Principal Training & Education Specialist - CST

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 22 Jul 2026   Careers that change lives start here. Medtronic is a global leader in healthcare technology with a Mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life. Our 95,000 employees work across more than 150 countries to put patients first — developing innovative medical technologies that improve the lives of 72+ million patients each year. Your unique talents will help shape the future of healthcare while building a career grounded in purpose, growth, and impact.

A Day in the Life At Medtronic, we bring bold ideas forward with speed and decisiveness to put patients first in everything we do. This position is remote to enhance our competitive edge and expand our cross-functional collaboration efforts. This role will require 40% of travel to enhance collaboration and ensure successful completion of projects.                     Careers that Change Lives Across our global Neuroscience organization, we advance care for some of medicine’s most complex neurological and spinal conditions. By combining innovative technology, data-driven insights, and deep clinical expertise, we partner with physicians and health systems to improve how patients are treated and supported throughout their care journey.

Our Cranial & Spinal Technologies (CST) operating unit advances surgical care for spine and cranial conditions through an integrated ecosystem of implants, navigation, robotics, imaging, and planning tools. Platforms like AiBLE enhance precision, efficiency, and outcomes for complex procedures worldwide. Check us out on LinkedIn: Medtronic CST

We're looking for a highly respected cranial navigation and enabling technologies expert who is passionate about shaping the future of clinical excellence in the cranial navigation space. This is an opportunity to extend your impact beyond individual cases by developing the knowledge, clinical expertise, and consultative capabilities that empower field teams to become trusted partners to neurosurgeons and healthcare teams, ultimately helping advance patient care through the adoption and effective use of enabling technologies. Join CST and help shape the future of spine and cranial care. As part of ONE CST, you’ll empower commercial teams to master cutting-edge technologies (navigation, robotics, power, data and imaging) that make surgical outcomes more predictable, precise, and personalized. Your work will directly impact on how we enable surgeons to expand their capabilities and transform patient lives. If you’re ready to lead with candor, innovate boldly, and build momentum toward the future of surgery, this is your opportunity to make a difference.

Hiring Manager has a strong preference for candidates to based in Lafayette, CO but could be open to remote work for highly qualified candidates.

Responsibilities may include the following and other duties may be assigned. Develop and lead advanced education programs focused on cranial navigation, surgical workflows, enabling technologies, and neurosurgical procedures.

Translate complex clinical concepts, disease states, procedural workflows, and technology applications into engaging and impactful learning experiences.

Design and deliver hands-on, virtual, simulation-based, and competency-driven learning programs that strengthen field expertise and clinical consultation skills.

Partner with sales, marketing, R&D, clinical, regulatory, and medical education teams to align education strategies with customer needs, business priorities, and future technologies.

Develop role-based competency models, assessments, and learning pathways that support progression from foundational knowledge to advanced expertise.

Serve as a subject matter expert and strategic advisor for cranial navigation and enabling technologies, helping shape future field education strategies.

Support product launches, procedural adoption initiatives, and field readiness efforts through scalable education solutions.

Mentor peers and contribute to best practices that elevate CST's overall education capabilities.

Analyze training effectiveness through data-driven evaluations and feedback loops, recommending and implementing improvements to optimize adoption and procedural success.

Support high-profile initiatives, including National Sales Meeting, major installations, escalated technical situations, and new product introductions, by ensuring field teams are prepared to deliver exceptional customer experiences.

Act as a connector and influencer, shaping education strategies that empower commercial teams to expand surgeon capabilities and drive CST’s mission of transforming care.

Must Have: Minimum Requirements High School Diploma or equivalent with 11+ years of relevant experience in a clinical lab setting, clinical training, field sales/support in medical device, healthcare industry or equivalent experience (OR Associate's Degree with 9+ years experience OR Baccalaureate Degree with 7+ years experience)

Nice to Have Deep expertise in cranial navigation systems, enabling technologies, neurosurgical workflows, and the clinical application of navigation, imaging, power and surgical planning technologies.

Strong understanding of cranial anatomy, neurosurgical disease states, surgical approaches, procedural decision-making, and technology integration within neurosurgical workflows.

