Senior R&D Development Specialist (Prototyping)

You will need to live within commuting distance to Stryker’s Mahwah, NJ office. You will need to be in the office 5 days a week.

As the Senior R&D Prototype Technician you will support our Joint Replacement product development teams by independently planning, fabricating, and delivering high-quality prototypes, fixtures, and verification components in a fast-paced R&D environment. You will need to have advanced technical judgment across CNC machining, rapid prototyping, and CAD/CAM, as well as ownership of shop operations, equipment reliability, and prototype execution.

To learn more about Stryker’s Joint Replacement portfolio click here: https://www.stryker.com/us/en/portfolios/orthopaedics/joint-replacement.html

What you will do

• 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 and provide 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 and coordinate with vendors and internal teams to minimize downtime

• Manage procurement, inventory, tooling, and consumables and establish organized workflows while 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

What you need

Required Qualifications:

• 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.