How to Apply to Karl Storz

9 min read Last updated April 20, 2026 1 open positions
Blake Crosley
Blake Crosley Researched using publicly available information, hiring data, and ATS analysis.

Key Takeaways

  • Karl Storz is a privately-held, family-controlled German medical device leader headquartered in Tuttlingen, with deep expertise in endoscopy, surgical instruments, imaging, and OR integration.
  • The ATS is Workday (verify the karlstorz.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com subdomain for your region); upload a clean PDF and correct the parsed profile.
  • Match application language to location: German Lebenslauf and full Zeugnisse for Tuttlingen and DE plants; English for US, UK, Singapore, and most international roles.
  • Expect a methodical, evidence-heavy interview process; depth on prior projects and regulated-environment experience matters more than speed.
  • Tuttlingen is rural and small; the trade-off for that is direct access to one of the world's deepest surgical-instrument talent pools and a long-horizon R&D culture.
  • Family ownership is a real advantage: investment cycles span decades, not quarters, and Karl Storz competes against Olympus, Stryker, and Richard Wolf with a long view.
  • MDR, FDA QSR, ISO 13485, IEC 60601-1, IEC 62304, and IEC 62443 are table stakes for technical roles; cite them concretely on your CV.
  • Notice periods, works council involvement, and statutory protections shape German hiring timelines — plan for weeks, not days.

About Karl Storz

Karl Storz SE & Co. KG is a privately-held, family-controlled medical device manufacturer headquartered in Tuttlingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, the historic 'world capital of surgical instruments' tucked into the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) foothills. Founded in 1945 by Dr. h.c. mult. Karl Storz, the company pioneered modern rigid endoscopy and built one of the deepest portfolios in visualization-guided surgery: rigid and flexible endoscopes for urology, gynecology, ENT, gastroenterology, arthroscopy, laparoscopy, cardiothoracic, and neurosurgery; integrated video systems (IMAGE1 S, OR1 integration, KARL STORZ NEXTRA); surgical lighting; precision hand instruments; full operating-room integration platforms; and veterinary endoscopy. The company employs roughly 9,000+ people across more than 50 international subsidiaries, with major operational sites in Tuttlingen (HQ and core production), El Segundo, California (US headquarters and production), Goleta, California (Visualase laser platform), Mexicali, Mexico (manufacturing scale), Charlton, Massachusetts, Singapore, Shanghai, and a Boston R&D presence. Ownership remains in the Storz family: Dr. h.c. mult. Sybill Storz, granddaughter of the founder, serves as Chairwoman; her son Karl-Christian Storz, who passed away in 2024, was a long-time board member, and the next generation of family successors continues to steward the firm. Day-to-day leadership runs through a rotating Executive Board (verify current Co-CEO/Vorstand composition before interviewing). The competitive set is demanding. Olympus (TYO: 7733) dominates flexible and gastrointestinal endoscopy; Stryker (NYSE: SYK) leads in sports medicine, neurosurgery, and OR capital; Medtronic and Johnson & Johnson Ethicon press across surgical platforms; Smith+Nephew competes in arthroscopy; B. Braun is a fellow privately-held German peer; and Richard Wolf, the historic Tuttlingen rival down the road, competes head-to-head in rigid scopes. Pentax Medical (Hoya) and Fujifilm round out the imaging field. Olympus's recent duodenoscope reprocessing scrutiny and the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) compliance burden have actually played to Karl Storz's strengths: family ownership permits long-horizon R&D investment without quarterly earnings pressure, and the Tuttlingen heritage workforce of master toolmakers, opticians, and precision mechanics is genuinely difficult to replicate. The trade-offs are real: Tuttlingen is rural compared with Munich, Berlin, or Zurich; German engineering culture rewards rigor and patience over speed; and IG Metall representation shapes labor relations at German plants. Cybersecurity for connected medical devices (FDA premarket guidance, MDR Annex I, IEC 62443) is a growing priority across the engineering organization.

Application Process

  1. 1
    Identify the right requisition on careers

    Identify the right requisition on careers.karlstorz.com (global) or the regional career portal for your country; postings are split by Tuttlingen HQ, US (El Segundo, Goleta, Charlton, Mexicali), and other subsidiaries with distinct hiring teams.

  2. 2
    Create a profile in the Karl Storz Workday tenant (typically karlstorz

    Create a profile in the Karl Storz Workday tenant (typically karlstorz.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com; verify the exact subdomain for your region) and upload a tailored CV or resume in PDF; for German roles include a full Lebenslauf with photo, signed cover letter (Anschreiben), and Zeugnisse (work and academic certificates).

