Job Function
R&D Product Development
Job Sub Function
R&D Mechanical Engineering
Job Category
People Leader
Location
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America (hybrid)
Purpose
We are searching for the best talent for a Senior Manager R&D - Mechanical Engineering to join our Orthopaedics team. This is a hybrid role located in Boston, MA.
The Senior Manager R&D - Mechanical Engineering is responsible for leading and growing a high-performing mechanical engineering team to develop current products and next-generation orthopedic robotic systems for the Joints robotics group. You will own mechanical architecture, design-for-manufacturability, prototype delivery, and some mechanical verification/validation while partnering closely with systems, software, electronics, clinical, quality, and regulatory functions to bring safe, effective robotic products from concept to production.
Key Responsibilities
•Lead, mentor, and grow a global mechanical R&D team. Drive hiring, performance management, and career development. Team currently split between USA and France.
•Define mechanical system and sub-system architecture for robotic platforms.
•Translate clinical and product requirements into detailed mechanical designs, specifications, DFx, and engineering change controls.
•The role includes some hands-on part in parallel to people leadership.
•Deliver prototypes and production-ready designs on program schedule and budget; manage trade-offs between performance, cost, reliability, and manufacturability.
•Establish and drive robust verification & validation plans (unit, subsystem, system testing) and support clinical and bench testing programs.
•Ensure design outputs meet medical device quality and regulatory expectations (risk management, FMEA, design history file requirements, ISO 13485, FDA 21 CFR 820 familiarity).
•Partner with supply chain and manufacturing to qualify suppliers, support DFM/DFM reviews, ramp to production, and transfer designs to operations.
•Lead cross-functional design reviews and provide clear technical decision-making; escalate and mitigate technical and schedule risks.
•Manage project budgets, resource planning, and deliverable tracking for assigned programs.
Required Qualifications
•Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Robotics, Biomedical Engineering, or related field.
•3+ years of people leadership experience (managing engineers/teams).
•Demonstrated experience designing electromechanical systems: actuators, gear trains, bearings, transmissions, mechanisms, and precision assemblies.
•Strong hands-on experience with CAD (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 travel, domestic and international to be expected (supplier sites, manufacturing transfers, clinical support).
Preferred Qualifications
•10+ years of hands-on mechanical design experience, with minimum 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/validation processes.
•Familiarity with actuators (electric, harmonic drives, motors), position/safety sensors, cable-driven systems, and sterile field considerations.
•Experience with regulatory submissions and design history file preparation.
•Knowledge of manufacturing processes relevant to medtech (micro-machining, injection molding, precision assembly, surface treatments, sterilization constraints).
•Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in relevant technical area.
•Experience working with global, matrixed organizations and cross-site teams.
Core Competencies and Leadership Behaviors
•Strategic thinker with bias for clear technical decisions and delivery.
•Strong coach/mentor with focus on developing engineers and building inclusive teams.
•Results-driven, accountable, and comfortable navigating ambiguity.
•Collaborative: builds alignment across engineering, clinical, quality, and operations.
•Customer-focused: prioritizes safety, clinical utility, and surgeon experience.
Preferred Skills
Collaboration, Contract Management, Design Thinking, Developing Others, Fact-Based Decision Making, Feasibility Studies, Inclusive Leadership, Leadership, Mechanical Engineering, Product Development, Project Management Methodology (PMM), Research and Development, Resource Allocation, SAP Product Lifecycle Management, Scope Management, Team Management, Technical Credibility, Vendor Management
About Orthopaedics
Fueled by innovation at the intersection of biology and technology, we're developing the next generation of smarter, less invasive, more personalized treatments.
Our Orthopaedics teams help keep more than 6 million people moving each year while delivering clinical and economic value to surgeons and healthcare systems. Our teams build solutions for joint reconstruction; trauma and craniomaxillofacial; sports, extremities, and elective foot and ankle; spine; and robotics and digital surgery.
Johnson & Johnson announced plans to separate our Orthopaedics business to establish a standalone orthopaedics company, operating as DePuy Synthes. The process of the planned separation is anticipated to be completed within 18 to 24 months, subject to legal requirements, including consultation with works councils and other employee representative bodies, as may be required, regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and approvals. Should you accept this position, it is anticipated that, following conclusion of the transaction, you would be an employee of DePuy Synthes and your employment would be governed by DePuy Synthes employment processes, programs, policies, and benefit plans. In that case, details of any planned changes would be provided to you by DePuy Synthes at an appropriate time and subject to any necessary consultation processes.
Pay
The anticipated base pay range for this position is: $137,000.00 - $235,750.00
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)).
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 period
•Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
•Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year
