cables (Hybrid role)

Company Description

About Smiths Interconnect:

Smiths Interconnect, is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance interconnect solutions. Our products are used in mission-critical applications across industries such as aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and industrial markets. At Smiths Interconnect, we are committed to innovation, quality, and providing cutting-edge solutions that connect the world’s most demanding systems.

Smiths Interconnect is part of Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. We serve millions of people every year, to help create a safer, more efficient and productive, and better-connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defense, space & aerospace and general industrial. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs c.16,000 colleagues in over 50 countries. 

Job Description

Job Purpose:

• Design and develop innovative new products and technologies to robust quality standards and in a manner consistent with business strategy and processes
• Provide technical leadership, guidance, and mentoring to project teams with a focus on interconnect solutions for medical applications
• Demonstrate end-to-end product lifecycle ownership that supports achievement of vitality and growth targets that outperform our chosen market segments
• Manage efficient use of capital assets and development investment to grow headline operating profitability

Responsibilities:

• Support, contribute to, and promote a safe work environment
• Leverage industry, application, and technical expertise to mentor, guide, challenge, and grow team members
• Support creation and execution of technology and product roadmaps
• Develop technology and process know-how needed to produce superior designs
• Create detailed cable, connector, and contact designs that can be reliably sourced and manufactured to agreed performance and cost targets
• Lead and support cross functional design reviews including requirements definition, manufacturability assessments, and application of GD&T
• Translate customer specifications into design, manufacturing, quality, and testing requirements
• Perform root cause analyses utilizing established problem solving tools and methodologies
• Proactively identify project risks and mitigation plans to accelerate the development cycle and ensure delivery commitments are met
• Facilitate build and evaluation of functional and non-functional prototypes leveraging internal and external resources
• Provide technical support to organizational stakeholders including Manufacturing, Quality, Marketing and Sales
• Support Sales and Marketing in preparing quotations and bid packages
• Demonstrate behaviors consistent with the Smiths Way value system

Qualifications

Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical / Mechanical / Industrial / Electronics Engineering or Related Field with at least 12-15 years of relevant experience
• Capable use of SolidWorks modeling, drawing and mechanical simulation packages
• In depth knowledge in selection and application of engineering grade polymers, metals, composites, and alloys
• Design for manufacturability utilizing machining, molding, deep drawing, turning, stamping and/or additive manufacturing methods
• Strong knowledge of contact termination, strain relief and over-molding techniques and principles
• Expert use of FMEA and tolerance analysis tools to inform robust design decisions
• Awareness of EMI/RF shielding and IPXX sealing techniques
• Knowledge of RF, digital, fiber optic, and power interconnects
• Experience developing interconnect solutions for medical applications with insights into overall system operation
• Familiarity with ISO13485, ISO9001, IEC 60601, EIA-364, and FDA21CFR
• Must live within driving distance of Kansas City to commute to office location a few days a week
• Experience working in the medical industry or any other highly regulated industry preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus or experience working with international teams.
• Ability to travel to Tijuana, Mexico every 2-3 months for business meetings. 

Planning and Decision Making:

• Lead cross functional project team to ensure milestones are achieved and risks are mitigated
• Work on unusually complex technical problems and provides highly innovative solutions
• Set priorities and drive completion of needed deliverables with minimal assistance
• Identify and implement changes in working conditions and use of equipment, systems, tools and process to incr