Director, Hardware Lifecycle Engineering

Job Function:

R&D Product Development

Job Sub Function:

R&D Electrical/Mechatronic Engineering

Job Category:

People Leader

Job Posting Locations:

Santa Clara, California, United States of America

Job Description:

The Robotics and Digital solutions (RAD) group, part of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies, is recruiting for a Director of Hardware Lifecycle Engineering for the Robotics and Digital R&D Team. This position is located in Santa Clara, CA.

What We Do:

At Johnson & Johnson MedTech, we are building the future of robotic surgery and healthcare through innovation and technical excellence. Our goal is to develop advanced robotic platforms that are precise, reliable, and accessible. Our team focuses on creating solutions that empower surgeons and improve patient outcomes worldwide.

Who We Are:

Within RAD R&D we are a team of clinical, electrical, firmware, mechanical, mechatronics, robotic controls, systems and software engineers who are passionate about improving patient care. The team includes a wide range of experience levels from junior engineers to industry experts. We follow an iterative, collaborative approach to product development, working across clinical, instrument, accessories, and system teams. We prioritize autonomy, foster a culture of learning, and value diversity of thought and background. Our environment is inclusive, supportive, and driven by a shared commitment to innovation and excellence in healthcare.

You:

As a leader in our team, you will join us in our journey to design and deliver some of the most advanced medical robotic systems in the world. You will own both the reliability and the continuous engineering agenda for our robotic hardware platforms — ensuring our systems not only launch with world-class reliability, but continue to improve, remain manufacturable and supportable, and deliver value throughout their entire commercial life cycle. You will work closely with multi-functional teams to influence technical strategies, guide the development and sustaining processes, and deliver tangible results. This role offers significant leadership responsibility, growth opportunities, and the chance to have a significant impact on global healthcare.

Performance Objectives and Responsibilities:

• Lead a focused team of reliability, electrical, and mechanical engineers responsible for the testing, characterization, sustaining, and design improvement of robotic hardware systems.
• Define and execute a multi-year hardware reliability and continuous engineering strategy aligned to product roadmap, clinical requirements, and commercial goals.
• Build, lead, and develop high-performing reliability, test, failure-analysis, and continuous engineering teams.
• Drive day-to-day execution of robotic hardware reliability and continuous engineering projects for the Ottava program, balancing scope, schedule, and budget.
• Define system-level reliability targets and verification/validation plans that reflect clinical usage and OR workflows.
• Ensure hardware testing, sustaining activities, and design changes meet regulatory and quality standards, maintaining accurate and compliant documentation throughout.
• Define and execute product life-cycle management plans, including design refresh, configuration control, product improvement roadmaps, and end-of-life strategies.

Required Experience and Skills:

• Background in Electrical, Mechanical, or related engineering fields.
• 10+ years of R&D experience in designing and developing complex hardware for electro-mechanical systems, with at least 5+ years focused on hardware reliability and lifecycle management.
• Demonstrated success in leading engineering teams through concept, design, build, and verification phases.
• Solid understanding of medical device regulations (e.g., IEC60601, IEC61010, 21CFR820, ISO13485).
• Skilled collaborator who can work effectively with peers in software, systems, manufacturing, and quality.
• Strong coaching and leadership skills, with a track record of developing engineers and fostering teamwork.
• Experience with robotic hardware design and integration.

Required Skills:

• Electromechanical Systems
• Hardware Lifecycle Management
• People Leadership
• Reliability Engineering
• Reliability Management

Preferred Skills:

• Budget Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Contract Management
• Design Thinking
• Developing Others
• Fact-Based Decision Making
• Feasibility Studies
• Inclusive Leadership
• Industry Analysis
• Leadership
• Mechanical Engineering
• Product Development
• Project Management Methodology (PMM)
• Research and Development
• SAP Product Lifecycle Management
• Technical Credibility
• Vendor Management

Base Pay:

The anticipated base pay range for this position is $189,000.00 to $325,450.00. 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. The anticipated base pay range for this position is : $189,000.00 - $325,450.00.

Employee Benefits:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• Business accident insurance
• Group legal insurance
• Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).
• Long-term incentive program.

Time Off Benefits:

• Vacation – up to 120 hours per calendar year
• Sick time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
• Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays – up to 13 days per calendar year
• Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year

Additional Description for Pay Transparency:

At Johnson & Johnson,we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build aworld where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured,where treatments are smarter and less invasive, andsolutions 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

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, external applicants please contact us via . internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.