Senior Manager R&D - Mechanical Engineering
About The Position
Johnson & Johnson is seeking a Senior Manager R&D - Mechanical Engineering to join its Orthopaedics team in a hybrid role in Boston, Massachusetts. The position leads and grows a high-performing mechanical engineering team developing current products and next-generation orthopedic robotic systems for the Joints robotics group. The manager owns mechanical architecture, design for manufacturability, prototype delivery, and some mechanical verification and validation, partnering with systems, software, electronics, clinical, quality, and regulatory teams to bring safe and effective robotic products from concept to production. The role combines people leadership with hands-on engineering. It includes leading a global team currently split between the United States and France; setting mechanical architecture; turning clinical and product requirements into designs and specifications; delivering prototypes and production-ready designs; supporting verification and validation; and enabling supplier qualification, manufacturing ramp-up, and transfer to operations. The position also manages program budgets, resources, schedules, and technical risks. Johnson & Johnson has announced plans to separate its Orthopaedics business into a standalone company operating as DePuy Synthes. The planned separation is anticipated to conclude within 18 to 24 months, subject to applicable requirements and approvals. If the transaction concludes, the employee is anticipated to become an employee of DePuy Synthes, with employment governed by its processes, programs, policies, and benefit plans.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field.
- At least 3 years of people leadership experience managing engineers or teams.
- Demonstrated experience designing electromechanical systems, including actuators, gear trains, bearings, transmissions, mechanisms, and precision assemblies.
- Strong hands-on experience with CAD such as SolidWorks, Creo, or equivalent; GD&T; tolerance analysis; and rapid prototyping techniques.
- Track record of taking products from concept through verification and transfer to manufacturing.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to influence cross-functional and executive stakeholders.
- Some domestic and international travel is expected, including to supplier sites for manufacturing transfers and clinical support.
Nice To Haves
- At least 10 years of hands-on mechanical design experience, including a minimum of 5 years in medical device or robotics product development.
- Direct experience in surgical robotics, orthopaedics, or other implantable medical systems.
- Solid understanding of medical device design controls, risk management (FMEA), and verification and validation processes.
- Familiarity with electric actuators, harmonic drives, motors, position and safety sensors, cable-driven systems, and sterile field considerations.
- Experience with regulatory submissions and design history file preparation.
- Knowledge of medtech manufacturing processes such as micro-machining, injection molding, precision assembly, surface treatments, and sterilization constraints.
- Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in a relevant technical area.
- Experience working with global, matrixed organizations and cross-site teams.
Responsibilities
- Lead, mentor, and grow a global mechanical R&D team, including hiring, performance management, and career development.
- Define mechanical system and subsystem architecture for robotic platforms.
- Translate clinical and product requirements into detailed mechanical designs, specifications, design-for-excellence requirements, and engineering change controls.
- Contribute hands-on engineering alongside people leadership.
- Deliver prototypes and production-ready designs on program schedule and budget, balancing performance, cost, reliability, and manufacturability.
- Establish and drive verification and validation plans for unit, subsystem, and system testing, and support clinical and bench testing programs.
- Ensure design outputs meet medical device quality and regulatory expectations, including risk management, FMEA, design history file requirements, ISO 13485, and familiarity with FDA 21 CFR 820.
- Partner with supply chain and manufacturing to qualify suppliers, support design-for-manufacturing reviews, ramp production, and transfer designs to operations.
- Lead cross-functional design reviews, make clear technical decisions, and escalate and mitigate technical and schedule risks.
- Manage project budgets, resource planning, and deliverable tracking for assigned programs.
Benefits
- Employees are eligible to participate in the company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)), subject to the terms of the respective plans.
- Vacation: 120 hours per calendar year, subject to policy and date of hire.
- Sick time: 40 hours per calendar year; 48 hours for Colorado residents and 56 hours for Washington residents, subject to policy and date of hire.
- 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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
