Senior Human Centered Design Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Human-Centered Design Researcher

Company: Medtronic

Location: Mounds View, Minnesota, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Design Research & Strategy Operations

Date Posted: August 18, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 years

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in-office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and execute end-to-end Human-Centered Design (HCD) research initiatives, from scoping and method selection to synthesis and actionable insight delivery.

• Drive early-stage research sprints, employing qualitative methodologies like contextual inquiry and in-depth interviews to uncover unmet user needs within healthcare technology.

• Translate complex qualitative data into clear, compelling insights that directly inform product strategy, user experience principles, and Medtronic's business objectives.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including R&D, marketing, and technology leaders, to ensure research alignment and impactful integration into product development cycles.

• Foster deep user empathy and champion a user-centric approach across the organization to innovate healthcare solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role sits within Medtronic's internal Innovation Lab, acting as a strategic consulting function. The focus is on early-stage, exploratory research to identify opportunities and define user needs, rather than later-stage usability testing. Success in this role hinges on translating research findings into tangible product strategy and influencing cross-functional decision-making.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Scope, plan, and align Human-Centered Design (HCD) research activities with Medtronic Operating Unit (OU) marketing, R&D, and technology leaders, ensuring clear objectives, methodologies, deliverables, and impact.

• Independently lead and execute multiple concurrent research sprints, working in the field and/or providing strategic guidance for remote or junior team member execution.

• Develop and drive research methodologies that explore conceptual use scenarios, workflows, and unmet needs through contextual inquiry, ethnographic observation, and qualitative engagement with users and stakeholders.

• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to design and refine research materials, including recruitment criteria and processes, screeners, interview guides, and concept stimuli.

• Synthesize complex qualitative data into clear, actionable insights and research outputs, with a strong emphasis on linking findings to user experience implications, product strategy, and Medtronic business objectives.

• Facilitate workshops and working sessions with cross-functional teams to translate research findings into design principles, product requirements, and strategic recommendations.

• Clearly communicate research findings and strategic implications visually through deliverables such as sketches, workflows, concept narratives, and feature/function descriptions.

• Support global or cross-cultural research initiatives, adapting methodologies and insights for diverse user populations and market contexts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "early-stage research" and "conceptual use scenarios" indicates a focus on generative research, identifying new opportunities and defining problems, rather than evaluative research focused on validating existing designs. The role requires a strong ability to influence without direct authority, leveraging research insights to guide strategic decisions across different business units.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Design Research, Human-Centered Design, Human Factors, Psychology, Marketing, Anthropology, Sociology, Biomedical Engineering, Service Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

• Master's degree in human-centered design or behavioral science discipline is strongly preferred.

• For degrees earned outside the U.S., an equivalent that satisfies 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(A) is required. Experience:

• Minimum of 2+ years of experience with an advanced degree, or 4+ years of experience with a bachelor's degree.

• Demonstrated ability to independently lead end-to-end research initiatives, including scoping, method selection, field execution, synthesis, and delivery of actionable insights.

• Professional experience conducting qualitative design research within product, service, or experience design teams. Required Skills:

• Strong familiarity and execution of human-centered and qualitative research methods, including team facilitation/moderation, contextual inquiry, ethnographic observations, and in-depth interviews.

• Proven ability to synthesize qualitative data into clear insights that inform design decisions, experience principles, and product strategy.

• Ability to influence decision-making through clear and compelling communication, with experience presenting research findings to diverse audiences.

• Proficiency in translating complex user needs and behaviors into actionable product strategies and experience principles.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen ability to identify patterns and themes in qualitative data. Preferred Skills:

• Experience working in healthcare, medical devices, or other regulated environments, with exposure to healthcare systems, clinical workflows, and medical device regulatory context.

• Consulting experience is highly desired.

• Familiarity with front-end innovation, upstream product development, early-phase concept exploration, and identifying emerging trends in medical practice and technology.

• Experience supporting global or cross-cultural research initiatives.

• Ability to communicate ideas and insights visually through deliverables such as sketches, workflows, concepts, features, and functions of devices.

• Experience in concept evaluation and usability testing, particularly in early-stage ideation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "2+ years with an advanced degree or 4+ years with a bachelor's degree" is a common way to frame experience requirements for roles requiring specialized knowledge. The strong preference for healthcare/medical device experience and consulting background indicates the company values candidates who can quickly adapt to a regulated and complex industry.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate end-to-end research projects, showcasing the entire research lifecycle from problem definition to actionable insights and their impact.

• Include examples of research planning, methodology selection, and execution for qualitative studies (e.g., contextual inquiry, interviews, ethnography).

• Showcase your ability to synthesize complex qualitative data into clear, compelling insights and strategic recommendations.

