Principal Mechanical R&D Engineer

The Principal R&D Engineer is CIVCO’s hands-on upstream (Stage 0) technical lead.

This principal-level individual contributor rapidly converts unmet clinical needs, product ideas, and emerging technologies into technical evidence—concepts, prototypes, experiments, and clear recommendations—that supports go/no-go investment decisions, detailed scoping, and high-quality handoff into formal product development.

A majority of this role’s capacity is dedicated to upstream work, with the remainder supporting knowledge transfer to downstream teams and engaging other design engineers in concept work so that exploratory capability grows across the team rather than residing in one person.

Success is measured by substantiated unmet needs identified, feasibility questions resolved, strategically relevant technologies evaluated, and concepts advanced to a clear investment or no-go decision.

Principal R&D Engineer is based out of our production facility in Coralville, IA.

On-site is preferred given the hands-on nature of the work.

This is not a fully remote position.

Relocation assistance may be available for the right candidate.

Job Requirements



* Concept & Feasibility: Translate early ideas into concepts, prototypes, experiments, and clear technical conclusions that inform investment and scoping decisions.


* Rapid Prototyping: Personally design and fabricate prototypes, fixtures, and test setups using CAD, additive manufacturing, basic fabrication/machining, and existing internal and external resources.


* Technical De-Risking: Identify critical assumptions and technical risks, then design and execute the fastest practical experiments to resolve them—including recommending against concepts when the evidence warrants it.


* Project Ownership & Execution: Create structure around loosely defined problems; plan, organize, and drive upstream investigations to completion with minimal oversight; coordinate stakeholders and small ad-hoc teams when needed; maintain momentum; and deliver a clear outcome, decision, or handoff.


* Unmet-Needs Discovery: Lead and/or participate in clinical/user observation alongside Product Management; independently identify and characterize unmet needs and develop approved opportunities into potential solutions.


* Technology Roadmap: Continuously scout technologies, vendors, startups, universities, components, sensors, and other capabilities relevant to future CIVCO products, and rapidly evaluate their applicability.


* Technology Integration: Combine mechanical systems with sensors, electronics, instrumentation, and basic software/data tools as needed to demonstrate feasibility.


* Internal Collaboration & Communication: Work daily with Product Management, clinical and field partners, Design Engineering, and downstream New Product Development as needed.

Present findings and recommendations concisely to executive leadership in support of investment decisions.

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