Sr. R&D Engineer (pre-identified)

What the Innovation Research team contributes to Cardinal Health

This position will be part of the Innovation Team working at a strategic level to initiate and carry projects from ideas through research an onto initial concepts that are viable for commercialization and ready for further development. A focus on customer needs, problem solving, emerging technology, and ongoing user research will be key to success in this role. The Innovation team designs and executes user research studies used as a foundation to build concepts and create interest in projects to be handed off to execution teams to complete and commercialize. It operates as a consultant ‘service organization’ that is separate from execution teams. Team members will act as evangelists who ensure the voice of stakeholders (User Research, Mktg, user needs, etc.) and the innovation objectives are preserved throughout the development process.

This unique role will require the wearing of many hats, from user researcher, problem solver, and inventor to project leader, technology expert, and consulting Designer. Innovation is at the core of this team and an insatiable curiosity, creativity, and innovation mindset will be key to success in this role. Success in this role will require comfort with ambiguity, increased risk, and the potential of failure, but most importantly it will require an ability to uncover, frame, solve and communicate problems not yet fully formed or understood.

Responsibilities

• Being curious and inquisitive about users (needs, actions, thinking), products, business models, and technology to drive innovation for products that satisfy stakeholder needs

• Championing a human-centered, entrepreneurial approach to strategic innovation initiatives with a focus on user empathy and research

• Creating and envisioning the unknown, and what not-yet-exists, then figuring out how to make it, make it work, and make it provide value to our customers (mechanical, technological, design, etc.) 

• Solving problems by figuring out what needs to be done and doing it 

• Dealing with situations that are ambiguous and don’t have complete information

• Being open to new ways of looking at and doing Innovation work

• Combining empathy, creativity, and business savvy to challenge existing assumptions & status quo

• Establishing a ‘point of view’ that leads to making recommendations for new product concepts

• Developing original content, frameworks, and concepts to shape initial product ideas and undefined technical problems

• Communicating and “selling” ideas to others who may have limited understanding or ability to imagine the intangible 

• Coordinating and collaborating with multi-departmental, cross-functional teams of researchers, engineers, and business partners

• Handling projects to meet established timelines and generating/maintaining project status

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in related field preferred (Industrial Design, Design Research, Design Strategy, Mechanical Engineering, or related equivalent)

• A minimum of 5-7 years related work experience preferred

• A strong background in User Research, Human Factors, and/or Design Strategy is preferred

• Physical product design/development experience is preferred

• Ability to work independently and as a member of a matrixed team

• Knowledge of Medical Device industry, preferred

• Knowledge and use of Design Research methods and practices, preferred

• Knowledge of product development process and experience with manufacturing, materials and processes, and product architecture, preferred

• Knowledge of 3-D CAD (Solidworks preferred), drawing package and/or Visual Communication tools (ie Adobe Suite), preferred

What is expected of you and others to be successful at this level

• Utilizing creativity and an insatiable curiosity to uncover and understand the “Why?”

• A desire and willingness to learn and apply new methods & techniques to innovation activities

• Experience conducting and/or involvement in primary and secondary research (ie user, design, technology)

• Researching and investigating new & emerging technologies for various product categories

• Using research insights to identify possible solutions and taking action to resolve a variety of problems

• Tinkering, inventing, and/or enjoying hobbies that require creative exploration

• Ability and willingness to work with ambiguity or limited information

• Applies judgment within defined parameters while demonstrating sound reasoning

• Must have excellent presentation, communication (spoken, visual, written), and interpersonal skills

• Self-driven and motivated to work independently with general guidance

• Working effectively and collaborating seamlessly in a matrix environment

• Having the ambidexterity and ability to thrive as a generalist

• Open to traveling to support & drive projects, as needed

Anticipated salary range: $90,200 - $115,830

Bonus eligible: No

Benefits: Cardinal Health offers a wide variety of benefits and programs to support health and well-being.

• Medical, dental and vision coverage

• Paid time off plan

• Health savings account (HSA)

• 401k savings plan

• Access to wages before pay day with myFlexPay

• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• Work-Life resources

• Paid parental leave

• Healthy lifestyle programs

Application window anticipated to close: 7/8/2026 *if interested in opportunity, please submit application as soon as possible.

The salary range listed is an estimate. Pay at Cardinal Health is determined by multiple factors including, but not limited to, a candidate’s geographical location, relevant education, experience and skills and an evaluation of internal pay equity.

Candidates who are back-to-work, people with disabilities, without a college degree, and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Cardinal Health supports an inclusive workplace that values diversity of thought, experience and background. We celebrate the power of our differences to create better solutions for our customers by ensuring employees can be their authentic selves each day. Cardinal Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, creed, status with regard to public assistance, genetic status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

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