Robotics Perception Engineer Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 21 Aug 2026
Careers that change lives start here. Medtronic is a global leader in healthcare technology with a Mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life. Our 95,000 employees work across more than 150 countries to put patients first - developing innovative medical technologies that improve the lives of 72+ million patients each year. Your unique talents will help shape the future of healthcare while building a career grounded in purpose, growth, and impact.
A Day in the Life
Our Automation Platforms team develops and scales reusable technologies that improve safety, quality, and productivity across Medtronic's global manufacturing network.
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. The person in this role will work from the Medtronic facility located in Fridley, Minnesota.
This role will require 25% of travel to enhance collaboration and ensure successful completion of projects.
The Sr Principal Robotics & AMR Automation Platforms Engineer will serve as the enterprise technical authority for autonomous mobile robotics, collaborative robotics, and emerging intelligent automation technologies, advancing reusable platforms from technology development through factory validation and global deployment.
This role will define technical strategy, platform architectures, roadmaps, standards, and reusable capabilities while partnering with manufacturing sites, engineering teams, IT/OT, suppliers, system integrators, and Medtronic's Surgical Robotics organization. The successful candidate will combine deep robotics expertise with systems thinking and a platform-first approach to accelerate adoption of advanced robotics and enable scalable replication across applications, product families, and manufacturing sites.
Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the enterprise technical authority for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), collaborative robots (cobots), mobile manipulators, and emerging intelligent robotics technologies across Medtronic's global manufacturing network.

• Define the long-term technical vision, strategy, roadmaps, platform architectures, and standards for autonomous material movement and flexible robotic automation.

• Lead the development and maturation of reusable robotics platforms that reduce deployment cost and implementation time while enabling replication across manufacturing sites and applications.

• Architect advanced robotic systems integrating AMRs, cobots, mobile manipulators, machine vision and 3D perception, end-of-arm tooling, safety systems, industrial controls, fleet-management software, and manufacturing IT/OT infrastructure.

• Partner with manufacturing sites and cross-functional stakeholders to identify high-value opportunities and lead technology development from feasibility and prototyping through integration, factory validation, and deployment.

• Collaborate with Medtronic's Surgical Robotics organization and other internal robotics experts to leverage technologies, architectures, simulation capabilities, perception and controls expertise, and development practices across Medtronic.

• Evaluate and mature emerging technologies including autonomous navigation, AI-enabled perception and manipulation, robotic foundation models, simulation and digital twins, and advanced fleet-management technologies.

• Establish robotics platform governance and technical practices for safety, cybersecurity, validation, reliability, and lifecycle management appropriate for regulated manufacturing environments.

• Convert learning from factory implementations into standardized designs, architectures, documentation, and deployment methodologies that enable enterprise replication.

• Provide technical direction to engineers, manufacturing teams, suppliers, and system integrators; lead technical reviews and resolution of complex multidisciplinary engineering challenges.

• Build strategic relationships with robotics suppliers, technology companies, system integrators, research institutions, and other external partners to identify and evaluate technologies that can advance Medtronic manufacturing.

• Lead the establishment and ongoing development of an Automation Platforms laboratory for technology development, prototyping, integration, simulation, testing, and demonstration.

• Mentor engineers, strengthen organizational robotics capabilities, and represent Manufacturing Technology in enterprise and external robotics forums.

• Influence engineering and business leadership through recommendations on robotics strategy, technology investments, technical risk, platform maturity, and long-term manufacturing capabilities.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience with a bachelor's degreeor 8+ years of experience with an advanced degree
• 10+ years of experience developing and deploying AMRs, cobots, industrial robots, mobile manipulators, or other advanced automation technologies in production manufacturing environments.
• Recognized technical expertise in robotics, autonomous systems, or advanced manufacturing technologies, with demonstrated technical leadership across complex, multidisciplinary programs.
• 10+ years of experience developing reusable robotics platforms, architectures, standards, or solutions deployed across multiple applications or manufacturing sites.
• Experience with AMR fleet management, autonomous navigation, facility and traffic assessment, interoperability, and material-flow optimization.
• Experience with advanced robotic manipulation, including force/torque sensing, vision-guided robotics, flexible end-of-arm tooling, or human-robot collaboration.
• Knowledge of applicable robotics safety standards and working knowledge of cybersecurity, equipment validation, and lifecycle management in regulated manufacturing environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience architecting and integrating robotic systems incorporating machine vision and 3D perception, end-of-arm tooling, safety systems, industrial controls, fleet-management software, and IT/OT systems.
• Experience with emerging robotics technologies including AI-enabled perception and manipulation, machine-learning-based motion planning, simulation and digital twins, and robotic foundation models.
• Experience developing automation technologies in medical-device manufacturing or another regulated environment and providing technical direction to suppliers, system integrators, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Advanced degree in robotics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, controls, computer science, mechatronics, or a related technical field.

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.
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Apply only through official Medtronic channels. All legitimate Medtronic recruiting communications come from approved Medtronic platforms and official @medtronic.com email addresses.
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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):$178,400.00 - $267,600.00
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 employees are eligible for paid sick time, as required under applicable state law, and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Please note some of the above benefits may not apply to workers in Puerto Rico.
Further details are available at the link below:
Medtronic benefits and compensation plans
It is the policy of Medtronic to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Medtronic will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.
If you are applying to perform work for Medtronic, Inc. ("Medtronic") in any position which will involve performing at least two (2) hours of work on average each week within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, you can find here a list of all material job duties of the specific job position which Medtronic reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. Medtronic will consider for employment qualified job applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.