  3. 3
    Match language and format to location: German-language application package for T

    Match language and format to location: German-language application package for Tuttlingen and other DE plants; English for US, UK, Singapore, and most international roles; bilingual is a meaningful advantage for any HQ-facing position.

  4. 4
    Expect an initial recruiter screen (30 minutes) covering motivation, compensatio

    Expect an initial recruiter screen (30 minutes) covering motivation, compensation expectations, work authorization, language proficiency, and willingness to relocate or commute to Tuttlingen if relevant.

  5. 5
    Technical and functional interviews follow with the hiring manager and team, typ

    Technical and functional interviews follow with the hiring manager and team, typically one to three rounds; for R&D, regulatory, quality, and manufacturing roles expect deep dives on prior projects, MDR/FDA experience, and domain fundamentals.

  6. 6
    On-site visits to Tuttlingen, El Segundo, or the relevant site are common for se

    On-site visits to Tuttlingen, El Segundo, or the relevant site are common for senior or technical roles; for international candidates a structured plant tour and meetings with cross-functional stakeholders are usually included.

  7. 7
    For German roles a formal Arbeitsvertrag follows offer acceptance, with works co

    For German roles a formal Arbeitsvertrag follows offer acceptance, with works council (Betriebsrat) involvement on certain conditions; for US roles expect standard offer letter, background check, and drug screen in some functions.

  8. 8
    Notice periods in Germany are statutory and often longer than US norms (frequent

    Notice periods in Germany are statutory and often longer than US norms (frequently three months for experienced hires); plan timelines accordingly and disclose your current notice obligation early.

  9. 9
    Relocation support is available for senior and specialized hires moving to Tuttl

    Relocation support is available for senior and specialized hires moving to Tuttlingen; ask explicitly about housing assistance, language training, and family support, as the local rental market is small.

  10. 10
    Keep your Workday profile current; internal mobility across subsidiaries is enco

    Keep your Workday profile current; internal mobility across subsidiaries is encouraged, and recruiters do search the candidate pool for new requisitions.

Resume Tips for Karl Storz

recommended

Lead with regulated medical device experience: name the standards you have actua

Lead with regulated medical device experience: name the standards you have actually worked under (ISO 13485, ISO 14971, IEC 60601-1, IEC 62366, IEC 62304, IEC 62443, EU MDR 2017/745, FDA 21 CFR Part 820, MDSAP).

recommended

Quantify production, quality, and clinical impact in concrete units: defect rate

Quantify production, quality, and clinical impact in concrete units: defect rates in PPM, OEE, first-pass yield, CAPA closure cycle time, design verification cycles, complaint rates per thousand procedures.

recommended

For R&D and engineering roles, list specific endoscopy, optics, imaging, electro

For R&D and engineering roles, list specific endoscopy, optics, imaging, electromechanical, or software domains; mention CAD tools (Siemens NX, SolidWorks), simulation, and design-for-manufacture experience.

recommended

For software, firmware, and systems roles call out IEC 62304 software lifecycle,

For software, firmware, and systems roles call out IEC 62304 software lifecycle, cybersecurity (IEC 62443, FDA premarket cybersecurity), DICOM, HL7/FHIR, and OR integration experience.

recommended

For regulatory and quality roles, name the geographies you have filed in (EU MDR

For regulatory and quality roles, name the geographies you have filed in (EU MDR technical documentation, FDA 510(k), PMDA, NMPA, ANVISA) and the device classes you have worked on.

recommended

For sales, clinical, and field service roles, list surgical specialties (urology

For sales, clinical, and field service roles, list surgical specialties (urology, gynecology, ENT, GI, arthroscopy, laparoscopy, neurosurgery), territory volume, and KOL relationships without naming protected accounts.

recommended

Use the German CV format for Tuttlingen and DE roles: tabular Lebenslauf, photo,

Use the German CV format for Tuttlingen and DE roles: tabular Lebenslauf, photo, signed Anschreiben, complete Zeugnisse including school-leaving certificate; one-page US resumes look incomplete to German recruiters.

recommended

State language proficiency honestly using CEFR levels (e

State language proficiency honestly using CEFR levels (e.g., German B2, English C1); do not overstate, as language is verified in interview.

recommended

Preserve a clean ATS-readable structure for Workday: standard section headings,

Preserve a clean ATS-readable structure for Workday: standard section headings, no text in images, no multi-column layouts that scramble parsing, PDF export from Word rather than a design tool.

recommended

Include a short professional summary that connects your background to Karl Storz

Include a short professional summary that connects your background to Karl Storz's portfolio (visualization, minimally invasive surgery, OR integration) rather than a generic objective.

ATS System: Workday

Karl Storz uses Workday (typically karlstorz.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com; verify the current subdomain) as its applicant tracking system across regions. Workday parses uploaded resumes into structured profile fields and stores your full application history in a single candidate record that recruiters across subsidiaries can search.

