Associate Manager, R&D

VB Spine

$125K — $135K *
Healthcare
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering (Master's preferred)
  • 6+ years of relevant experience, preferably in the medical device industry
  • Demonstrated success in product development and managing R&D activities
  • Experience managing multiple technology projects from inception to launch
  • Strong knowledge of orthopedic products, particularly in the Spine domain
  • Familiarity with international regulatory requirements (FDA, EU, ROW)
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with strong technical writing ability

Responsibilities

  • Coach and develop direct reports to achieve performance goals
  • Manage resource planning and allocation for product development
  • Interface with surgeons and sales teams to gather clinical insights
  • Drive innovative solutions based on advanced surgical knowledge
  • Lead cross-functional design teams and manage large projects
  • Collaborate with multiple departments to ensure successful projects
  • Approve verification and validation activities for product designs

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
  • Ongoing training and professional development opportunities
  • Opportunities for growth within a fast-paced, dynamic company
Full Job Description
Associate Manager, R&D
Location: Leesburg, VA or Allendale, NJ (Hybrid - 3 days onsite | Up to 20% Travel)

Company: VB Spine

As an Associate Manager, R&D in our R&D function within the Spine division, you'll lead engineers, designers, and project managers while managing complex multi-functional teams focused on sustaining commercially available products - including product design evolution, regulatory documentation updates, and supply chain continuity.

What You'll Do:

  • Coach, develop, and manage direct reports to meet performance objectives and support their professional growth
  • Manage resource planning and allocation of personnel and equipment for the product development and sustaining portfolio
  • Interface with surgeons and sales representatives to gather clinical input for product design and evaluation
  • Utilize advanced knowledge of surgical procedures to drive innovative solutions that meet customer needs
  • Lead or actively participate on cross-functional design teams and manage large sustaining projects
  • Collaborate closely with R&D, Quality, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Clinical, Marketing, and Project Management to ensure project success
  • Participate in and lead design reviews and product investigations
  • Develop and manage metrics and reporting for senior leadership
  • Approve verification and validation activities for product designs
  • Support regulatory submissions including 510(k), PMA, and CE Mark
  • Lead creation and refinement of engineering documentation such as Design History Files and Change Control records
  • Mentor others on industry standards, design requirements, test strategies, design controls, risk management, and NC/CAPA processes
  • Identify and implement improvements to reduce cost, increase efficiency, and strengthen organizational capabilities
  • Develop and manage expense budgets and team spending
  • Write annual performance reviews for direct reports
  • Establish and maintain strong working relationships across Spine R&D, other VB sites, and external partners

What You Bring:

  • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related discipline (Master's preferred or equivalent relevant experience)
  • 6+ years of relevant work experience (medical device industry preferred); previous supervisory experience is a plus
  • Demonstrated success in product development, bringing concepts to market, and/or managing R&D sustaining activities, product transfers, NC/CAPA, or remediation
  • Experience managing multiple technology projects from inception to launch
  • Strong knowledge of orthopedic products (Spine preferred), including clinical issues and performance requirements
  • Experience working within international regulatory requirements (FDA, EU, ROW) in the medical device industry
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong technical writing ability
  • Ability to interface effectively with physicians, engineers, and operational personnel
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and work with remote teams
  • Applied knowledge of parametric CAD packages (Creo or SolidWorks preferred) is a plus


Compensation:
Pay for this role is competitive and based on experience, qualifications, and performance. The typical pay range for this position is $125,000.00 - $135,000.00 annually, with potential for bonuses and incentives plus benefits. Final compensation is determined on a case-by-case basis and considers a variety of factors including experience level, leadership experience, and market conditions.

Benefits include:

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
  • Ongoing training and professional development opportunities
  • Opportunity to grow within a fast-paced, dynamic company

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