Black Belt

At Medtronic you can begin a life-long career of exploration and innovation, while helping champion healthcare access and equity for all. You’ll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation in a more connected, compassionate world.

A Day in the LifeThis position is an exciting opportunity to work with Medtronic's Diabetes business. Medtronic has announced its intention to separate the Diabetes division to promote future growth and innovation within the business and reallocate investments and resources across Medtronic, subject to applicable information and consultation requirements. This separation provides our team with a bold opportunity to unleash our potential, enabling us to operate with greater speed and agility. As a separate entity, we anticipate leveraging increased investments to drive meaningful innovation and enhance our impact on patient care.
The Black Belt will lead continuous improvement projects across manufacturing and automation systems using Lean Six Sigma methodologies and advanced analytics. This role leverages data from machines, MES, SCADA, historians, and non-automated processes to identify opportunities, reduce variability, and optimize performance. The Black Belt will partner with automation, IT, and operations teams to implement solutions that enhance efficiency, compliance, and digital maturity under FDA and ISO frameworks.

Responsibilities may include the following and other duties may be assigned.

• Develops, implements and sustains process improvement initiatives utilizing Six Sigma methodologies.
• Defines, designs and implements continuous improvement programs to ensure programs are integrated vertically and horizontally across the organization.
• Defines improvement projects aligned with business strategies.
• Analyzes improvement programs and potential results.
• Facilitates and coaches improvement teams.
• Establishes and maintains performance metrics to measure program success.
• Installs process excellence supports for program governance, project reviews, communications, training, certifications and rewards.
• Continues Improvements Leadership
  • Lead Lean Six Sigma projects targeting automation systems, digital manufacturing workflows, and process optimization.
  • Use data analytics from equipment and manufacturing systems to identify root causes, validate improvements, and sustain gains.
  • Drive initiatives to reduce downtime, scrap, and latency across automated lines.
  • Facilitate Kaizen events and workshops focused on automation and digital transformation.
• Data-Driven Problem Solving
  • Aggregate and analyze data from MES, SCADA, historians (e.g., OSIsoft PI) systems.
  • Apply predictive analytics and SPC to improve equipment reliability and process capability.
  • Develop dashboards and KPIs for OEE, cycle time, and latency performance.
• Automation & Digital Manufacturing Focus
  • Collaborate with automation engineers to implement ISA-95 best practices, event-driven communication, and edge processing.
  • Support simplification of SCADA/HMI screens and operator workflows.
  • Partner with IT and Quality to ensure compliance with 21 CFR Part 11, ISO 13485, and GAMP 5 during improvement projects.
• CAPA & NCMR Resolution
  • Lead root cause analysis for CAPAs and NCMRs related to equipment and digital systems.
  • Implement corrective actions and verify effectiveness using statistical tools and process monitoring.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with Operations, Quality, and Automation teams to align improvement projects with business objectives.

• Train and mentor Green Belts and team members on Lean Six Sigma tools and data analytics.

Must Have: Minimum Requirements

• Requires bachelor’s degree
• Requires minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, or advanced degree with a minimum of 5 years relevant experience.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification required.

Nice to Have:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Systems or related technical discipline
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, automation, or process improvement in a regulated industry.
• Knowledge of automation systems (PLCs, SCADA, robotics), MES, and data historians.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in statistical analysis tools (Minitab, JMP) and data visualization platforms (Power BI, Tableau).
• Experience with predictive analytics, SPC, and OEE improvement.
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (OPC-UA, MQTT) and ISA-95 architecture.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements (FDA, ISO 13485, GxP).

Attributes

• Data-driven problem solver with strong analytical skills.
• Effective communicator and facilitator across technical and business teams.
• Comfortable working in a regulated, audit-ready environment.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Number and impact of completed Lean Six Sigma projects.
• Reduction in downtime, scrap, and latency across automated systems.
• Improvement in OEE and process capability (Cp/Cpk).
• Timely closure and effectiveness of CAPAs and NCMRs.
• Adoption of digital best practices and ISA-95 compliance in improvement initiatives.

Physical Job Requirements

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position, but they are not an exhaustive list of all the required responsibilities and skills of this position. 

The physical demands described within the Responsibilities section of this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. For Office Roles: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be independently mobile. The employee is also required to interact with a computer, and communicate with peers and co-workers. Contact your manager or local HR to understand the Work Conditions and Physical requirements that may be specific to each role.

Benefits & Compensation
 

Medtronic offers a competitive Salary and flexible Benefits Package
A commitment to our employees lives at the core of our values. We recognize their contributions. They share in the success they help to create.  We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every career and life stage.
 

This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP).

About Medtronic

We lead global healthcare technology and boldly attack the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions.
Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people. 
We are engineers at heart— putting ambitious ideas to work to generate real solutions for real people. From the R&D lab, to the factory floor, to the conference room, every one of us experiments, creates, builds, improves and solves. We have the talent, diverse perspectives, and guts to engineer the extraordinary.

Learn more about our business, mission, and our commitment to diversity here
 

It is the policy of Medtronic to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Medtronic will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.