
Principal Engineer, R&D
Irvine, CAFull-time$121–171K/yrSeen 6 days agoSeen in employer's feed 6 days ago
Most applications go out cold — see where you stand first. No sign-up to start.
Watch jobs like this. New roles like this one near Irvine, CA, by email.
Don't just apply. Show up ready.
Olive works from this exact posting.
At a glance
Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.
Job overview
The Principal Engineer will contribute to the Design and Simulation Team within Edwards Lifesciences’ Surgical Structural Heart R&D group. The role advances current and emerging cardiac surgery technologies by improving tests, optimizing device design and performance, and developing and validating computational models. It also involves presenting analysis to stakeholders, resolving complex design issues, and collaborating across functions. Domestic and international travel of up to 5% is expected.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
USA - California – Irvine
Full time
Req-51440
Dedicated to innovation, our Surgical business unit is focused on identifying and solving critical, unmet needs in cardiac surgery. In understanding the challenges of open-heart surgery, we partner with surgical teams to deliver modern technologies intended to enhance patients’ quality of life and expand their potential treatment opportunities. It’s our driving force to help patients live longer and healthier lives. Join us and be part of our inspiring journey.
Heart disease affects millions of individuals worldwide annually. At Edwards Lifesciences, we are committed to delivering advanced solutions for patients with cardiovascular conditions. With a strong emphasis on innovation, our Surgical Structural Heart (SSH) business unit is dedicated to addressing significant unmet needs within the field of cardiac surgery. This position with the Design and Simulation Team offers an opportunity to advance design capabilities within the SSH R&D group, contributing to the improvement of current and emerging technologies and therapies.
How you’ll make an impact:
-
Lead in improving, designing, and optimizing more complex tests, analyzing results, providing recommendations, and developing reports based on engineering principles that translate to innovative products.
-
Support project teams to optimize device design and performance by utilizing design tools and predictive engineering methods (e.g., CAD, FEA, and optimization)
-
Analyze and evaluate experimental data to create and validate the computational models.
-
Present the analysis results to the stakeholders and contribute to publishing internal reports and technical summaries.
-
Proactively identify issues, achieve resolution, and resolve problems of significant complexity in designing parts, components, and subsystems
-
Work in a cross-functional team environment and collaborate with R&D, Regulatory, Quality, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to meet project objectives.
-
Some domestic and international travel (up to 5%)
What you’ll need (Required):
-
Bachelor's degree in engineering or Scientific field , with 6 years' experience, including either industry or industry/education - OR -
-
Master's Degree or equivalent in Engineering or Scientific field , with 5+ years' experience, including either industry or industry/education - OR -
-
Ph.D. or equivalent in Engineering or Scientific field , with 2+ years' experience, including either industry or industry/education
What else we look for (Preferred):
-
MS or PhD degree in materials science or mechanical engineering is preferred.
-
2+ years of experience in engineering design
-
2+ years of experience in structural, Mechanical, or Fatigue Analysis
-
Demonstrated proficiency in nonlinear mechanics, plasticity, and advanced computational modeling techniques (FEA)
-
Understanding of general engineering design principles and a working knowledge of the design of experiments (DOE) and other engineering workflows
-
Familiarity with the mechanics of soft tissues is a plus.
-
Experience with scripting environments such as Python and MATLAB.
-
Ability to interact professionally with all organizational levels.
-
Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
-
Strict attention to detail.
-
Excellent documentation and communication skills and interpersonal relationship skills, including high discretion/judgment in decision-making.
-
Knowledge of the cGMP Manufacturing environment within the Medical Device Industry, including knowledge of FDA / TUV guidelines and quality system regulations in general.
-
Ability to interact professionally with all organizational levels and proactively escalate issues to appropriate levels of management.
-
Participate and present at meetings with internal and external representatives.
-
Develop peer, cross-functional, and cross-business relationships to maximize best practice sharing and team effectiveness.
-
Ability to work independently without close supervision.
-
Adhere to all company rules and requirements (e.g., pandemic protocols, Environmental Health & Safety rules) and take adequate control measures in preventing injuries to themselves and others as well as to the protection of the environment and prevention of pollution under their span of influence/control
Aligning our overall business objectives with performance, we offer competitive salaries, performance-based incentives, and a wide variety of benefits programs to address the diverse individual needs of our employees and their families.
For California (CA), the base pay range for this position is $121,000 to $171,000 (highly experienced).
The pay for the successful candidate will depend on various factors (e.g., qualifications, education, prior experience). Applications will be accepted while this position is posted on our Careers website.
Edwards is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer including protected Veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Edwards Lifesciences is the leading global structural heart innovation company, driven by a passion to improve patient lives. Through breakthrough technologies, world-class evidence and partnerships with clinicians and healthcare stakeholders, our employees are inspired by our patient-focused culture to deliver life-changing innovations to those who need them most.
How this job compares
Set against the 2,266 open Principal Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 28, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$121–171K/yr
- California median$175–270K/yr357 salary ranges
- US median$139–250K/yr1,925 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $146K, is 34% below the California median midpoint ($220K) — in the lowest quarter of Principal Engineer salary ranges in California.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 393 open Principal Engineer jobs in California and 2,266 across the US. 12% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in California
- Northrop Grumman62 open
- Palo Alto Networks38 open
- SpaceX17 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 2 years of experience — less than three in four Principal Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for (median 8 years, across 1,854 postings).
- Education
- 1,112 of the 2,266 open Principal Engineer jobs (49%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 28, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
Similar jobs, posted recently
Open roles like this one, listed in the last 30 days.
Principal R&D EngineerStryker · Irvine, CA · $136–226K/yr
Sr Engineer, R&DTerumo Neuro · Aliso Viejo, CAPrincipal Sustaining Quality Engineer (Post-Market)Cordis · Irvine, CA · $115–165K/yr
Sr. Quality Engineer - Post-Market Vigilance - OnsiteMedtronic · Irvine, CA (Hybrid) · $98–148K/yrStaff Structural Analysis EngineerAnduril · Costa Mesa, CA · $166–220K/yrPosted 3w agoPosted 3w ago
You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.