Medical Device Job Advice from Reddit

A medical device engineer's invitation to "Ask Me Anything" on the popular social news and entertainment site offers tips for anyone looking for a career in medtech.

Social news and entertainment Web site Reddit is famous for its “AMA,” or “Ask Me Anything,” threads, where famous users or those with specialized knowledge field questions from other Reddit users. President Barack Obama, television personality Stephen Colbert, and Microsoft founder Bill Gates are just a few people who have hosted AMAs on Reddit.

About a year ago, a Reddit user claiming to be a medical device engineer hosted an AMA. The user, ahma0077, claimed to have 8 years of experience specializing in catheters. He or she (it wasn’t obvious from the posts if ahma0077 was male or female) began in the industry by working with his or her father, who owned a company that made stent delivery systems.

The resulting thread covered a variety of topics, from what ahma0077 thinks of FDA’s effectiveness in regulating medical devices (“No comment”) to more basic questions like “What do catheters do?”

The conversation also contained a wealth of career advice for anyone thinking of entering the field of medtech. 

What Education Do You Need for a Career in Medtech?

The first question inquired about ahma0077’s educational background. The user said he or she has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and neuroscience from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He or she came into the field of medtech after being denied acceptance to a dozen medical schools.

How Should You Get Started in the Medtech Industry?

Ahma007 advised users with no experience in medical devices to break into the field through an internship.

To land one, ahma007 suggested e-mailing resumes and cover letters requesting internship experience to every company on this list.

He or she also suggested contacting recruiters.

What's the Job Market Like for Engineers?

Ahma0077 said the job market is “great” for engineers but stressed the importance of a good education.

What's the Best Place to Start Your Career, a Large or Small Company? 

In the debate over which makes a better employer, start-ups or established firms, ahma007 clearly believes the former offers more opportunity.

Where is the Best Place to Find Work in the Medical Device Industry?

Ahma007 advised users looking for a job in the device field to head to Northern California.

How Much Do Medical Device Engineers Get Paid? 

Ahma0077 was frank when asked about compensation.

Advice for Biomedical Engineering Students

When one user who was preparing to study biomedical engineering showed trepidation, ahma0077 attempted to ease the users fears.

 —Jamie Hartford, managing editor, MD+DI
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