Sr. Principal Engineer- Mechanical

This is where your work makes a difference.

At Baxter, we believe every person—regardless of who they are or where they are from—deserves a chance to live a healthy life. It was our founding belief in 1931 and continues to be our guiding principle. We are redefining healthcare delivery to make a greater impact today, tomorrow, and beyond.

Our Baxter colleagues are united by our Mission to Save and Sustain Lives. Together, our community is driven by a culture of courage, trust, and collaboration. Every individual is empowered to take ownership and make a meaningful impact. We strive for efficient and effective operations, and we hold each other accountable for delivering exceptional results.

Here, you will find more than just a job—you will find purpose and pride.

Your Role at Baxter

This is where your work makes a difference.

As the Sr. Principal Engineer- Mechanical, you will play a pivotal role in the development and integration of world-class mechanical systems at Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Situated in Round Lake, this position offers the outstanding opportunity to lead innovative projects that directly impact patient care and outcomes. You will be part of a collaborative and ambitious team, committed to delivering flawless and reliable healthcare solutions.

What you'll be doing:

• Own the mechanical subsystem architecture from concept to production, ensuring it meets clinical needs and system performance targets.
• Clearly outline and strictly follow functional and non-functional requirements, encompassing precision in flow rates and detecting occlusions.
• Evaluate and select actuation mechanisms and pumping strategies, ensuring efficient performance and compliance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to successfully implement and optimize the pump drive system.
• Conduct DFMEA and FTA to determine and ensure subsystem safety and reliability.
• Apply expertise in Plastics Injection Molding, Sheetmetal & casting part builds, and strong knowledge of DFM and DFA or equivalent experience.
• Guide development validation against regulatory standards such as ISO 28620, IEC 60601, and IEC 62304.
• Support regulatory submissions by contributing to risk management files and development history documentation.
• Lead technology scouting and feasibility evaluations for next-generation or wearable pump builds.
• Serve as a technical mentor, reviewing critical development decisions and guiding teams.
• Perform in-depth mechanical analysis, including tolerance, load, fatigue life, and thermal modeling.
• Lead troubleshooting and problem-solving efforts related to mechanical development aspects.
• Develop and communicate design/test plans, manage time and resources to meet schedule achievements.

What you'll bring:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in medical device development, with at least 5 years in infusion pump or drug delivery systems.
• Extensive knowledge in micro-mechanical systems, actuation using motors, and fluid pumping technologies.
• Proven experience with building for reliability, miniaturization, and high-precision motion control.
• Deep knowledge of materials, tolerance stack-up, and DFM or equivalent experience in high-volume production.
• Familiarity with regulatory standards: IEC 60601, ISO 13485, ISO 14971, FDA QSR.

What Success Looks Like

The position entails leading the development of a secure, reliable, and compliant mechanical subsystem that meets drug delivery accuracy requirements and successfully completes V&V with minimal iterations. You will establish yourself as the main technical expert for all mechanical aspects of infusion systems architecture.

Baxter is committed to supporting the needs for flexibility in the workplace. We do so through our flexible workplace policy which includes a required minimum number of days a week onsite. This policy provides the benefits of connecting and collaborating in-person in support of our Mission. The flexible workplace policy is subject to local laws and legal requirements. At its discretion, Baxter may decide to adjust, suspend, or discontinue as business needs change.

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. At Baxter, we are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices. The estimated base salary for this position is $120,000-$165,000 annually. The estimated range is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position. We may pay more or less than the anticipated range based upon market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based upon location, skills and expertise, experience, and other relevant factors. This position may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses. For questions about this, our pay philosophy, and available benefits, please speak to the recruiter if you decide to apply and are selected for an interview.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

#li-tv1

US Benefits at Baxter (except for Puerto Rico)

This is where your well-being matters. Baxter offers comprehensive compensation and benefits packages for eligible roles. Our health and well-being benefits include medical and dental coverage that start on day one, as well as insurance coverage for basic life, accident, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance. Financial and retirement benefits include the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), with the ability to purchase company stock at a discount, and the 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), with options for employee contributions and company matching. We also offer Flexible Spending Accounts, educational assistance programs, and time-off benefits such as paid holidays, paid time off ranging from 20 to 35 days based on length of service, family and medical leaves of absence, and paid parental leave. Additional benefits include commuting benefits, the Employee Discount Program, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and childcare benefits. Join us and enjoy the competitive compensation and benefits we offer to our employees. For additional information regarding Baxter US Benefits, please speak with your recruiter or visit our Benefits site: Benefits | Baxter

Equal Employment Opportunity

Baxter is an equal opportunity employer. Baxter evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic.

Reasonable Accommodations

Baxter is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities globally. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please click on the link here and let us know the nature of your request along with your contact information.

Recruitment Fraud Notice

Baxter has discovered incidents of employment scams, where fraudulent parties pose as Baxter employees, recruiters, or other agents, and engage with online job seekers in an attempt to steal personal and/or financial information. To learn how you can protect yourself, review our Recruitment Fraud Notice .