Medtronic is hiring: Senior Human Centered Design Researcher in Mounds View

Application window closes on 28 Apr 2026.

A Day in the Life

As a Senior Human Centered Design Researcher in Medtronic’s Innovation Lab, you will work from the Medtronic facility in Mounds View, Minnesota, with 25% travel. You’ll lead early‑stage research sprints—contextual inquiry, interviews, and concept evaluation—to uncover unmet needs, build user empathy, and translate insights into actionable direction for product design.

Responsibilities

• Scope, plan, and align research and Human Centered Design (HCD) activities with Medtronic Operating Unit (OU) marketing, R&D, and technology leaders, ensuring alignment on objectives, approach, deliverables, and impact.


• Lead and execute multiple concurrent research sprints in partnership with OU teams, working independently in the field and/or providing strategic guidance for execution.


• Develop and drive research methods that explore conceptual use scenarios, workflows, and unmet needs through contextual inquiry, observation, and qualitative engagement with users and stakeholders.


• Collaborate with cross‑functional partners to design and refine research materials, including recruitment criteria and processes, screeners, interview guides, and concept stimuli.


• Synthesize complex qualitative data into clear, actionable insights and research outputs, linking findings to user experience implications, product strategy, and Medtronic business objectives.

Minimum Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience with a bachelor’s degree or 2+ years of experience with an advanced degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in healthcare, medical devices, or other regulated environments with exposure to healthcare systems, clinical workflows, and medical device regulatory context.


• Consulting experience desired.


• Bachelor’s degree in Design Research, Human Centered Design, Human Factors, Psychology, Marketing, Anthropology, Sociology, Biomedical Engineering, Service Design or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.


• Master's degree in human-centered design or behavioral science discipline.


• Demonstrated ability to independently lead end-to-end research initiatives, including scoping, method selection, field execution, synthesis, and delivery of actionable insights.


• Strong familiarity and execution of human-centered and qualitative research methods—including team facilitation/moderation, contextual inquiry, ethnographic observations, in-depth interviews, usability or concept evaluation.


• Proven ability to synthesize qualitative data into clear insights that inform design decisions, experience principles, and product strategy.


• Professional experience conducting qualitative design research within product, service, or experience design teams.


• Familiarity with front‑end innovation, upstream product development, early-phase concept exploration, and identifying emerging trends in medical practice and technology.


• Ability to influence decision-making through clear and compelling communication, with experience presenting research findings to diverse audiences and facilitating workshops and working sessions.


• Ability to communicate ideas and insights visually through deliverables such as sketches, workflows, concepts, features, and functions of devices.


• Experience supporting global or cross-cultural research initiatives.

For Baccalaureate degrees earned outside 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 role requires regular independent mobility, interaction with a computer, and communication with peers. Reasonable accommodations may be made. Further details are available through your manager or local HR.

U.S. Work Authorization & Sponsorship

U.S. work authorization sponsorship is offered exclusively for Principal-level roles and above. Positions below Principal level require unrestricted U.S. work authorization at hire and throughout employment.

Benefits & Compensation

Salary range for U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico): $120,000 – $180,000 (USD). This position is eligible for the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP) and other incentive plans. Full-time employees (20+ h/w) receive Health, Dental & Vision insurance; Health Savings Account; Flexible Spending Accounts; Life insurance; Long-term disability; Dependent daycare spending account; Tuition assistance; and the global well-being program. All regular employees receive 401(k), employer match; Short-term disability; Paid time off; Paid holidays; Employee Stock Purchase Plan; Employee Assistance Program; Non‑qualified Retirement Plan Supplement; and Capital Accumulation Plan (for VPs and above). Further benefits at: [link placeholder].

We lead global healthcare technology and stimulate innovation to improve lives. We are committed to equal employment opportunity and provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.