
Veterans in Medical Technology: A Military‑to‑Civilian Pathway into Health‑Innovation Careers
Introduction From battlefield trauma innovations like QuikClot® gauze to AI‑powered CT scanners inside NHS hospitals, medical technology is the silent hero saving lives every day. The UK MedTech Strategy 2030 forecasts sector revenues of £50 billion by the end of the decade, with 100,000 new jobs spanning diagnostics, implantable devices, digital therapeutics, and surgical robotics (ABHI, 2024). The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is actively funding rapid prototyping through its Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) to spin out dual‑use medical technologies. Veterans—already trained in triage, equipment maintenance, and mission‑critical logistics—are perfectly equipped to join this lifesaving industry. Whether you supervised a Role 2 Field Hospital, maintained biomedical equipment on an aircraft carrier, or planned aeromedical evacuation routes, you have already mastered the rigour, compliance, and resilience med‑tech employers demand. This guide shows how to translate military skills into civilian medical‑technology roles, leverage MoD transition programmes, and land a rewarding career advancing patient care while tapping your operational mindset. Quick Win: Browse live Medical Device Engineer roles to see which employers are hiring today.