Mechanical Engineering Manager Spine Robotics

Johnson & Johnson • Boston, MA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

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 Robotics Mechanical Engineering 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
• 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

• Experience with Class II or Class III medical devices is preferred.
• Certification in CQE, CQA, or Six Sigma is a plus.

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.
• Apply Design for Reliability (DfR) practices, including durability analysis, fatigue assessment, wear modeling, and lifetime testing strategies.
• Implement 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

• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees