“One of the things that I like most about St. Jude Medical is the opportunity to work in multiple areas of engineering and with different medical devices,” says Chrismar (Chris) Scribner, principal manufacturing engineer for St. Jude Medical. “I’ve worked on new product development projects, relocation of manufacturing lines to other facilities, and continuous improvements to existing processes.”

 

Scribner, who works in St. Jude Medical’s Cardiovascular and Ablation Technology Division and focuses on operations program management, also finds that myriad, ongoing opportunities can challenge an engineer.

 

“It’s always challenging and a little scary when you have to work on something new and unfamiliar,” says Scribner. “At one point in my career I was asked to manage the construction of a new plant, which included working with construction crews and contractors from floor layout, equipment design, and installation through validation completion of all of the new equipment and processes. I felt very much ‘out of my comfort zone’ and when I needed to make spur of the moment decisions, I learned to ask enough questions of the subject matter experts (e.g., construction workers, contractors, etc.) in order to comfortably make the decision. Although it was challenging, I grew professionally more at this point in my career than any other time.”

 

One of 16,000 employees, Scribner is part of an organization that is perpetually changing, which she quite likes.

 

“One of the most surprising things about St. Jude Medical is that it is ever-changing, which is also true about the medical device industry itself,” says Scribner. “In order to successfully work at St. Jude Medical, you need to be able to adapt quickly and be flexible.”

 

Success at St. Jude Medical also comes from collaboration and innovation.

 

“The skills and traits that St. Jude Medical seeks in its people are those who are collaborative and team-oriented, innovative and flexible, trustworthy and respectful, and passionate about quality and improving the lives of patients,” she acknowledges.

 

If you’re still in school, Scribner urges you to straddle the line between academic and application now.

 

“My biggest piece of advice is for students to get internships, because not only do internships allow you to learn about the medical device industry and gain some hands on experience, they often times lead to jobs after graduation,” notes Scribner.

 

And if you haven’t yet applied to an engineering program, Scribner encourages you to consider doing so.

 

“Whether you’re a man or a woman, engineering is a diverse and challenging career that allows you to do cool stuff that can make an impact in people’s lives,” Scribner says.

 

She also encourages you to consider the biomed/biotech sectors, as well as St. Jude Medical.

 

“I chose the medical device industry because I get a lot of satisfaction out of being part of a company that makes devices that save lives,” she says. “Whenever I’m asked about what I do, I am proud to say that I work for St. Jude Medical.”