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Meet Life Sciences

VP of R&D

Meet Life Sciences, San Francisco, California, United States

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Vice President, Research & Development Position Overview This executive leadership role 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

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