Vice President, Research & Development – Capital and Software Systems
About The Position
Fueled by innovation at the intersection of biology and technology, we’re developing the next generation of smarter, less invasive, more personalized treatments. Are you passionate about improving and expanding the possibilities of vision treatments? Ready to join a team that’s reimagining how vision is improved? Our Vision team solves the toughest health challenges. Help combine cutting-edge insights, science, technology, and people to encourage eye care professionals and patients to proactively protect, correct and enhance healthy sight for life. Our products and services address these needs – from the pediatric to aging eye – in a patient’s lifetime. Your unique talents will help patients on their journey to wellness. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/medtech We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Vice President, Research & Development – Capital and Software Systems to be based out of Irvine, CA or Milpitas, CA. The Vice President, Research & Development – Equipment serves as the senior innovation leader responsible for the end to end R&D strategy and execution across the Cataract and Refractive portfolios. This includes capital equipment, laser platforms, software, digital and data enabled ecosystems, and associated accessories and disposables. This role is accountable for shaping and delivering a bold, future forward R&D strategy that accelerates breakthrough, disruptive, and category defining innovation across the surgical continuum. The VP will own the creation, prioritization, and advancement of a balanced innovation portfolio spanning core product evolution, next generation platforms, digital and software enabled solutions, and long horizon transformational technologies, while ensuring strong linkage to clinical outcomes, surgeon experience, and business strategy.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Degree in a technical field such as Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, or related discipline required.
- Minimum 10–12+ years of progressive R&D experience, including senior leadership of large, complex technical organizations.
- Demonstrated experience delivering breakthrough or platform level innovation, ideally across capital equipment, lasers, and/or software enabled medical devices.
- Strong business acumen with experience aligning technical strategy to commercial and clinical outcomes.
- Proven track record of leading programs from concept through development, regulatory approval, and global launch.
- Exceptional communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence at the executive level.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree strongly preferred.
- Degree in Optometry, Ophthalmology, Engineering, or a relevant scientific field preferred.
- Understanding of ophthalmic surgical technologies (Cataract and/or Refractive preferred) preferred.
Responsibilities
- Breakthrough & Transformational Innovation Leadership Champion and deliver a breakthrough innovation agenda across Cataract and Refractive Surgery platforms, including capital equipment, lasers, software, and digital solutions.
- Provide visionary leadership that enables bold innovation choices, disciplined portfolio investment, and thoughtful long term technology bets.
- Drive rapid experimentation, platform evolution, and transformation across hardware, software, and integrated digital ecosystems.
- Foster external innovation through partnerships, technology scouting, and ecosystem engagement.
- Portfolio Strategy & Long Term Pipeline Development Set the R&D vision and strategic direction for the Cataract & Refractive portfolio, aligned with clinical needs, customer insights, and enterprise strategy.
- Lead development of an integrated, multi year roadmap that connects core innovation, next generation platforms, and transformational opportunities.
- Ensure strong governance, prioritization, and trade off decisions across programs, balancing speed, risk, and impact.
- Partner closely with Regulatory, Quality, and Clinical teams to ensure robust development pathways and successful global launches.
- Cross Functional Integration & Execution Collaborate closely with Global Strategic Marketing, Medical Affairs, Clinical, Regulatory, Quality, Supply Chain, Digital, and Manufacturing to deliver end to end platform solutions.
- Translate customer, surgeon, and patient needs into differentiated technical solutions across physical and digital products.
- Communicate R&D strategy, portfolio progress, and innovation outcomes to executive leadership and key stakeholders.
- Team Leadership, Culture & Capability Building Lead and develop high performing, multidisciplinary R&D teams spanning mechanical, optical, laser, software, systems, and digital disciplines.
- Build organizational capabilities in platform thinking, systems integration, software and digital development, and customer centric design.
- Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, scientific rigor, and inclusion, while developing next generation technical and people leaders.
Benefits
- The Company maintains highly competitive, performance-based compensation programs.
- Under current guidelines, this position is eligible for an annual performance bonus in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan. The annual performance bonus is a cash bonus intended to provide an incentive to achieve annual targeted results by rewarding for individual and the corporation’s performance over a calendar/performance year.
- Bonuses are awarded at the Company’s discretion on an individual basis.
- 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.
- 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
- 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
Executive
