Mechanical Engineering Manager Spine Robotics

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine•Boston, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit. The Orthopaedics team is fueled by innovation at the intersection of biology and technology, developing the next generation of smarter, less invasive, more personalized treatments. Our Orthopaedics teams help keep more than 6 million people moving each year while delivering clinical and economic value to surgeons and healthcare systems, building solutions for joint reconstruction; trauma and craniomaxillofacial; sports, extremities, and elective foot and ankle; spine; and robotics and digital surgery. The Robotics Mechanical Engineering Manager leads the mechanical engineering function responsible for the design, development, and delivery of high‑performance robotic systems. This role oversees a team of mechanical engineers and works cross‑functionally with systems, software, electrical, controls, manufacturing, clinical, quality, and regulatory teams to ensure robust, reliable, and manufacturable robotic solutions. The Manager is accountable for driving mechanical architecture, detailed design, and integration from early concept through commercialization, ensuring designs meet performance, safety, reliability, cost, and regulatory requirements. This role combines technical leadership, people management, and cross‑functional collaboration, enabling the successful execution of complex programs in a regulated environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechatronics or mechanical engineering
7+ years of experience in robotics systems design
Experience with Class II or Class III medical devices is preferred.
Knowledge of embedded systems, firmware/software testing, or electromechanical systems
Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and product development lifecycle (e.g., V-model, waterfall, Agile).
Experience with requirements management tools (e.g., DOORS, Jama, Polarion).
Familiarity with test automation tools and scripting languages (e.g., Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB).
Excellent technical writing and communication skills.
Proficient in sample size calculation and statistical methods for analyzing data.

Nice To Haves

Certification in CQE, CQA, or Six Sigma is a plus.
Continuous Improvement
Contract Management
Design Thinking
Developing Others
Equipment Maintenance
Fact-Based Decision Making
Feasibility Studies
Inclusive Leadership
Leadership
Mechanical Engineering
Product Development
Project Management Methodology (PMM)
Prototyping
Research and Development
Resource Allocation
SAP Product Lifecycle Management
Team Management
Technical Credibility
Vendor Management

Responsibilities

Own and drive mechanical subsystem requirements, ensuring alignment with system‑level requirements, user needs, performance targets, and regulatory constraints.
Lead the mechanical architecture and detailed design of robotic mechanisms, including articulated linkages, precision motion assemblies, gear‑based transmission systems, actuators, and structural components.
Define and review mechanical design concepts, trade studies, and architecture decisions to balance performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and serviceability.
Ensure mechanical designs support controls performance, including stiffness, backlash, friction, inertia, and dynamic response requirements.
Design for Reliability (DfR) practices, including durability analysis, fatigue assessment, wear modeling, and lifetime testing strategies.
Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DfM/DfA) efforts to ensure scalable, repeatable, and cost‑effective production.
Partner with manufacturing engineering to optimize component sourcing, assembly processes, tolerances, and inspection methods.
Ensure robust design margin and implementation of lessons learned from field data, validation testing, and post‑market feedback.
Oversee and guide tolerance stack‑up analysis, ensuring precision requirements are met for kinematic accuracy, alignment, and functional performance.
Lead and review thermal analysis, including heat generation, dissipation, thermal deformation, and impact on mechanical performance and reliability.
Ensure appropriate use of analytical and simulation tools (FEA, thermal, kinematic modeling) to support design decisions and risk mitigation.
Maintain mechanical design documentation, calculations, and analysis outputs suitable for design reviews, audits, and regulatory submissions.
Collaborate closely with controls, electrical, and software teams to ensure seamless mechanical‑electrical‑software integration.
Ensure mechanical subsystems support control algorithms through predictable dynamics, minimized backlash, controlled compliance, and stable thermal behavior.
Lead integration activities, supporting system bring‑up, troubleshooting, and performance tuning.
Drive resolution of cross‑disciplinary integration issues impacting motion performance, accuracy, robustness, and safety.
Support verification and validation (V&V) activities by ensuring mechanical requirements are testable, traceable, and validated through appropriate methods.
Participate in and contribute to risk management activities, including DFMEA and system‑level hazard analysis.
Ensure mechanical risk controls are correctly implemented, verified, and validated.
Review test results, investigate failures, and drive corrective actions for mechanical issues identified during development, validation, or field use.
Ensure mechanical designs comply with applicable regulatory and quality standards (e.g., FDA, ISO 13485, IEC 60601 standards, material compliance).
Partner with quality and regulatory teams to support design controls, audits, and regulatory submissions.
Ensure documentation, design outputs, and change management comply with quality system requirements.
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of mechanical engineers, fostering technical excellence, accountability, and collaboration.
Assign work, set technical direction, conduct design reviews, and provide coaching to support professional growth.
Plan and execute mechanical engineering deliverables in alignment with program schedules and business objectives.
Drive continuous improvement of mechanical engineering processes, tools, and best practices.
Stay current with advancements in robotic mechanisms, precision gearing, actuation technologies, materials, and manufacturing methods.
Encourage innovation while maintaining disciplined engineering rigor, reliability, and compliance.
For those who supervise or manage a staff, responsible for ensuring that subordinates follow all Company guidelines related to Health, Safety and Environmental practices and that all resources needed to do so are available and in good condition, if applicable
Responsible for ensuring personal and Company compliance with all Federal, State, local and Company regulations, policies, and procedures
Performs other duties assigned as needed
Identify critical paths during product development, address bottlenecks and risks and facilitate problem solving across R&D teams.
Support project resource and schedule planning.

Benefits

Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension)
Savings plan (401(k))
Long-term incentive program
Vacation –120 hours per calendar year
Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year
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/foster care of a child
Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period
10 days Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year