Principal Electrical Engineer

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world.  We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual.  At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function:

R&D Product Development

Job Sub Function:

R&D Electrical/Mechatronic Engineering

Job Category:

Scientific/Technology

All Job Posting Locations:

Santa Clara, California, United States of America

Job Description:

Robotics & Digital Solutions, part of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies, is recruiting for a Principal Electrical Engineer located in Santa Clara, CA.

At Johnson & Johnson Robotics and Digital Solutions, we’re changing the trajectory of health for humanity, using robotics to enhance healthcare providers’ abilities and improve patients’ diagnoses, treatments, and recovery times. Johnson & Johnson Robotics and Digital Solutions was established in 2020 with the integration of Auris Health, Verb Surgical, C-SATS, and Ethicon. It comprises three key med-tech platforms: Flexible Robotics (MONARCH®), Surgical Robotics (OTTAVA™), and Digital Solutions. Join our collaborative, rapidly growing teams in the San Francisco Bay Area. You’ll collaborate on breakthrough medical technologies that unite multiple subject areas to build a connected digital ecosystem that advances medical professionals’ skills and improves patient outcomes.

Johnson & Johnson MedTech is developing a robotic surgical platform that will set a new standard for the modern OR and transform the surgical experience. OTTAVA is designed as a multi-specialty soft-tissue surgery robot, activating the benefits of AI/ML, connecting health data inside the operating room and out.

Overview:

We are seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer for MONARCH® with deep expertise in PCB design, electrical system architecture, and medical device safety standards such as IEC 60601. The candidate will lead the design and development of complex electronic systems for regulated medical devices, ensuring compliance with global safety and EMC requirements.

This role requires strong experience in high-reliability PCB layout, power architecture, EMI/EMC mitigation, and regulatory compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• System Architecture

  • Lead electrical system architecture for medical devices.

  • Define power distribution, grounding strategy, isolation schemes, and safety architecture.

  • Ensure compliance with medical electrical safety standards including IEC 60601-1.

  • Develop system-level block diagrams and electrical specifications.

PCB Design & Layout

• Lead design of multi-layer PCBs including high-speed digital, analog, and mixed-signal circuits.

• Define PCB layout guidelines for:

-Creepage and clearance

-Patient isolation barriers

-EMI/EMC performance

-Thermal management

• Work closely with layout engineers to ensure compliance with medical safety spacing rules.

Compliance & Regulatory

• Ensure products meet:

-IEC 60601-1

-IEC 60601-1-2

-IEC 62304 (system integration)

-ISO 14971

• Support EMC, surge, ESD, EFT, and immunity testing.

• Design mitigation strategies (MOVs, TVS, filters, shielding, grounding).

Circuit Design

• Design mitigation strategies (MOVs, TVS, filters, shielding, grounding).

-Power supplies

-Isolation barriers

-Patient-connected circuits

-Sensor interfaces

-High-speed digital systems

• Design mitigation strategies (MOVs, TVS, filters, shielding, grounding).

Safety & Risk Management

• Perform electrical hazard analysis.

• Support risk management documentation.

• Ensure patient and operator protection (MOOP / MOPP).

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership to electrical and PCB teams.

• Conduct design reviews and failure analysis.

• Mentor junior engineers and layout designers.

• Define best practices for hardware development.

Required Qualifications

Education

MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering (BS with strong experience acceptable).

Experience

• 10+ years in electronics design and understanding the requirements of all phases of product development

• 5+ years in medical device development

Technical Skills

• Advanced PCB design and layout

• Analog and digital circuit design

• Power electronics

• EMC / EMI mitigation

• Isolation design

• Safety compliance

Preferred Skills

• High-voltage medical equipment design

• Motor control systems

• RF or high-speed digital design

• Compliance with global regulatory approvals (FDA, CE)

Key Knowledge Areas

A principal engineer in this role should understand:

• Medical isolation (MOPP / MOOP)

• Leakage current limits

• Creepage and clearance

• EMC mitigation strategies

• Surge and ESD protection

• Safety critical design reviews

• Risk management

The anticipated base pay range for this position is $157,000.00 - $271,400.00 USD Annual.

The Company maintains highly competitive, performance-based compensation programs.  Under current guidelines, this position is eligible for an annual performance bonus in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan.  The annual performance bonus is a cash bonus intended to provide an incentive to achieve annual targeted results by rewarding for individual and the corporation’s performance over a calendar/performance year.  Bonuses are awarded at the Company’s discretion on an individual basis.

Employees and/or eligible dependents may be eligible to participate in the following Company sponsored employee benefit programs: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, business accident insurance, and group legal insurance.

Employees may be eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).

This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program.

Employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:

• Vacation – up to 120 hours per calendar year

• Sick time - up to 40 hours per calendar year

• Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays – up to 13 days per calendar year

• Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year

For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to:  https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits

This job posting is anticipated to close on 03/23/26.   The Company may however extend this time-period, in which case the posting will remain available on https://www.careers.jnj.com to accept additional applications.

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. 

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation,  external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers . internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

Required Skills:

Digital Circuit Design, Electronic Design, Medical Devices, Multilayer PCB Design, Power Electronics

Preferred Skills:

Coaching, Consulting, Critical Thinking, Design Mindset, Design Thinking, Feasibility Studies, Problem Solving, Product Knowledge, Project Management Governance, Quality Focus, Research and Development, Robotic Automation, SAP Product Lifecycle Management, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Application, Smart Systems, Tactical Planning, Technical Credibility, Technical Research

The anticipated base pay range for this position is :

The anticipated base pay range for this position is $157,000.00 to $271,400.00

Additional Description for Pay Transparency: