Hardware Podcasts

193 - Bioengineering Grads: Here’s What Recruiters Actually Want to See in 2025

Let's Combinate · 18 Jun 2025 · 47m

What this episode covers

Kirk Petyo, Managing Partner at Talent Factory Medical, advises bioengineering graduates on securing entry-level roles in medical devices and pharma by emphasizing the importance of a clear career 'why' and specific resume objectives. He explains that large companies like St. Jude, Medtronic, and Boston Scientific hire entry-level talent for document control and validation roles to build internal pipelines, rather than just hiring experienced engineers. Petyo also discusses the impact of onshoring trends and tariffs, noting that industrial engineering and manufacturing roles are critical for cost optimization as companies shift production back to the U.S.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Talent Factory Medical, St. Jude, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Hospira, Baxter, ICU Medical, Kelly Services, Manpower, Aerotech, Randstad, Cominox

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Global Medical Device Podcast · 41m

    #402: How to Attract Real Talent in the Medical Device Industry

    Kirk Petyo, Managing Partner at Talent Factory Recruiting, explains how medical device companies can build magnetic employer brands by defining clear value drivers and focusing on candidate capability rather than just existing competency. He warns that treating hiring as a transaction leads to poor cultural fit and high costs, emphasizing the need for structured, benchmark-driven interview processes to distinguish good workers from good interviewers. Petyo highlights the catastrophic ripple effects of bad hires in small-to-mid-sized firms and advises leaders to partner with strategic recruiters who understand their specific culture and long-term goals.

    Hiring & workforce
    8 chapters

  • Global Medical Device Podcast · 49m

    Lessons from an Industry Leader: Playing the Long Game of MedTech

    Joe Mullings, chairman of the Mullings Group, discusses the evolving medical device job market, emphasizing that top performers are driven by career growth and fulfillment rather than compensation alone. He advises professionals to network proactively on LinkedIn and negotiate offers using multiple levers like flexibility and development opportunities. Mullings argues that in-person collaboration is non-negotiable for early-career engineers in medtech due to the high stakes of patient safety, while also highlighting the importance of hiring leaders who foster competency over power hierarchies.

    Hiring & workforceDirect-to-consumer & e-commerce
    9 chapters

  • Global Medical Device Podcast · 31m

    Why Demand is so High for Regulatory & Quality Jobs (and should you take advantage?)

    Mitch Robbins, founder and managing director at The Anthony Michael Group, joins host John Spear to discuss the surging demand for regulatory and quality professionals in the medical device industry. Robbins attributes this demand to the rollout of EU MDR, hypergrowth in digital health, an aging population, and a surge in medical technology startups. He advises employers to evolve their hiring practices by focusing on employer value propositions and mission alignment rather than relying on traditional job descriptions, noting that top talent prioritizes meaningful work over compensation.

    Hiring & workforceLeadership, teams & culture
    6 chapters

  • Being an Engineer · 40m

    S4E49 Derek McKenney | Medical Device Engineering Leadership

    Derek McKenney, Director of Engineering at Puritan Medical Products, discusses the transition from technical engineering to leadership, emphasizing collaboration and overcoming imposter syndrome. He details industry trends in medical device manufacturing, specifically the shift toward compact, at-home testing devices and the need for flexible automation platforms. McKenney highlights significant challenges, including sourcing engineering talent in Maine and managing the rising costs of global regulatory compliance for Class I devices. He concludes by advocating for structured problem-solving skills in young engineers and the importance of team cohesion in achieving complex engineering goals.

    Medical & health devicesLeadership, teams & culture
    8 chapters

  • Global Medical Device Podcast · 43m

    5 Myths about QA/RA Recruiting in the Medical Device Industry

    Mitch Robbins, managing director of The Anthony Michael Group, joins host John Spear of Greenlight Guru to debunk five common myths about recruiting elite Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs (QA/RA) talent in the medical device industry. They discuss the critical importance of hiring managers owning the recruitment process, the necessity of updating resumes to highlight outcomes, and the high cost of mis-hires, which Robbins cites as 13 times a leader's salary. The conversation emphasizes that elite talent is driven by self-actualization rather than just money, and that companies can compete with large corporations by offering compelling employer value propositions and rigorous validation tests like 'test drives.'

    Hiring & workforce
    7 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Let's Combinate. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.