• Provide evidence of how your research findings have directly influenced product strategy, design decisions, or business objectives, ideally with quantifiable outcomes or impact.

• Include examples of research deliverables, such as insight reports, personas, journey maps, concept evaluations, or visual communication of findings. Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your process for scoping and planning research initiatives, including stakeholder alignment and objective setting.

• Detail your approach to selecting and adapting research methodologies to fit specific project needs and constraints.

• Describe your methods for synthesizing qualitative data, identifying key themes, and translating them into actionable insights and strategic recommendations.

• Illustrate how you document and communicate research findings to diverse audiences, ensuring clarity and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Human-Centered Design Researcher role, a portfolio is critical. It should not just display finished work but also the candidate's thought process, methodological rigor, and ability to drive impact. The emphasis on "actionable insights" and "influencing decision-making" means the portfolio needs to tell a story of impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $126,400.00 - $189,600.00 USD per year (for U.S. locations, excluding PR and specific California locations).

Benefits:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for employee well-being.

• Health Savings Account (HSA) & Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Pre-tax savings for medical expenses.

• Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability Leave: Financial protection for employees and their families.

• Dependent Daycare Spending Account: Pre-tax savings for childcare expenses.

• Tuition Assistance/Reimbursement: Support for continued education and professional development.

• 401(k) Plan: With employer contribution and match, supporting long-term financial security.

• Paid Time Off & Paid Holidays: Generous leave policies to ensure work-life balance.

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP): Opportunity to invest in Medtronic's growth.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support services for personal and professional challenges.

• Short-Term Disability: Income protection for temporary absences due to illness or injury.

• Incentive Plans: Including the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP), offering a short-term incentive bonus based on performance.

• Non-qualified Retirement Plan Supplement: Additional retirement savings opportunity.

• Capital Accumulation Plan: Available for Vice Presidents and above, or subject to IRS earning minimums.

• Simple Steps (Global Well-being Program): Resources and support for overall employee well-being.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work schedule, typically around 40 hours per week.

• The role requires 4 days per week in the Mounds View, MN facility, indicating a hybrid work arrangement.

• 20% travel is required for collaboration and project completion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a benchmark. The actual offer will depend on factors such as candidate experience, education, market conditions, and specific location. The inclusion of a short-term incentive plan (MIP) and ESPP are significant components of the total compensation package for this senior role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Technology / Medical Devices. Medtronic is a global leader, operating in a highly regulated and innovation-driven sector focused on improving patient outcomes.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (95,000+ employees globally). This signifies a structured environment with established processes, extensive resources, and numerous opportunities for specialization and career advancement.

Founded: Medtronic was founded in 1949, indicating a long history of innovation, stability, and deep expertise in the medical technology field.

Team Structure:

• The role is part of the "Innovation Lab," described as an internal experience, design, and strategy consulting team. This team likely comprises designers, strategists, researchers, and project managers.

• This researcher will work closely with Operating Unit (OU) marketing, R&D, and technology leaders, implying a matrixed reporting structure and strong cross-functional collaboration.

• The team likely operates with a high degree of autonomy in project selection and execution, acting as internal consultants to various business units. Methodology:

• The team heavily relies on Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles and methodologies.

• Emphasis is placed on early-stage research, contextual inquiry, and qualitative data synthesis to drive innovation.

• Processes are designed to translate user insights into actionable product strategy and inform upstream product development.

• Data analysis and insights generation are core to the team's function, focusing on understanding user needs and market opportunities.

Company Website: https://www.medtronic.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Medtronic's Mission ("To alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life") is a central theme that permeates its culture and operations. The Innovation Lab's role is to operationalize this mission through user-centric innovation. The company's commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (ID&E) is also highlighted, suggesting an inclusive work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Researcher. This level implies significant autonomy, the ability to lead complex projects independently, and a role in mentoring junior team members. It sits between an individual contributor researcher and a lead or manager. The role is critical in shaping early-stage product strategy and innovation.

Reporting Structure: While the specific reporting manager isn't detailed, the role operates within the Innovation Lab and collaborates extensively with Operating Unit (OU) leaders. This suggests a reporting line within the Innovation Lab structure, with significant influence over OU product development roadmaps.

Operations Impact: The researcher's work directly impacts Medtronic's ability to develop innovative healthcare solutions that meet genuine patient and healthcare provider needs. This has a profound effect on patient outcomes, market competitiveness, and the company's overall growth and mission fulfillment. By identifying unmet needs and informing product strategy, this role drives the innovation pipeline.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific therapeutic areas or advanced qualitative research methodologies within the healthcare domain.

• Leadership: Progress into a Lead Researcher, Design Strategy Lead, or potentially a management role within the Innovation Lab or a specific OU.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop stronger strategic consulting skills and gain broader business acumen by working across various OUs and R&D functions.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor and guide junior researchers, developing leadership and coaching capabilities.

