Head of Navigation R&D Digital
About The Position
Johnson & Johnson Orthopaedics is seeking a senior navigation leader to advance intra-operative navigation capabilities across orthopedics. The role leads software and systems engineering for localization, registration, sensor fusion, and orchestration across embedded, edge, and cloud components. It serves as the primary navigation partner to robotics, clinical, and regulatory teams, delivering deterministic, clinician-grade navigation capabilities. The position owns the multi-year navigation software and systems roadmap and drives delivery to product milestones. It leads software, algorithm, and AI teams; develops real-time navigation architectures; and establishes simulation, digital-twin, synthetic-data, validation, and regulated software development capabilities. The role also defines navigation performance and verification strategies, integrates MLOps, and partners with quality, regulatory, and technology teams, including external partners. The posting identifies Raynham or Boston, Massachusetts, as preferred locations and says other DPS locations will be considered. The role reports to the VP Digital R&D Orthopedics.
Requirements
- BS/MS in Computer Science, Robotics, Systems, or equivalent.
- 10+ years of software/systems experience, including approximately 5+ years in navigation, perception, or related systems.
- Experience shipping production navigation or perception software.
- Strong C/C++ and Python skills.
- Experience with real-time middleware such as ROS/ROS2, DDS, or equivalent.
- Experience with sensor fusion, SLAM/VO, 3D registration, and simulation tooling.
- Practical experience with software design controls for regulated products, including IEC 62304, ISO 13485, and ISO 14971.
- Systems thinker with hands-on credibility and the ability to mentor senior engineers, build cross-disciplinary trust, and navigate clinical/regulatory constraints.
- Ability to collaborate globally with external partners and sales regions.
Nice To Haves
- Surgical or orthopedics navigation experience.
- GPU/accelerator optimization experience.
- Experience with ML model lifecycle in regulated contexts.
- Experience with SBOM, medical-device cybersecurity, and cloud/edge orchestration.
Responsibilities
- Own the multi-year navigation software and systems roadmap and drive delivery to product milestones.
- Architect real-time navigation stacks and partition deterministic control loops from non-real-time services.
- Lead software, algorithm, and AI teams to productionize perception pipelines.
- Build and operate simulation/digital-twin and synthetic-data pipelines for validation and regression testing.
- Establish an IEC 62304-aligned software lifecycle, CI/CD for embedded and cloud systems, automated test harnesses, and traceability.
- Define non-functional requirements, including accuracy budgets, latency, availability, and robustness, and establish verification strategies.
- Integrate MLOps for model training, validation, deployment controls, and in-field monitoring.
- Partner with QA/RA to deliver software evidence, risk controls, and regulatory inputs; qualify navigation software suppliers and SDKs.
- Partner with technology partners for co-development.
- Collaborate globally with external partners and sales regions.
- Mentor senior engineers, build cross-disciplinary trust, and navigate clinical and regulatory constraints.
Benefits
- Annual performance bonus, subject to the applicable plan and company discretion.
- Participation in the consolidated retirement plan (pension) and 401(k) savings plan, subject to plan terms.
- Eligibility to participate in the long-term incentive program.
- Vacation: 120 hours per calendar year, subject to applicable policies and date of hire.
- Sick time: 40 hours per calendar year, with different amounts stated for employees residing in Colorado and Washington.
- Holiday pay, including floating holidays: 13 days per calendar year.
- Work, Personal and Family Time: up to 40 hours per calendar year.
- Parental Leave: 480 hours within one year of the birth, adoption, or foster care of a child.
- Bereavement Leave: 240 hours for an immediate family member and 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year.
- Caregiver Leave: 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period.
- Volunteer Leave: 32 hours per calendar year.
- Military Spouse Time-Off: 80 hours per calendar year.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
