Senior R&D Development Specialist

Position Summary

As the Senior R&D Prototype Technician at Stryker, you will play a critical role in supporting our Joint Replacement product development teams. You will independently plan, fabricate, and deliver high-quality prototypes, fixtures, and verification components in a fast-paced R&D environment. Your advanced technical judgment in CNC machining, rapid prototyping, and CAD/CAM will be essential in ensuring the success of our projects.

Responsibilities

• Independently plan, manufacture, and assemble complex R&D prototypes using CNC mills, lathes, and manual equipment, ensuring design intent and functional performance.
• Select appropriate materials, processes, and techniques to meet design, performance, and timeline requirements.
• Generate, modify, and optimize CAD models and CAM toolpaths, providing Design for Manufacturability (DFM) input to engineering teams.
• Perform verification and testing to ensure prototype quality, functionality, and readiness for downstream testing.
• Maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot CNC and rapid prototyping equipment, coordinating with vendors and internal teams to minimize downtime.
• Manage procurement, inventory, tooling, and consumables while establishing organized workflows and ensuring safe operation in compliance with standards.
• Serve as the technical and operational lead for the prototype shop in the Manager’s absence, making daily decisions on priorities and workload balancing.
• Provide guidance to technicians and communicate status, risks, and recommendations to engineering and management stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or an Associate’s degree in Manufacturing, Machining, Industrial Technology, or a related field with at least 4 years of relevant work experience, or a High School Diploma with at least 6 years of relevant work experience.
• 2+ years of experience in an R&D prototype or advanced machine shop environment.
• Advanced CNC machining experience (mills and/or lathes).
• Working knowledge of CAD/CAM software (e.g., Creo, Fusion 360, Mastercam, or similar).
• Experience supporting rapid prototyping technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise technical judgment, and solve complex manufacturing problems.

$77,000.00-$168,400.00 salary plus bonus eligible + benefits. Individual pay is based on skills, experience, and other relevant factors.