Principal R&D Engineer

Job Description:

We’re seeking a visionary Principal R&D Engineer to lead the design and development of cutting-edge dental devices—from electromechanical systems and endodontic tools to curing lights and restorative delivery systems. In this role, you’ll drive projects from concept through commercialization, champion engineering excellence, and collaborate cross-functionally to deliver high-performance, regulatory-compliant solutions that elevate clinical outcomes. If you're passionate about innovation, continuous improvement, and mentoring the next generation of engineers, we’d love to meet you.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Product Development & Innovation

• Lead the design, development, and optimization of dental devices including electromechanical and optical systems, endodontic motors and files, burs, polishers, hand-held extrusion devices for restorative materials, and dental curing lights.

• Drive projects from concept through commercialization, including feasibility studies, prototyping, design verification/validation, and transfer to manufacturing.

• Develop innovative solutions to improve product performance, reliability, and clinical outcomes, while maintaining compliance with FDA, ISO 13485, and other regulatory standards.

Design & Engineering Execution

• Own the design process, including CAD modeling, design reviews, and execution of design control documentation from concept to launch readiness.

• Conduct testing and verification of new designs and design changes to ensure they meet performance, safety, and regulatory requirements.

• Maintain detailed documentation of design iterations, test results, and product specifications.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with cross-functional teams including product management, project management, manufacturing, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and customer support to ensure seamless product development and launch.

• Serve as a technical liaison with external partners, suppliers, and clinicians to align on product requirements and performance expectations.

Sustaining Engineering & Support

• Provide technical support for the current product line, addressing field issues and implementing design improvements.

• Maintain a strong understanding of current manufacturing processes and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Quality, Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure all product developments and changes comply with relevant industry standards and internal quality systems.

• Participate in continuous improvement activities such as Kaizen events, 5S, root cause analysis, value stream mapping, and process optimization.

• Support internal and external audits and contribute to regulatory submissions as needed.

Leadership & Mentorship

• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership across multiple projects.

• Lead technical reviews and ensure adherence to best practices in design and development.

Other Requirements

• Adhere to all company policies and procedures, including safety and quality standards.

• Domestic and international travel up to 10% may be required.

Incidental Duties: The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, and indeed additional responsibilities may be assigned, as required, by management.

Job Requirements:

Qualifications:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. This individual must be able to function in a fast-paced environment, where priorities may change rapidly.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field with minimum of 6 years relevant work experience OR Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field with minimum of 4 years relevant work experience is required.
• Proven track record in plastic injection molding, metal machining, metal heat treatment or similar processes is required.
• Expertise with SolidWorks highly preferred.
• Extensive experience in electro-mechanical design and development highly preferred.
• Experience managing projects via project management system (i.e. Microsoft Project, Workfront or similar) required.
• Knowledge of CNC programing/machinery highly preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to manage complex projects required.
• Intermediate Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, and Excel required.
• Aptitude to quickly learn business systems required.
• Strong verbal and technical written communication skills in English required.
• Ability to build strong partnerships with other departments.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment required.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to develop a business case required.
• Strong presentation skills are required.
• Ability to handle situations with confidence, tact, and resourcefulness required.
• Detail-oriented and the ability to solve complex problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists required.
• Proven skills in active listening with a seeking-to-understand approach.
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus.

Physical Demands: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Constantly sits.
• Frequently uses hands and fingers.
• Occasionally walks and stands.
• Rarely bends and stoops.
• Occasionally reaches up/down with arms. 
• Occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 5 lbs.

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Target Market Salary Range:

Actual compensation packages take into account a wide range of factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to geographic location; skill sets; relevant education and certifications; depth of experience; performance; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed reasonable estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.  At Envista, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The total compensation package for this position may also include an annual performance bonus, medical/dental/vision benefits, 401K match, and/or other applicable compensation plans.

$125,700 - $188,600

Operating Company:

Kerr

Envista and all Envista Companies are equal opportunity employers that evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other characteristics protected by law. The “EEO is the Law” poster is available at: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/ compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf.

Envista and its family of companies (Envista) will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate.  Envista will consider unsolicited referrals and/or resumes submitted by vendors such as search firms, staffing agencies, professional recruiters, fee-based referral services and recruiting agencies (Agency) to have been referred by the Agency free of charge and Envista will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt such unsolicited resumes.  An Agency must obtain advance written approval from Envista's internal Talent Acquisition or Human Resources team to submit resumes, and then only in conjunction with a valid fully-executed contract approved by the Global