VP of R&D

Vice President, Research & Development

Position Overview

We are hiring for an executive leadership position for our client who is responsible for guiding advanced product development initiatives within a regulated medical technology environment. The Vice President of R&D will shape technical strategy, oversee cross-functional engineering teams, and translate innovation into commercially successful products. This role combines high-level strategic leadership with hands-on technical engagement, ensuring new and existing products are developed efficiently, compliantly, and with a strong focus on quality and performance.

The ideal candidate brings a track record of leading complex product development programs from early concept through commercialization, building high-performing teams, and driving growth through innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development Leadership

• Direct end-to-end development of mechanical and electromechanical medical products, from early concept and feasibility through verification, validation, regulatory submission, and market release.
• Ensure robust design methodologies and disciplined execution across all development phases.

Lifecycle & Sustaining Engineering Oversight

• Own product lifecycle strategy, including design controls, change management, risk management, and post-launch product support.
• Partner with Quality to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory and industry standards.

Strategic Planning & Execution

• Translate long-term business objectives into actionable R&D roadmaps and execution plans.
• Evaluate and prioritize development opportunities based on technical feasibility, market impact, and resource alignment.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Lead initiatives to enhance existing products through performance improvements, cost optimization, and manufacturability enhancements.
• Collaborate closely with Commercial, Operations, and Quality teams to align technical solutions with customer and market needs.

Manufacturing & Design Transfer

• Work in close partnership with Operations to ensure designs are scalable, cost-effective, and manufacturable.
• Oversee supplier engagement, DFM/DFA efforts, and seamless transition from development to production.

Hands-On Technical Engagement

• Remain actively involved in technical problem solving, design reviews, prototyping, and testing efforts.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to senior and junior engineers alike.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Build, lead, and inspire multidisciplinary engineering teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Recruit top talent, develop succession plans, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation.

Problem Solving & Decision Making

• Lead root-cause investigations for complex technical or quality issues.
• Drive data-driven decisions and guide teams toward effective, sustainable solutions.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with Regulatory, Quality, Manufacturing, and Commercial stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of compliant, market-ready products.

Additional Responsibilities

• Manage departmental budgets and resource planning.
• Support broader organizational initiatives as needed.
• Periodic domestic and international travel may be required.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline required.
• Advanced degree preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive experience in medical device or regulated product development.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and launching products to market.

Technical & Regulatory Expertise

• Strong knowledge of FDA design controls, ISO standards, and quality system requirements.
• Experience with system-level engineering and regulated product development processes.

Leadership & Communication

• Strategic thinker with strong execution skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and executive-level communication abilities.
• Proven ability to influence across functions and organizational levels.

Compensation & Work Arrangement

• Compensation: Competitive executive-level base salary with bonus potential, dependent on experience.
• Employment Type: Full-time
• Work Model: Onsite leadership role