  • Upload a single-column PDF exported from Word with standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications) so Workday's parser maps fields correctly.
  • After upload, open every parsed field and correct mistakes; the parsed profile, not the PDF, is what most recruiters search and filter against.
  • Use the same email address across applications so your candidate history, prior interviews, and notes stay linked.
  • Mirror exact language from the job description (standards, modalities, tools, surgical specialties) so keyword filters surface your profile.
  • Complete every optional section — especially Languages with CEFR levels, Certifications, and Work Authorization — because Workday filters often gate on these fields.
  • Save searches and turn on job alerts; Karl Storz posts roles continuously across global sites and timing matters.
  • If you applied previously and were not selected, refresh your profile before reapplying so recruiters see current experience and updated skills.

Interview Culture

Interviews at Karl Storz reflect a German engineering culture: substantive, evidence-led, and unhurried.

Expect interviewers to probe specifics — what exactly you designed, what failed, what you measured, how you closed the loop — rather than test for charisma. Hiring managers in Tuttlingen typically value depth over breadth, will read your Zeugnisse carefully, and will expect you to talk about long-arc projects with verifiable outcomes. Be prepared to walk through one or two projects in detail end-to-end, including regulatory rationale and post-market follow-up where relevant. Cross-functional panels are common because medical devices require tight integration of R&D, regulatory, quality, manufacturing, supply chain, clinical affairs, and service. For engineering roles expect technical fundamentals questions on optics, mechanics, electronics, embedded software, or systems depending on the function, plus discussion of MDR, FDA, IEC 60601-1, ISO 13485, and risk management per ISO 14971. For commercial and clinical roles expect role-play of OR conversations, knowledge tests on procedures and competing platforms (Olympus, Stryker, Richard Wolf), and detailed territory planning. Punctuality is non-negotiable; arrive (or join) five to ten minutes early. Dress is conservative business attire for Tuttlingen and most European sites; US sites lean business casual. Address German interviewers with the formal 'Sie' and academic titles (Dr., Prof.) until invited otherwise. The pace from first contact to offer is usually slower than US tech norms — two to six weeks is typical and not a negative signal. Use that time to send a brief, professional thank-you note in the language of the interview, and ask thoughtful follow-up questions about R&D direction, MDR readiness, manufacturing footprint, or OR integration roadmap. Negotiation is acceptable but understated; data-backed asks land better than aggressive posturing.

