Principal Mechanical Engineer - Advanced Surgical

Growth is our focus at CONMED, and we know that innovation is key to growth and our success! We are dedicated to innovation across our product portfolio and believe in the power of engaged talent on our teams. If you have a growth-mindset, have innovation top-of-mind and want to be a part of a high performing team, consider applying to join CONMED as a Principal Mechanical Engineer.

This position is for a critical member of our Advanced Surgical division's R&D team, based in Denver, CO. The engineer will have immediate opportunities to contribute to new product development with a focus on minimally invasive surgical technologies designed to deliver real benefits to surgeons, hospitals and their patients.

• Advanced insufflation systems
• Advanced energy systems
• Advanced smoke management systems
• Laparoscopic surgical instruments

Own the design and development of high-quality and reliable disposable and/or capital medical products for surgical procedures, ensuring exceptional performance and adherence to industry standards while maintaining consistent product continuity for our customers.

• Prioritize simple, manufacturable, and maintainable design solutions.
• Create designs that balance performance, cost, manufacturability, and reliability while minimizing unnecessary complexity.
• Serve as a technical authority across all phases of design and development, applying sound engineering principles, data-driven decision-making, and disciplined processes to manage risk and ensure patient safety.
• Execute design, prototyping, verification, validation, and manufacturing activities with appropriate documentation and rigor.
• Independently develop test protocols, analyze results, and document findings with clarity and precision. Teach and mentor others to do the same.
• Maintain accurate and complete technical documentation, including requirements, specifications, and design outputs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to plan work, manage timelines, and deliver project milestones.
• Own technical direction and key design decisions across the product lifecycle, ensuring alignment with system-level requirements, risk, and business objectives.
• Assume full responsibility for all phases of design, development, component procurement, assembly, verification, validation, and manufacturing, ensuring compliance with medical device standards and regulations.
• Lead structured root-cause investigations using data and systematic problem-solving methods. Implement robust corrective and preventive actions.
• Oversee conceptual designs, detailed designs, CAD modeling, prototyping, and troubleshooting, working independently across all aspects of the product development cycle.
• Plan and execute verification and validation activities guided by risk, data, and intended use – not just compliance – ensuring designs are robust, safe, and clinically meaningful.
• Lead and influence cross-functional teams and stakeholders, aligning technical decisions with broader program, clinical, and business objectives.
• Ensure seamless collaboration, leveraging diverse expertise to achieve successful outcomes, exceed project goals, and align with overall business objectives.
• Engage with surgeons, clinicians, and internal stakeholders to deeply understand unmet needs, problem context, and constraints before defining requirements and pursuing solutions.
• Define and frame complex or ambiguous engineering problems, guiding teams toward effective solutions based on structured analysis.
• Take ownership of design quality and project deliverables, ensuring compliance while proactively identifying risks and driving timely resolution.
• Guarantee that all designs comply with relevant industry standards, safety regulations, and quality control procedures.
• Communicate risks, tradeoffs, and technical decisions clearly and early to stakeholders, enabling timely decisions and shared ownership of outcomes.
• Take ownership of technical outcomes throughout the product lifecycle, proactively surfacing risks, driving corrective actions, and following through closure.
• Assist with quality management system reviews and participate in external audits to ensure compliance and continuous improvement.
• Build team capability by mentoring engineers, strengthening engineering standards, and scaling best practices across programs.
• Pursue continuous technical growth and remain current in manufacturing methods, materials, and analytical tools relevant to advanced surgical devices.
• Frame engineering problems clearly, explore alternatives thoughtfully, and select solutions based on structured analysis rather than assumption or urgency.
• Make and guide high-impact technical decisions, balancing risk, speed, complexity, and performance.

• Models respect, integrity, and collaboration when working with others
• Approaches ambiguous and complex problems with curiosity, defining clear paths forward
• Approaches complex problems thoughtfully, prioritizing…