• Industry Exposure: Gain in-depth knowledge of regulated medical device development, clinical workflows, and healthcare systems, which is highly valuable in the industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, coupled with the "2-5 years" experience level, suggests that candidates with 4+ years of experience are likely to be considered strong contenders, especially if they have a Master's degree. Growth opportunities focus on deepening expertise and moving into leadership or strategic advisory roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. Employees are expected to work 4 days a week at the Medtronic facility in Mounds View, Minnesota, with one remote day. This balance aims to combine the benefits of in-person collaboration with flexibility.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is the Medtronic facility in Mounds View, Minnesota. This location likely offers resources and facilities conducive to research and design activities.

Workspace Context:

• The Mounds View facility serves as a hub for collaboration, innovation, and in-person exchanges, crucial for the HCD process.

• The hybrid model implies access to office amenities, meeting spaces, and collaboration tools designed to support team interaction and project work.

• The role involves 20% travel, indicating that the workspace extends beyond the office to include user sites, conferences, or other Medtronic locations for research and collaboration.

• The "Innovation Lab" context suggests a dynamic, potentially experimental workspace that encourages creative problem-solving and cross-pollination of ideas. Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours, approximately 40 hours per week.

• The hybrid model (4 days in-office, 1 remote) provides a structured yet flexible work arrangement.

• The need for 20% travel may require flexibility in scheduling to accommodate research fieldwork and stakeholder meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "in-person exchanges are invaluable" statement emphasizes the company's belief in the power of face-to-face interaction for innovation and collaboration, particularly within the HCD process. The 4-day in-office requirement is a key aspect of the work arrangement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter review of application and resume to assess basic qualifications.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on experience, skills, and alignment with the role's responsibilities, often including behavioral questions.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A critical stage where candidates present their work, showcasing research projects, methodologies, insights, and impact. This may involve a dedicated session with the hiring team or specific stakeholders.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with potential colleagues and cross-functional partners (e.g., designers, R&D leads) to assess collaboration style, communication, and technical fit.

• Final Interview: Likely with a senior leader or director to discuss strategic fit, long-term vision, and cultural alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Select Projects: Choose 3-4 strong projects that best represent your skills in HCD research, synthesis, and strategic influence. Prioritize projects that align with healthcare or regulated industries if possible.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the methodologies used, the challenges faced, the key insights derived, and the impact of your work on product strategy or business outcomes.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your research process, from scoping and planning to synthesis and delivery. Show how you adapted methods and overcame obstacles.

• Showcase Deliverables: Include examples of your research outputs—reports, personas, journey maps, concept evaluations, visual syntheses—that demonstrate clarity and impact.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, quantify the impact of your research (e.g., "informed a feature that increased user adoption by X%", "identified a need that led to Y new product concepts").

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your decision-making, methodological choices, how you handled difficult stakeholders, and how you synthesized complex data.

Challenge Preparation:

• While a specific "challenge" isn't detailed, be prepared for case study-style questions or hypothetical scenarios during interviews.

• Practice articulating your HCD process and how you would approach a new, ambiguous problem within the healthcare technology space.

• Be ready to discuss how you would gather insights for a new medical device concept or improve an existing healthcare workflow.

• Prepare to discuss your understanding of the healthcare industry, clinical workflows, and regulatory considerations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is likely the most crucial part of the application process for this role. Candidates should prepare thoroughly to showcase their ability to translate research into strategic action and tangible business impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Qualitative Research Platforms: Tools for conducting remote interviews and usability tests (e.g., Zoom, UserTesting.com, Lookback, Dovetail).

• Synthesis & Analysis Tools: Software for organizing, coding, and synthesizing qualitative data (e.g., Dovetail, NVivo, Miro, Mural).

• Collaboration Tools: Platforms for team collaboration, brainstorming, and workshop facilitation (e.g., Miro, Mural, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace).

• Presentation Software: Standard tools for creating compelling visual presentations (e.g., PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While the role is primarily qualitative, familiarity with basic analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Tableau, Power BI) might be beneficial for understanding broader user behavior context or presenting integrated findings. CRM & Automation:

• Less directly relevant for this research role, but understanding how user feedback or research insights feed into CRM systems or product development pipelines could be an advantage.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Tools & Technology Stack" section for this role will lean heavily towards qualitative research and collaboration tools. Proficiency in platforms that aid in data synthesis and insight generation from qualitative research is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A deep commitment to Medtronic's mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life, driving purposeful innovation.

• Patient-First: Prioritizing the needs and well-being of patients in all design and research activities.

• Data-Driven Insights: Relying on rigorous research and qualitative data synthesis to inform strategic decisions and product development.