What Karl Storz Looks For

  • Demonstrable craftsmanship and engineering rigor — long-arc projects with measurable outcomes, not job-hopping resumes.
  • Hands-on regulated medical device experience under ISO 13485 and EU MDR or FDA QSR; willingness to work inside a rigorous quality system.
  • Domain depth in one of Karl Storz's core areas: optics, precision mechanics, electromechanical systems, embedded software, image processing, OR integration, or surgical specialty knowledge.
  • Bias toward durable, reliable, repairable products designed for decades of clinical use rather than disposable consumer cycles.
  • Clear written and verbal communication in English; German fluency (B2 or higher) is a major plus for HQ-facing and Tuttlingen roles.
  • Cross-functional collaboration skills — comfort working across R&D, regulatory, quality, manufacturing, clinical, and commercial.
  • Customer and clinician orientation — respect for surgeons, OR staff, sterile processing teams, and biomedical engineers as the actual users.
  • Cybersecurity awareness for connected device, OR integration, and software roles (IEC 62443, FDA premarket cybersecurity guidance).
  • Long-term mindset that fits a family-owned, privately-held company — fewer people optimizing for two-year exits, more people building careers.
  • Cultural humility for international teams; comfort with German directness, structured processes, and documented decision-making.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Karl Storz publicly traded?
No. Karl Storz SE & Co. KG is a privately-held, family-controlled company. Dr. h.c. mult. Sybill Storz, granddaughter of founder Karl Storz, serves as Chairwoman, and the Storz family continues to own and steward the business. There are no public earnings calls or quarterly investor pressures, which shapes a long-horizon R&D and capital investment culture.
What ATS does Karl Storz use?
Karl Storz uses Workday (typically karlstorz.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com; verify the exact subdomain for your region). Apply through the official career portal, upload a clean single-column PDF, and correct any parsed profile fields after upload.
Do I need to speak German to work at Karl Storz?
It depends on the role and location. For Tuttlingen HQ and other German plants, German is the working language and B2 or higher is typically required for technical and managerial roles. For US (El Segundo, Goleta, Charlton, Mexicali), UK, Singapore, and most other international subsidiaries, English is the working language. German fluency is always a meaningful advantage for HQ-facing or globally coordinating roles.
Where is Karl Storz headquartered and what is it like to live there?
Headquarters is in Tuttlingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, in the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) foothills. Tuttlingen is small and rural compared with Munich, Stuttgart, or Berlin, but it is the historic 'world capital of surgical instruments' with an unusually deep skilled-trades workforce. Cost of living is lower than major German cities, the rental market is tight, and relocation support is often available for senior or specialized hires.
Who are Karl Storz's main competitors?
In rigid endoscopy and surgical instruments the historic head-to-head is Richard Wolf, also based in the Tuttlingen region. Olympus (TYO: 7733) dominates flexible and GI endoscopy. Stryker (NYSE: SYK) leads sports medicine and neurosurgery. Medtronic and Johnson & Johnson Ethicon compete across surgical platforms. Smith+Nephew competes in arthroscopy, B. Braun is a fellow private German peer, and Pentax Medical (Hoya) and Fujifilm round out the imaging field.
What product areas does Karl Storz work in?
Rigid and flexible endoscopes for urology, gynecology, ENT, gastroenterology, arthroscopy, laparoscopy, cardiothoracic, and neurosurgery; integrated video systems such as IMAGE1 S and OR1 integration; surgical lighting; precision hand instruments; OR room integration platforms including KARL STORZ NEXTRA; and veterinary endoscopy.
How long does the hiring process take?
Two to six weeks is typical from first contact to offer for non-executive roles, longer for senior or international moves requiring on-site visits and works council involvement. The pace is slower than US tech norms because interviews are thorough and decision-making is consensus-driven. A slower process is not a negative signal.
What standards and regulations should I know for technical roles?
For most R&D, regulatory, quality, manufacturing, and software roles you should be conversant with ISO 13485 (quality management), ISO 14971 (risk management), IEC 60601-1 (medical electrical safety), IEC 62366 (usability), IEC 62304 (medical device software), IEC 62443 (industrial cybersecurity), EU MDR 2017/745, FDA 21 CFR Part 820, and MDSAP. Cite the standards you have actually worked under, not those you have only read about.
Does Karl Storz hire internationally and sponsor visas?
Yes, Karl Storz operates more than 50 international subsidiaries and hires across regions. EU Blue Card and German work visa sponsorship for Tuttlingen roles is available for qualified candidates, particularly in shortage occupations. US sites can sponsor H-1B and other visas for specialized roles, subject to caps and budget. Confirm sponsorship explicitly with the recruiter early.
What is the works council and how does it affect hiring?
The Betriebsrat (works council) at German plants represents employees on workplace conditions and certain personnel decisions. For external hires the works council typically reviews proposed conditions and can extend timelines slightly. IG Metall is the relevant trade union at Tuttlingen and other DE plants. None of this is unusual for a German manufacturer; plan timelines accordingly.
How should I format my CV for a Tuttlingen application?
Use the standard German format: tabular Lebenslauf with chronological work and education history, professional photo, signed Anschreiben (cover letter), and complete Zeugnisse (work references and academic certificates). One-page US-style resumes typically read as incomplete to German recruiters. For US, UK, and most international roles a clean two-page English resume is appropriate.
Is family ownership an advantage or disadvantage for employees?
Mostly an advantage if you value stability, long-horizon investment, and craft. The company can fund multi-year R&D programs without quarterly earnings pressure and tends to retain people across long careers. The trade-off is slower change, more consensus-driven decision-making, and less of the equity-upside narrative you would find at a publicly-traded peer or a venture-backed startup.

Open Positions

Karl Storz currently has 1 open positions.

Check Your Resume Before Applying → View 1 open positions at Karl Storz

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Sources

  1. Karl Storz Corporate Website — Company Profile —
  2. Karl Storz Careers Portal —
  3. Karl Storz History — Founder Karl Storz and Tuttlingen —
  4. Tuttlingen — World Capital of Medical Technology (City of Tuttlingen) —
  5. EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) 2017/745 — Official Text —
  6. FDA 21 CFR Part 820 — Quality System Regulation —
  7. ISO 13485:2016 — Medical Devices Quality Management Systems —
  8. IEC 62304 — Medical Device Software Lifecycle Processes —
  9. IEC 62443 — Industrial Communication Networks Security —
  10. FDA Premarket Cybersecurity Guidance for Medical Devices (2023) —
  11. Olympus Corporation — Investor Relations (TYO: 7733) —
  12. Stryker Corporation — Investor Relations (NYSE: SYK) —
  13. Richard Wolf GmbH — Company Overview (Tuttlingen Region Competitor) —
  14. IG Metall — Trade Union for Metal and Electrical Industry in Germany —
  15. Workday Candidate Experience — Help Documentation —