Experience designing and developing curricula, competency models, assessments, learning pathways, and certification programs for clinical and customer-facing audiences.

Expertise in adult learning principles, instructional design methodologies, competency-based education, and scenario-based learning strategies.

Demonstrated ability to build blended learning solutions, including instructor-led, virtual, simulation-based, hands-on, and self-paced educational experiences.

Experience translating complex clinical, procedural, and technical concepts into engaging educational content, job aids, procedural resources, and performance support tools.

Experience utilizing simulation, digital learning platforms, learning management systems (LMS), virtual learning environments, or other innovative educational technologies.

Demonstrated success collaborating with sales, marketing, clinical, R&D, Medical Education, regulatory, legal, quality, and global stakeholders to align education strategies with business and customer needs.

Experience supporting product launches, clinical adoption initiatives, field readiness programs, or customer education programs related to surgical technologies and procedural innovation.

Advanced clinical, scientific, engineering, educational, or healthcare-related credentials.

For Baccalaureate degrees earned outside of the United States, a degree that satisfies the requirements of 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(A) is required.

Physical Job Requirements

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position, but they are not an exhaustive list of all the required responsibilities and skills of this position. 

The physical demands described within the Responsibilities section of this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. For Office Roles: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be independently mobile. The employee is also required to interact with a computer, and communicate with peers and co-workers. Contact your manager or local HR to understand the Work Conditions and Physical requirements that may be specific to each role.

U.S. Work Authorization & Sponsorship At Medtronic, we are committed to fostering an environment where employees can thrive and make a meaningful impact. In alignment with our enterprise-wide workforce planning approach, U.S. work authorization sponsorship (H-1B, TN, J, etc.) is offered exclusively for Principal-level roles and above, where specialized expertise aligns with long-term business needs. Roles below the Principal level require candidates to possess unrestricted U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and for the duration of employment. ‌ Recruitment Fraud Alert We are aware of phishing scams targeting job seekers. Please keep the following in mind: 

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If you have any questions, concerns regarding the authenticity of a communication alleged to have been made by or on behalf of Medtronic, please contact us immediately at AskHR@medtronic.com .  ‌ Benefits & Compensation   Medtronic offers a competitive Salary and flexible Benefits Package A commitment to our employees lives at the core of our values. We recognize their contributions. They share in the success they help to create.   We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every career and life stage.  

Salary ranges for U.S (excl. PR) locations (USD):$109,600.00 - $164,400.00

  This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP).

The base salary range is applicable across the United States, excluding Puerto Rico and specific locations in California. The offered rate complies with federal and local regulations and may vary based on factors such as experience, certification/education, market conditions, and location. Compensation and benefits information pertains solely to candidates hired within the United States (local market compensation and benefits will apply for others).

The following benefits and additional compensation are available to those regular employees who work 20+ hours per week: Health, Dental and vision insurance ,   Health Savings Account ,   Healthcare Flexible Spending Account ,   Life insurance, Long-term disability leave ,   Dependent daycare spending account ,   Tuition assistance/reimbursement , and   Simple Steps (global well-being program).   The following benefits and additional compensation are available to all regular employees:   Incentive plans, 401(k) plan plus employer contribution and match ,   Short-term disability ,   Paid time off ,   Paid holidays ,   Employee Stock Purchase Plan ,   Employee Assistance Program ,   Non-qualified Retirement Plan Supplement (subject to IRS earning minimums) , and   Capital Accumulation Plan (available to Vice Presidents and above, or subject to IRS earning minimums).   Regular employees are those who are not temporary, such as interns.  Temporary employees are eligible for paid sick time, as required under applicable state law, and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Please note some of the above benefits may not apply to workers in Puerto Rico.   Further details are available at the link below: Medtronic benefits and compensation plans

It is the policy of Medtronic to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Medtronic will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

If you are applying to perform work for Medtronic, Inc. (“Medtronic”) in any position which will involve performing at least two (2) hours of work on average each week within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, you can find  here a list of all material job duties of the specific job position which Medtronic reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. Medtronic will consider for employment qualified job applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.