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Principal Design Engineer

Req # JR - 186178 Location Deerfield, Illinois, United States Job Category Research and Development Date posted 10/13/2025
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Overview

This is where new knowledge is discovered. Baxter’s Research and Development teams work cross functionally to innovate, develop and introduce creative solutions for patients needs globally. From Scientists to Engineers, your work creates the products that save and sustain lives.

  • Support for Parents

  • Continuing Education/ Professional Development

  • Employee Heath & Well-Being Benefits

  • Paid Time Off

  • 2 Days a Year to Volunteer

Success Profile

What makes a successful Research and Development team member at Baxter? Take a look at some of the top traits we’re looking for and see if you’re a fit.

  • Courage
  • Action Oriented
  • Collaborates
  • Cultivates Innovation
  • Manages Ambiguity
  • Drives Results

Principal Design Engineer

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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

We're seeking a highly skilled and experienced Project Lead to join our Advanced Surgery business team. As a key member of our team, you'll be responsible for leading the design, development, and sustaining engineering of cutting-edge medical devices that transform lives.

What you'll be doing:

  • Drive Technical Innovation: Create design concepts and research methodologies that best meet current and future customer & business needs for a product or process domain area.

  • Lead Cross-Functional Teams: Provide technical leadership to project teams working closely with the Project Manager, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, and key technical core team members.

  • Manage Complex Projects: Manage phase gate and technical design reviews, and identify critical project risks.

  • Ensure Compliance: Foster an environment of rigor, completeness, and compliance when participating on plant CAPA, CC, or FCA investigations/assessments.

  • Communicate Effectively: Define and communicate strategic imperatives for innovative technology success and cost savings, and defend products to external agencies and corporate evaluations/audits.

What you'll bring:

  • Technical Expertise: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Biomedical/Bioengineering, or related field with over 5 years of experience, or Master's degree in Engineering with more than 3 years of experience.

  • Project Management Skills: Demonstrated project management skills, including project scheduling, resource allocation and management, risk management, project finances, and partner/contract management.

  • Leadership Skills: Proven ability to lead, influence, and motivate cross-functional teams to achieve challenging goals.

  • Business Acumen: Demonstrated good business judgment in balancing budget, profitability, and vendor relationships.

Join the Baxter Team

If you're a passionate and innovative leader with a desire to drive technical innovation and lead cross-functional teams, we want to hear from you. Apply now to become a part of our dynamic team and help us shape the future of medical technology.

Baxter is dedicated to accommodating the demand for adaptability in the workplace. This dedication is reflected in our flexible workplace guidelines, which mandate a minimum number of days per week spent onsite. This approach offers the advantages of face-to-face interaction and teamwork in alignment with our Mission. The flexible workplace guidelines are contingent upon local regulations and legal obligations. Baxter reserves the right to modify, pause, or terminate these guidelines at its discretion in response to evolving business demands.

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 $104,000-$143,000 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 on 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.

Candidates must have unrestricted U.S. work authorization. No visa sponsorship available

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.

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

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.

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Address

Explore this location 1 Baxter Parkway
Deerfield, IL 60015
United States of America
Explore This Location

Hear from Our Employees

Our company is enriched by a diverse population of individuals in more than 100 countries that work to solve, innovate, manufacture and drive better healthcare options for patients around the world.

Meet Reagan, Senior Research Scientist in the United States

“For me, the best thing about working at Baxter is being able to do work that’s important to people—especially patients—outside of Baxter's walls. Inside our walls, I get to work with a fantastic team, and we know we're making a difference.”

Meet Karthik, Director of Renal Care R&D - Digital Health & Co-President of the Asian Leadership Network Business Resource Group, United States

“I’m excited about my role because I believe that digital initiatives can make a tremendous impact on lives by allowing people to access the same therapies and have similar care — whether in a hospital, a healthcare clinic, or the patient’s home — anywhere in the world.”

Meet Amitha, Research Associate in India

“Coming from a non-healthcare academic background, my current role has offered ample opportunities to learn a lot of new things. Leaders at Baxter are motivating, help us grow and provide a collaborative environment. The role gives me opportunities to have technical discussions with peers and subject matter experts globally, to learn interacting with customers, and manage project deadlines and deliverables. I am excited about shaping my career here at Baxter.”

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