Vice President, Research & Development – Capital and Software Systems

Role Summary

Vice President, Research & Development – Capital and Software Systems. Location: Irvine, CA or Milpitas, CA. Based in Irvine or Milpitas, this senior R&D leader is responsible for the end-to-end strategy and execution across the Cataract and Refractive portfolios, including capital equipment, laser platforms, software, digital ecosystems, and associated accessories and disposables. The role shapes a bold, future-forward R&D strategy that accelerates breakthrough, disruptive, and category-defining innovation across the surgical continuum, with strong linkage to clinical outcomes, surgeon experience, and business strategy.

Responsibilities

• Champion and deliver a breakthrough innovation agenda across Cataract and Refractive Surgery platforms, including capital equipment, lasers, software, and digital solutions.
• Provide visionary leadership that enables bold innovation choices, disciplined portfolio investment, and thoughtful long term technology bets.
• Drive rapid experimentation, platform evolution, and transformation across hardware, software, and integrated digital ecosystems.
• Foster external innovation through partnerships, technology scouting, and ecosystem engagement.
• Set the R&D vision and strategic direction for the Cataract & Refractive portfolio, aligned with clinical needs, customer insights, and enterprise strategy.
• Lead development of an integrated, multi year roadmap that connects core innovation, next generation platforms, and transformational opportunities.
• Ensure strong governance, prioritization, and trade off decisions across programs, balancing speed, risk, and impact.
• Partner closely with Regulatory, Quality, and Clinical teams to ensure robust development pathways and successful global launches.
• Collaborate closely with Global Strategic Marketing, Medical Affairs, Clinical, Regulatory, Quality, Supply Chain, Digital, and Manufacturing to deliver end to end platform solutions.
• Translate customer, surgeon, and patient needs into differentiated technical solutions across physical and digital products.
• Communicate R&D strategy, portfolio progress, and innovation outcomes to executive leadership and key stakeholders.
• Lead and develop high performing, multidisciplinary R&D teams spanning mechanical, optical, laser, software, systems, and digital disciplines.
• Build organizational capabilities in platform thinking, systems integration, software and digital development, and customer centric design.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, scientific rigor, and inclusion, while developing next generation technical and people leaders.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor's degree required
• Required: Degree in a technical field such as Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, or related discipline required.
• Required: Minimum 10–12+ years of progressive R&D experience, including senior leadership of large, complex technical organizations.
• Required: Demonstrated experience delivering breakthrough or platform level innovation, ideally across capital equipment, lasers, and/or software enabled medical devices.
• Required: Strong business acumen with experience aligning technical strategy to commercial and clinical outcomes.
• Required: Proven track record of leading programs from concept through development, regulatory approval, and global launch.
• Required: Exceptional communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence at the executive level.
• Preferred: Advanced degree strongly preferred.
• Preferred: Degree in Optometry, Ophthalmology, Engineering, or a relevant scientific field preferred.
• Preferred: Understanding of ophthalmic surgical technologies (Cataract and/or Refractive preferred) preferred.

Skills

• Required: Capital Equipment
• Preferred: Laser Surgery
• Preferred: Software Technologies