Principal Metallurgist - Engineering - Orthopaedics

• Job title Principal Metallurgist - Engineering - Orthopaedics
• Function R&D Product Development
• Sub function Materials/Biomaterials Science
• Category Principal Engineer, Materials/Biomaterials Science (ST7)
• Location Ringaskiddy / Ireland
• Date posted Jul 16 2026
• Requisition number R-087558
• Work pattern Fully Onsite

Description

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:

Job Sub Function:

Job Category:

All Job Posting Locations:

Job Description:

"Johnson & Johnson announced plans to separate our Orthopaedics business to establish a standalone orthopaedics company,

operating as DePuy Synthes. The process of the planned separation is anticipated to be completed within 18 to 24 months,

subject to legal requirements, including consultation with works councils and other employee representative bodies, as may be

required, regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and approvals. Should you accept this position, it is anticipated that,

following conclusion of the transaction, you would be an employee of DePuy Synthes and your employment would be governed by

DePuy Synthes employment processes, programs, policies, and benefit plans. In that case, details of any planned changes would be

provided to you by DePuy Synthes at an appropriate time and subject to any necessary consultation processes."

About the Role

We are seeking a Principal Metallurgist to provide technical expertise to our manufacturing processes in our regulated orthopedic implant manufacturing environment.

This role will support investment casting, metallic porous coating processes, heat treatment, additive manufacturing, laser processing, and finished implant performance. The successful candidate will act as a senior technical authority, helping teams make sound material and process decisions, lead complex investigations and build sustainable metallurgy capability across the site and manufacturing network.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a senior technical authority for metallurgy across investment casting, metallic porous coating processes, heat treatment, additive manufacturing and metal-related machining interfaces.

• Provide expert guidance on material selection, mechanical properties, heat treatment, metallic coating performance, surface condition and failure mechanisms.

• Lead metallurgical failure investigations for non-conforming product, recurring scrap, process excursions and material-related defects.

• Use laboratory evidence, statistical analysis and structured root cause problem-solving methods to identify causes and define robust corrective and preventive actions.

• Interpret metallurgical laboratory results, including tensile testing, hardness testing, metallography, chemistry, coating assessment, heat treatment analysis and test sample review.

• Define or approve metallurgical standards, test methods, inspection approaches and technical documentation where materials judgement is required.

• Assess material and metallurgical risk for supplier changes, process changes, equipment changes, cleaning or surface changes, technology transfers and validation updates.

• Support technical reviews, process validation, control plans and manufacturing specifications from a metallurgical perspective.

• Coach engineers, quality teams, operations teams and technical specialists to build metallurgical understanding and improve decision-making.

• Engage with suppliers, external laboratories, universities or technical partners where specialist metallurgical input is required.
  

Qualifications & Experience

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering with a materials focus, or a closely related discipline. Doctorate-level expertise is desirable where directly relevant.

• Significant experience in metallurgy, materials engineering, foundry, additive manufacturing, heat treatment, surface technology, coatings, regulated manufacturing or equivalent technical roles.

• Experience leading complex material investigations and referencing to standards, specifications, process controls and leading corrective actions.

• Experience in medical device, aerospace, automotive, precision casting, metal additive manufacturing or other highly regulated manufacturing environment is preferred.

• Experience using structured problem-solving methods such as A3, 8D, root cause analysis, design of experiments and Lean Six Sigma is desirable.
  

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong knowledge of metallurgy, metallic material behavior, microstructure, heat treatment, surface treatment processes and materials processing process controls.

• Ability to interpret laboratory and process data and connect technical evidence to practical manufacturing decisions.

• Strong technical writing and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical topics to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Ability to influence across engineering, quality, operations, suppliers and senior stakeholders without relying solely on formal authority.

Don't miss this exceptional opportunity to join a world-class company and make a lasting impact. Apply now and be part of our ambitious team!

#LI-FullyOnsite

#LI-MR11

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

The anticipated base pay range for this position is:

Benefits:

In addition to base pay, we offer the following benefits*: an annual bonus with set target (% of pay) depending on pay grade / location, where the actual amount is based on the employees’ and companies’ performance of the previous calendar year, or sales commissions. Moreover, we offer vacation days, parental leave for a minimum of 12 weeks, bereavement leave, caregiver leave, volunteer leave, well-being reimbursement, programs for financial, physical and mental health. We also offer service anniversary and recognition awards, and subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees - and in some location’s eligible dependents - can participate in several insurance plans. For more information, visit Employee benefits | Supporting well-being & career growth | Johnson & Johnson Careers.

*This is for informative purposes only. Amounts and actual benefits may vary by location and are subject to change.