Research and Development Leadership Development Program (RDLDP)- 2026 Full-Time PhD

Johnson & Johnson•Santa Clara, CA

2d•$91,000 - $147,200

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. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com About MedTech Fueled by innovation at the intersection of biology and technology, we’re developing the next generation of smarter, less invasive, more personalized treatments. Your unique talents will help patients on their journey to wellness. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/medtech Our MedTech Research & Development Leadership Development Program (RDLDP) is a two-year dynamic rotational program that offers exciting and unrivaled assignment experiences supporting a wide variety of highly specialized, innovative R&D teams, such as New Product Development, Design, Orthopedic Laboratory Testing, Manufacturing, Design Quality, and Bioengineering. Opportunity to work in a fast-paced cross-functional, technologically advanced corporate environment in a program focused on developing individual engineers capable of pursuing careers across medical device businesses and high-volume manufacturers.

Requirements

Currently enrolled in an Engineering PhD Program graduating between May 2025 & June 2026
The following engineering disciplines or specialties are preferred: Mechanical, Mechatronics, Robotics, Electrical, Computer, Systems, Software, Computer Science, Materials Science, Biomedical, Optical and Bioinformatics.
The following concentration fields and/or skills are strongly preferred: Machine Learning, IoT, Embedded Software, Deep Machine Learning, Prototyping, Robot Design, Systems Reliability, Camera Optics, Image quality, Vision or Image Quality Assessment Firmware, and hardware integration.
A minimum GPA of 3.3 is strongly preferred.
You must have the ability to work closely with technical and non-technical personnel and have excellent communication skills with the ability to influence others.
You must have the ability to demonstrate excellent critical thinking skills, intellectual curiosity, and a dedicated approach to achieving success.
Validated leadership experience through extracurricular activities, employment, and/or internship experience is required .
Ability to relocate anywhere in the United States as required by the program’s rotations – a mandatory requirement.

Nice To Haves

An R&D co-op or internship is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Opportunities to participate and/or lead in rotational assignments encompassing the entire project or a substantial portion of a major project. This may include resolving advanced materials, process, inspection/testing, or procedural approaches to advance a medical device through the pipeline process into full R&D, and potentially into commercialization.
Support of products’ design development, manufacturing, and commercialization, leveraging technical expertise to anticipate and proactively address challenges and risks.
Increase the productivity of product design utilizing CAD, improve the quality of projects, improve communications through documentation, and create a database for manufacturing.
Engineer capabilities required to develop and deliver automated medical devices - including requisite instruments, advanced imaging, and user interface/experience.
Pursue several internal developmental training programs as well as externally recognized qualifications such as Process Design Excellence.
Conduct rigorous policy-focused research, synthesize evidence, and produce a range of deliverables to inform regulatory strategy, market access, and ongoing policy dialogue.
Help shape how we navigate global health policy, regulatory science, and biomedical innovation in a fast-moving medical device landscape.
Translate complex policy and scientific concepts into clear, actionable insights for cross-functional teams (R&D, Regulatory, Quality, Clinical, Marketing, and Market Access).
Contribute to thought leadership and public-facing communications to support policy advocacy and external engagement.
Collaborate on study design, evidence generation plans, and dissemination activities (conferences, webinars, publications).
Support project coordination and timelines for policy and regulatory initiatives, including stakeholder engagement and reporting to leadership.

Benefits

Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).
This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program.
Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off 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 period10 days
Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year