Senior Product Development Program Manager

MiniMed•Los Angeles, CA

5d•$164,000 - $309,000

About The Position

The Senior Product Development Program Manager will lead strategic cost reduction and value engineering initiatives for next-generation product platforms. The role partners with R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Sourcing, Quality, Regulatory, and Finance to identify, prioritize, and execute product cost improvements while maintaining performance, quality, reliability, and regulatory compliance. The position combines program management with hands-on value engineering, cost modeling, and cross-functional product development, and works directly with R&D to influence product architecture, design decisions, manufacturing strategies, and implementation plans that support long-term cost targets. The manager leads cross-functional programs from opportunity identification through commercialization, developing integrated plans and roadmaps, facilitating governance and design reviews, managing risks and dependencies, and communicating progress and decisions to leadership. Responsibilities also include developing cost analyses, should-cost models, business cases, dashboards, and savings metrics; coordinating design, supplier, manufacturing, and process changes; incorporating design controls, validation, and regulatory requirements; and sustaining savings after implementation. The role is accountable for delivering cost-reduction targets and milestones within approved budgets, building multi-year optimization roadmaps, and balancing cost goals with quality, reliability, supply, and compliance. MiniMed offers competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package. The position is eligible for a Short Term Incentive (STI).

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and at least 7 years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree and at least 5 years of relevant experience.
Strong program management capabilities and hands-on experience in value engineering, cost modeling, and cross-functional product development.
Demonstrated experience leading VA/VE initiatives, product cost-optimization programs, and cross-functional engineering teams to achieve cost-reduction targets.
Strong understanding of product cost structures, cost modeling, and business-case development.
Ability to influence stakeholders and drive execution without direct authority.
Excellent communication, leadership, problem-solving, and project-management skills.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
Experience in product development, engineering, operations, manufacturing, or program management.
Experience leading complex cross-functional programs in a regulated environment.
Medical-device or other regulated-industry experience.
Experience partnering with R&D on product architecture decisions, design changes, material substitutions, and platform optimization.
Experience developing should-cost models, financial analyses, and investment business cases.
Working knowledge of Design-to-Value, VA/VE, Design for Manufacturing, Design for Assembly, and Lean Product Development methodologies.
Experience supporting sustaining engineering and product lifecycle management programs.
Experience working with suppliers and strategic sourcing teams to identify and implement cost-reduction opportunities.
Advanced degree (MS).
PMP certification or equivalent program-management experience.

Responsibilities

Lead cross-functional cost-reduction programs supporting next-generation product platforms.
Develop and maintain integrated project plans, schedules, milestones, dependencies, and implementation roadmaps.
Coordinate work across R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, and Sourcing.
Facilitate governance reviews and communicate program status, risks, mitigation plans, and key decisions to leadership.
Drive agreement on project priorities, resource needs, and implementation strategies.
Lead Value Analysis / Value Engineering activities to identify and implement sustainable product cost-reduction opportunities and report progress.
Partner with R&D throughout concept, design, and sustaining engineering to optimize product cost and manufacturability.
Facilitate value-engineering workshops and design reviews to challenge cost assumptions and identify opportunities.
Evaluate alternative materials, components, suppliers, manufacturing processes, and product architectures.
Drive Design-for-Cost, Design-for-Manufacturing, and Design-for-Assembly initiatives across the product lifecycle.
Develop should-cost models, cost analyses, and investment business cases to support prioritization and decision-making.
Establish cost-reduction roadmaps aligned with annual operating plans and long-term business objectives.
Build partnerships across R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, and Finance.
Coordinate technical, operational, and commercial activities required to implement cost-reduction initiatives.
Lead resolution of program risks, technical trade-offs, and implementation challenges.
Align stakeholders on project objectives, timelines, and expected business outcomes.
Quantify product cost-reduction opportunities and track savings realization.
Partner with Finance and Supply Chain to validate business cases and financial impact.
Develop and maintain metrics, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to monitor progress against cost-reduction targets.
Support capital-investment evaluations and return-on-investment analyses when required.
Coordinate implementation of design, supplier, manufacturing, and process changes supporting cost-reduction objectives.
Incorporate appropriate design controls, validation activities, and regulatory requirements into project plans.
Support commercialization and operational readiness for approved product changes.
Monitor implementation effectiveness and sustain savings after launch.
Deliver product cost-reduction targets and maintain a multi-year cost-optimization roadmap.
Lead VA/VE initiatives from concept through commercialization and influence product design decisions that improve cost, manufacturability, quality, and supply-chain performance.
Deliver project milestones on schedule and within approved budgets; proactively manage risks, dependencies, and implementation challenges.
Maintain cross-functional alignment and accountability while balancing cost optimization with product quality, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
Support strategic cost-reduction initiatives with R&D and Operations leadership, establish business-aligned program priorities, and develop supporting business cases.
Facilitate cross-functional risk mitigation and communication between leadership, project teams, and functional stakeholders.
Support long-range product margin improvement and operational excellence initiatives.
Achieve annual and multi-year cost-reduction targets and deliver measurable, sustained savings.
Increase adoption of DFM, DFA, DFC, and VA/VE methodologies across product development activities.
Deliver approved changes without disruption to product supply or quality and improve product competitiveness through cost, quality, and manufacturability enhancements.

Benefits

Competitive salary and flexible benefits package.
Health insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance for eligible regular employees working 20 or more hours per week.
Health Savings Account and Healthcare Flexible Spending Account access.
Life insurance and long-term disability leave.
Dependent daycare spending account.
Incentive plans, including eligibility for a Short Term Incentive (STI).
401(k) plan with company match.
Short-term disability coverage.
Paid time off and holidays.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Employee Assistance Program.
Eligible employees may have access to a Non-qualified Retirement Plan Supplement and Capital Accumulation Plan, subject to IRS minimum earnings requirements.