Senior R&D Program Manager

Johnson & Johnson is hiring a Senior R&D Program Manager in Boston, United States. It pays $140k-$242k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Johnson & Johnson.

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AI in this role

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function:

R&D Product Development

Job Sub Function:

Robotics

Job Category:

People Leader

All Job Posting Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America

Job Description:

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.

Are you passionate about improving and expanding the possibilities of Orthopaedics? Ready to join a team that’s reimagining how we heal? 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.

Your unique talents will help patients on their journey to wellness. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/medtech

We are searching for the best talent for a Sr R&D Program Manager to join DePuy Synthes located in Boston, MA.

Purpose:

The Platform Program Manager – Knee Robotics (VRAS) provides platform-level program leadership for the Knee robotics portfolio within Digital R&D. Unlike a Project Manager, who is accountable for execution of an individual project, this role aligns multiple projects, platform priorities, cross-functional dependencies, and governance mechanisms into a coherent delivery model. The role operates as a senior cross-functional leader across software, firmware, systems, mechanical, electrical, V&V, clinical, quality, regulatory, and commercial interfaces to drive prioritization, technology roadmaps, tradeoff decisions, integrated planning, and executive visibility in a regulated medical device environment.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

In accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and Corporate DePuy Synthes procedures and guidelines, this position:

Lead the Knee Robotics (VRAS) platform program, integrating strategy, priorities, technology roadmap and execution across multiple projects and workstreams.
Lead, coach, and develop a team of Project Managers across the Knee Robotics (VRAS) portfolio, setting clear expectations, providing direction and prioritization, and fostering consistent project management practices and a high-performance culture.
Own platform-level governance, including prioritization, sequencing, escalation pathways, and decision forums that span the full Knee portfolio.
Establish and drive the platform operating cadence, including PI planning, quarterly reviews, executive program reviews, and cross-functional governance routines.
Own integrated program plans, milestones, critical path, and interdependencies across projects to ensure execution remains aligned to strategic objectives and delivery commitments.
Lead Project Managers to ensure project-level plans, RAID items, and change impacts are integrated into a platform-level view for leadership decision-making.
Resolve cross-project resource, timeline, and scope conflicts that cannot be solved within a single project.
Develop platform-level recommendations on investment tradeoffs, resource allocation, sequencing, and roadmap adjustments to support leadership decisions.
Lead financial planning and performance reviews for the platform in partnership with PMO Operations, including forecasts, funding needs, and execution transparency.
Oversee external partner and contractor execution at the platform level, ensuring scope clarity, performance management, and alignment to business and technical objectives.
Ensure platform readiness for design reviews, phase-gates, and major investment decisions through clear evidence, cross-functional alignment, and proactive risk management.
Provide concise executive communications, dashboards, and scenario-based recommendations that synthesize project-level inputs into a clear platform-level view.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Life Sciences, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
10+ years of increasing responsibility in program or project leadership within regulated product development environments.
Demonstrated experience leading multi-project programs, portfolios, or platform-level delivery models across complex cross-functional organizations.
Experience with Class II or III medical devices, robotics, knee reconstruction technologies, or software-enabled systems preferred.
Experience leading complex programs through phase-gate execution, design controls, and cross-functional governance processes.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES and AFFILIATIONS

Strong technical background in medical device development and/or surgical robotics, with the ability to engage credibly across software, systems, hardware, and clinical domains.
Strong command of regulated medical device development, including phase-gate execution, design controls, and quality system requirements such as FDA 21 CFR 820.30 and ISO 13485.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional programs and influence senior stakeholders across technical, functional, and business domains.
Strong strategic and operational judgment, with the ability to frame tradeoffs, recommend priorities, and guide decisions under uncertainty.
Ability to integrate multiple project plans, risks, and dependencies into a platform-level view that supports governance and executive decision-making.
Proficiency in Agile/SAFe, Lean or hybrid delivery models; ability to translate technical scope into PI/iteration plans, manage dependencies, and drive execution to milestones.
Proficiency with program and engineering execution tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Planisware/Cadence PPM, Jira/Azure DevOps) and disciplined documentation practices
Ability to establish operating mechanisms, governance routines, and escalation pathways that improve delivery predictability and accountability across multiple projects.
Strong financial and program controls acumen, including forecasting, scenario planning, budget management, and performance reporting at the platform or portfolio level.
Excellent executive communication skills, with the ability to translate technical and operational complexity into clear decision-ready narratives.
Experience working with external development partners and suppliers, and assessing the downstream impact of changes on requirements, traceability, verification, cybersecurity, and regulatory deliverables.

Johnson & Johnson announced plans to separate our Orthopaedics business to establish a standalone Orthopedics 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.

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

AI solution evaluation, Computer Programming, Critical Thinking, Data Science, Developing Others, Give Feedback, Inclusive Leadership, Industry Analysis, Innovation, Leadership, Manufacturing Technologies, Operational Excellence, Prototyping, Quality Assurance (QA), Research and Development, Risk Assessments, Robotic Automation, SAP Product Lifecycle Management, Team Management

The anticipated base pay range for this position is :

$140,000.00 - $241,500.00

Additional Description for Pay Transparency:

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.

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 period10 days

Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year

Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year

For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits

How we rate this

Senior R&D Program Manager at Johnson & Johnson rates 36 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Little AI. AI is not part of the work.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.