Medical devices
Physical products used to diagnose, monitor or treat patients safely.
Example work
- Implants
- Monitoring systems
- Surgical tools
INDUSTRY LANDSCAPE
Healthcare / MedTech
Building devices, diagnostics and digital systems that support safer care.
OVERVIEW
How the sector works
MedTech combines clinical needs with engineering, physics, biology, software, quality and regulation.
Why it mattersGood healthcare technology can improve diagnosis, treatment, accessibility and the daily work of care teams.
INSIDE THE INDUSTRY
The major subsectors
Each part of the sector solves a different set of technical and practical problems.
Diagnostics
Tests and instruments that turn biological signals into useful clinical information.
Example work
- Assays
- Point-of-care tests
- Laboratory platforms
Imaging
Systems that create and interpret images of anatomy, physiology or treatment.
Example work
- MRI
- Ultrasound
- Image reconstruction
Digital health and clinical engineering
Software, connected devices and hospital engineering that support care delivery.
Example work
- Clinical software
- Device integration
- Equipment safety
WHERE YOUR BACKGROUND CAN FIT
Different degrees, different entry points
The same industry needs people who can investigate, design, analyse and deliver from different starting disciplines.
Medicine
Clinical needs · Evidence · Safety · Product use
Biology
Diagnostics · Biosensors · Clinical science · Assay development
Engineering
Device design · Systems integration · Verification · Manufacturing
Physics
Imaging · Instrumentation · Signal processing · Measurement
Computer Science
Clinical software · Data platforms · Algorithms · Cybersecurity
WHAT THE WORK CAN LOOK LIKE
Representative problems
Projects vary by organisation, but these examples show the questions teams in Healthcare / MedTech may tackle.
- Validate a sensor across realistic patient-use conditions.
- Improve the image quality and speed of a reconstruction algorithm.
- Redesign a device interface after observing a clinical workflow.
- Investigate the cause of variation in a diagnostic test.
TECHNOLOGIES & TRENDS
What is changing the sector
These developments are reshaping technical work, evidence and decision-making.
Biosensors
Devices that convert a biological interaction into a measurable signal.
They enable faster monitoring and diagnostics closer to the patient.Medical robotics
Robotic systems that assist procedures, rehabilitation or laboratory workflows.
They can improve precision and consistency when designed around clinical practice.Advanced imaging
Hardware and computational methods that improve how the body is visualised.
Better images can support earlier diagnosis and more precise treatment planning.Responsible clinical AI
Machine-learning tools evaluated for safety, bias and usefulness in clinical settings.
Clinical performance depends on representative data, workflow fit and continued monitoring.CAREER FUNCTIONS
Where STEM graduates contribute
Functions describe the work a team performs, not just the title on a job description.
Product development
Turn a clinical need into a device or software product that can be tested and manufactured.
- Define requirements
- Prototype systems
- Coordinate verification
Clinical science
Connect product development with clinical evidence and real patterns of care.
- Review evidence
- Support studies
- Interpret clinical needs
Quality and regulation
Build evidence and controls that support safe, consistent products.
- Manage risk files
- Review validation
- Investigate issues
Data and software
Develop secure analytical and digital systems for clinical use.
- Build pipelines
- Validate algorithms
- Design clinician workflows
HOW TO START EXPLORING
Build evidence while you study
You do not need to decide on one destination immediately. Use projects, modules and experience to learn which parts of the sector hold your attention.
- Learn how clinical need, risk and evidence shape product decisions.
- Use design projects to show testing with real users and constraints.
- Explore biomedical engineering, coding or healthcare innovation societies.
- Seek placements in product development, clinical science, quality or data.
CAREER MAP
Example careers
Discover & Research
Biotech Researcher
Use biological systems to create new therapies, diagnostics and tools.
BiologyChemistryMedicine
Explore: Amgen · Moderna
Explore this careerAnalyse & Model
Data Scientist
Use data, statistics and computation to answer consequential questions.
MathematicsComputer SciencePhysics
Explore: Google · Microsoft
Explore this careerCommercialise & Grow
Technical Product Manager
Turn user needs and technical possibilities into a focused product direction.
EngineeringComputer SciencePhysics
Explore: Microsoft · Siemens
Explore this careerDiscover & Research
Pharmaceutical R&D Scientist
Develop evidence that moves a potential medicine from idea toward patients.
BiologyChemistryMedicine
Explore: AstraZeneca · GSK
Explore this careerEMPLOYER LANDSCAPE
Organisations to investigate
OPPORTUNITIES
See related programmes
Internship Open
Medtronic
Engineering Intern – Summer 2027
Paid Summer 2027 engineering internship across medical-device R&D, manufacturing, quality and product-development teams.
21 US locationsOn-siteUndergraduate · Master’s / PostgraduatePay — Paid · $26.50–$45.25 per hour (US internship range)
Verified opportunityReview details
Internship Open
Medtronic
Software Engineering Intern – Summer 2027
Paid software-engineering internship across medical-device software, AI/data science, cloud, DevOps, systems and firmware teams.
21 US locationsOn-siteUndergraduate · Master’s / PostgraduatePay — Paid
Verified opportunityReview details
Internship Open
Medtronic
IT Intern - Summer 2027
Paid Summer 2027 IT internship in Minneapolis for students in information systems, analytics and related technology degrees.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USAOn-siteUndergraduatePay — Paid
Verified opportunityReview details
READ NEXT
Understand the sector
Careers
Life-science careers beyond the laboratory
Biology and biomedical training can travel into clinical development, data, regulation, products and scientific communication.
24 August 2026 · 6 min readIndustries & Technology
Understanding MedTech careers
Medical technology sits where clinical needs meet engineering, evidence, regulation and real-world use.
27 July 2026 · 6 min read