Client Case Study: Supporting a MedTech Scale-Up with Specialised Contractors
How STEM Recruitment Partners Delivered 25 Specialist Medical Device Contractors for Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals in 12 Months
When Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals needed to rapidly scale their medical device R&D team for a critical inhalation device redesign, their existing recruitment partner couldn’t deliver the specialist expertise required. STEM Recruitment Partners stepped in to source highly technical contractors across mechanical design, embedded software, and verification engineering. This case study explores how a strategic partnership and deep industry knowledge delivered exceptional results under tight timelines.
The Challenge
Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, a leading global medical device and pharmaceutical company headquartered in Dublin, engaged STEM Recruitment Partners after encountering difficulties sourcing specialist contractors for a major R&D initiative.
Mallinckrodt was in the process of a complete redesign of a software-controlled electromechanical inhalation device, extending down to the subsystem architecture level and encompassing a full software system update. Their previous recruitment supplier had struggled to identify candidates with the right depth of technical expertise and experience in regulated medical device environments.
The roles required niche skill sets across mechanical design, R&D project management, systems, electronics, embedded software, and verification and validation engineering. With timelines under pressure and critical milestones approaching, Mallinckrodt engaged STEM Recruitment Partners due to their strong track record and prior success delivering over 20 contractors for earlier R&D projects with the company.
The Goals
The partnership was designed to achieve rapid, high-quality, and scalable recruitment outcomes through a deeply collaborative approach. The main objectives were to:
| ● | Fill 30+ specialist contract positions across Mallinckrodt’s medical device R&D and pharmaceutical divisions within a 12–18 month period. |
| ● | Source top-tier contractors with hands-on experience in electro-mechanical design and software-controlled medical device systems. |
| ● | Shorten time-to-hire while maintaining the highest standards for quality, compliance, and technical fit. |
| ● | Strengthen collaboration through open communication with Mallinckrodt’s hiring managers, HR team, and Managed Service Provider. |
| ● | Provide data-driven market intelligence, rate benchmarking, and proactive candidate pipelining to support future R&D growth. |
The Results
Through a combination of deep industry knowledge, network-driven sourcing, and structured communication, STEM Recruitment Partners successfully filled 25 specialist contract roles across Mallinckrodt’s medical device R&D and pharmaceutical operations.
Key results included:
| ● | 25 contract roles filled within 12 months, including R&D Project Managers, Mechanical Design Engineers, Systems Engineers, Embedded Software Engineers, Human Factors Engineers, Design Quality Engineers, V&V Engineers, EHS and Process Engineers. |
| ● | Average time-to-fill: 15 days from role intake to accepted offer. |
| ● | Offer acceptance rate: 100%, achieved through consistent communication, clear contracting guidance, and transparent expectations. |
| ● | Candidate quality: 1 in 2.3 CVs shortlisted for interviews and 1 in 1.8 interviews converting into a successful hire. |
| ● | Talent reach: 75% of hires were experienced contractors or professionals transitioning from permanent roles, including 3 international relocations for highly specialised positions. |
Beyond the metrics, the partnership created lasting operational improvements. STEM Recruitment Partners collaborated closely with Mallinckrodt’s Managed Service Provider to refine the hiring process, advising to reduce interview stages from three to two, which improved candidate engagement and accelerated delivery. Weekly meetings, onsite visits, and open feedback loops established a relationship built on trust and alignment.
As a result, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals considered STEM Recruitment Partners a strategic, preferred supplier, valued for consistent delivery, deep R&D recruitment knowledge, and the ability to provide fast, high-quality contractor solutions that kept their medical device development programs on schedule.