• Collaboration & Inclusion: Fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where different perspectives are valued to drive innovation.

• Continuous Improvement: A commitment to refining HCD processes and methodologies to achieve greater impact.

• Impact & Accountability: Focusing on delivering actionable insights that lead to tangible improvements in healthcare solutions and patient outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working closely with diverse teams (R&D, Marketing, Technology) requires strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Consultative Approach: The Innovation Lab acts as internal consultants, requiring effective stakeholder management and the ability to influence decision-making through data and compelling narratives.

• Workshop Facilitation: Leading collaborative sessions to translate research into actionable strategies.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive feedback to refine research approaches and deliverables.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively sharing insights and best practices within the Innovation Lab and with partner OUs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Medtronic's Mission and patient-centricity is paramount. The culture likely values rigorous research, strategic thinking, and collaborative problem-solving within a regulated but innovative environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating a Regulated Environment: Balancing innovative design research with the stringent requirements of the medical device industry (FDA, etc.).

• Translating Insights into Action: Ensuring that research findings are not just reported but actively integrated into product roadmaps and design decisions, especially in large organizations.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Gaining buy-in and alignment from diverse stakeholder groups with potentially competing priorities.

• Early-Stage Ambiguity: Working with undefined problems and concepts, requiring strong generative research skills and comfort with ambiguity.

• Global Research Complexity: Adapting research methods and interpreting findings across different cultural contexts.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Healthcare Domain Expertise: Gain specialized knowledge in specific therapeutic areas or medical technologies.

• Advanced HCD Methodologies: Explore and master cutting-edge research techniques and frameworks.

• Strategic Consulting Skills: Develop expertise in influencing organizational strategy and driving change.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to lead larger research initiatives and mentor junior team members.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Access to professional development resources to stay current with HCD and healthcare innovation trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior role in a large, regulated industry, emphasizing the need for strong strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and adaptability. Growth opportunities are geared towards increasing impact and leadership within the HCD and innovation space.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used qualitative research to uncover a significant unmet need that led to a strategic shift in product development." (Focus on process, insight, and impact).

• "How would you approach understanding the needs of [specific user group, e.g., cardiac surgeons, diabetic patients] for a new [type of medical device]?" (Demonstrate your research planning and methodology selection).

• "Imagine you've identified a key user insight. How do you ensure that insight is effectively translated into actionable design requirements and influences the product roadmap?" (Focus on synthesis, communication, and stakeholder management).

• "How do you balance the need for rapid exploration in early-stage research with the rigorous documentation required in a regulated environment like Medtronic?" (Showcase understanding of industry constraints). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Medtronic's mission, and how does that align with your approach to human-centered design?" (Connect your values to the company's mission).

• "How do you foster inclusion and diversity in your research practices and team collaborations?" (Address company values).

• "Describe your experience working within cross-functional teams. How do you build relationships and drive consensus?" (Assess collaboration style). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each project, follow a clear narrative: Problem/Opportunity -> Your Role & Objectives -> Methodology -> Key Findings/Insights -> Recommendations/Impact -> Lessons Learned.

• Visuals: Use compelling visuals (photos from the field, key quotes, synthesized diagrams, concept sketches, prototypes) to illustrate your process and findings.

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the "so what?" of your research. How did it make a difference? Quantify where possible.

• Methodological Justification: Be prepared to explain why you chose specific research methods and how they were best suited to answer your research questions.

• Conciseness: Respect time limits. Practice your presentation to be clear, engaging, and within the allotted timeframe. Highlight the most critical aspects of your work.

• Interactive Elements: Be ready to answer detailed questions about your process, decision-making, and the implications of your findings.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily emphasize the candidate's portfolio and their ability to articulate the strategic impact of their research. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate their understanding of the healthcare industry and Medtronic's specific context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Human-Centered Design Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the official Medtronic careers portal (https://medtronic.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/MedtronicCareers/job/Mounds-View-Minnesota-United-States-of-America/Senior-Human-Factors-Design-Engineer_R63538-1).

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in Human-Centered Design, qualitative research methodologies (contextual inquiry, ethnography, interviews), data synthesis, strategic insight generation, and experience within healthcare or regulated industries. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 3-4 of your most impactful HCD research projects. Ensure each project clearly demonstrates the problem, your role, methodology, key insights, and the resulting strategic impact. Focus on projects that show your ability to translate research into actionable product strategy.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio presentation, focusing on clear storytelling, strong visuals, and articulating the "so what?" of your research. Be prepared to discuss your process and answer detailed questions.

• Research Medtronic: Understand Medtronic's Mission, its product portfolio, its commitment to innovation, and its focus on patient outcomes. Familiarize yourself with the healthcare technology landscape and potential user challenges.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.