Vice President, Research & Development – Capital and Software Systems
Johnson & Johnson
6 months ago
Remote friendly (Irvine, CA)
United States
IT
Vice President, Research & Development – Capital and Software Systems (Irvine, CA or Milpitas, CA)
Purpose
- Senior innovation leader responsible for end-to-end R&D strategy and execution across the Cataract and Refractive portfolios, including capital equipment, laser platforms, software, digital/data-enabled ecosystems, and associated accessories and disposables.
- Own creation, prioritization, and advancement of a balanced innovation portfolio spanning core product evolution, next-gen platforms, digital/software-enabled solutions, and long-horizon transformative technologies; ensure linkage to clinical outcomes, surgeon experience, and business strategy.
You Will Be Responsible For
- Breakthrough & Transformational Innovation Leadership
- Deliver breakthrough innovation agenda across Cataract/Refractive surgery platforms (capital equipment, lasers, software, digital solutions).
- Provide visionary leadership for bold innovation choices and disciplined portfolio investment.
- Drive rapid experimentation and transformation across hardware, software, and integrated digital ecosystems.
- Foster external innovation via partnerships, technology scouting, and ecosystem engagement.
- Portfolio Strategy & Long Term Pipeline Development
- Set R&D vision and strategic direction aligned with clinical needs, customer insights, and enterprise strategy.
- Lead an integrated multi-year roadmap connecting core innovation, next-gen platforms, and transformational opportunities.
- Ensure governance, prioritization, and tradeoff decisions balancing speed, risk, and impact.
- Partner with Regulatory, Quality, and Clinical teams to support development pathways and global launches.
- Cross Functional Integration & Execution
- Collaborate with Marketing, Medical Affairs, Clinical, Regulatory, Quality, Supply Chain, Digital, and Manufacturing to deliver end-to-end platform solutions.
- Translate customer/surgeon/patient needs into differentiated physical and digital technical solutions.
- Communicate R&D strategy, portfolio progress, and innovation outcomes to executive leadership and key stakeholders.
- Team Leadership, Culture & Capability Building
- Lead multidisciplinary R&D teams across mechanical, optical, laser, software, systems, and digital disciplines.
- Build capabilities in platform thinking, systems integration, software/digital development, and customer-centric design.
- Foster innovation, accountability, scientific rigor, and inclusion; develop next-generation technical and people leaders.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Degree in a technical field (Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, or related) required.
- 10–12+ years progressive R&D experience, including senior leadership of large, complex technical organizations.
- Demonstrated experience delivering breakthrough/platform-level innovation (ideally across capital equipment, lasers, and/or software-enabled medical devices).
- Strong business acumen; align technical strategy to commercial and clinical outcomes.
- Proven track record leading programs from concept through development, regulatory approval, and global launch.
- Exceptional communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills; able to influence at the executive level.
Preferred Requirements
- Advanced degree strongly preferred.
- Degree in Optometry, Ophthalmology, Engineering, or a relevant scientific field preferred.
- Understanding of ophthalmic surgical technologies (Cataract and/or Refractive preferred).
Required/Preferred Skills
- Required: Capital Equipment
- Preferred: Laser Surgery, Software Technologies
Benefits (time off)
- Vacation: 120 hours per calendar year
- Sick time: 40 hours per calendar year (Colorado: 48; Washington: 56)
- Holiday pay (Floating Holidays): 13 days per calendar year
- Work/Personal/Family Time: up to 40 hours per calendar year
- Parental Leave: 480 hours within one year of birth/adoption/foster care
- Bereavement Leave: 240 hours (immediate family); 40 hours (extended family) per calendar year
- Caregiver Leave: 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period
- Volunteer Leave: 32 hours per calendar year
- Military Spouse Time-Off: 80 hours per calendar year
Application instructions
- Not specified in the job description text provided.
Purpose
- Senior innovation leader responsible for end-to-end R&D strategy and execution across the Cataract and Refractive portfolios, including capital equipment, laser platforms, software, digital/data-enabled ecosystems, and associated accessories and disposables.
- Own creation, prioritization, and advancement of a balanced innovation portfolio spanning core product evolution, next-gen platforms, digital/software-enabled solutions, and long-horizon transformative technologies; ensure linkage to clinical outcomes, surgeon experience, and business strategy.
You Will Be Responsible For
- Breakthrough & Transformational Innovation Leadership
- Deliver breakthrough innovation agenda across Cataract/Refractive surgery platforms (capital equipment, lasers, software, digital solutions).
- Provide visionary leadership for bold innovation choices and disciplined portfolio investment.
- Drive rapid experimentation and transformation across hardware, software, and integrated digital ecosystems.
- Foster external innovation via partnerships, technology scouting, and ecosystem engagement.
- Portfolio Strategy & Long Term Pipeline Development
- Set R&D vision and strategic direction aligned with clinical needs, customer insights, and enterprise strategy.
- Lead an integrated multi-year roadmap connecting core innovation, next-gen platforms, and transformational opportunities.
- Ensure governance, prioritization, and tradeoff decisions balancing speed, risk, and impact.
- Partner with Regulatory, Quality, and Clinical teams to support development pathways and global launches.
- Cross Functional Integration & Execution
- Collaborate with Marketing, Medical Affairs, Clinical, Regulatory, Quality, Supply Chain, Digital, and Manufacturing to deliver end-to-end platform solutions.
- Translate customer/surgeon/patient needs into differentiated physical and digital technical solutions.
- Communicate R&D strategy, portfolio progress, and innovation outcomes to executive leadership and key stakeholders.
- Team Leadership, Culture & Capability Building
- Lead multidisciplinary R&D teams across mechanical, optical, laser, software, systems, and digital disciplines.
- Build capabilities in platform thinking, systems integration, software/digital development, and customer-centric design.
- Foster innovation, accountability, scientific rigor, and inclusion; develop next-generation technical and people leaders.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Degree in a technical field (Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, or related) required.
- 10–12+ years progressive R&D experience, including senior leadership of large, complex technical organizations.
- Demonstrated experience delivering breakthrough/platform-level innovation (ideally across capital equipment, lasers, and/or software-enabled medical devices).
- Strong business acumen; align technical strategy to commercial and clinical outcomes.
- Proven track record leading programs from concept through development, regulatory approval, and global launch.
- Exceptional communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills; able to influence at the executive level.
Preferred Requirements
- Advanced degree strongly preferred.
- Degree in Optometry, Ophthalmology, Engineering, or a relevant scientific field preferred.
- Understanding of ophthalmic surgical technologies (Cataract and/or Refractive preferred).
Required/Preferred Skills
- Required: Capital Equipment
- Preferred: Laser Surgery, Software Technologies
Benefits (time off)
- Vacation: 120 hours per calendar year
- Sick time: 40 hours per calendar year (Colorado: 48; Washington: 56)
- Holiday pay (Floating Holidays): 13 days per calendar year
- Work/Personal/Family Time: up to 40 hours per calendar year
- Parental Leave: 480 hours within one year of birth/adoption/foster care
- Bereavement Leave: 240 hours (immediate family); 40 hours (extended family) per calendar year
- Caregiver Leave: 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period
- Volunteer Leave: 32 hours per calendar year
- Military Spouse Time-Off: 80 hours per calendar year
Application instructions
- Not specified in the job description text provided.