Sr. Manager : Program Management : Medical Robotics R&D

Company Overview

A fully-funded R&D stage medical robotics company is pioneering breakthrough technology in minimally invasive endoluminal procedures. This venture-backed organization is developing its first-generation robotic platform designed to transform how physicians access and treat complex anatomical pathways. With a world-class engineering team and significant institutional backing, the company is transitioning from proof-of-concept to engineered system development.

The Project Manager will serve as the operational backbone for the company's flagship endoluminal robotic platform development program, orchestrating cross-functional activities from early-stage R&D through design verification and validation. This role demands someone who can bring structure and rigor to an innovation-driven environment while maintaining the agility required in early-stage medical device development. The successful candidate will work onsite daily, embedded within engineering teams, translating strategic objectives into executable development milestones while ensuring the organization stays on track for future regulatory submissions and commercial launch.

This position represents a rare ground-floor opportunity to shape the development trajectory of a first-in-class robotic surgical platform. The Project Manager will be instrumental in establishing the systems, processes, and cadences that will define how this company brings transformative technology from research benches to operating rooms.

• Own and maintain the integrated development schedule for the endoluminal robotic platform, coordinating across mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, software development, industrial design, and systems integration teams to ensure alignment and interdependency management
• Drive product development milestone achievement through rigorous tracking of deliverables, identifying critical path activities, proactively surfacing risks and bottlenecks, and facilitating problem-solving across functional boundaries
• Establish and lead project governance mechanisms including weekly cross-functional stand-ups, monthly steering committee reviews, design review coordination, and decision-making frameworks that balance speed with technical rigor
• Manage design history file (DHF) infrastructure and documentation workflows in preparation for future FDA submission requirements, working closely with quality and regulatory stakeholders to ensure traceability from requirements through verification
• Coordinate prototype builds and testing campaigns, interfacing with machine shops, contract manufacturers, and internal labs to ensure hardware availability aligns with engineering validation needs
• Serve as the central communications hub for technical program status, translating complex engineering trade-offs and technical progress into executive-ready updates for leadership team and board of directors
• Support resource planning and capacity management, working with functional leaders to identify staffing gaps, contractor needs, and capital equipment requirements necessary to achieve development timelines

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or related technical discipline (Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or Systems Engineering strongly preferred)
• 5-8 years of project management experience in medical device product development, with at least 3 years supporting Class II or Class III active implantable or robotically-assisted device development
• Demonstrated success managing multi-disciplinary engineering projects from concept through design verification, with proven ability to coordinate across mechanical, electrical, and software engineering domains
• Working knowledge of medical device design control processes per FDA 21 CFR Part 820 and ISO 13485, including requirements management, risk management per ISO 14971, and design history file documentation practices
• Proficiency with project management tools (Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, JIRA, Confluence, or similar platforms) and ability to create Gantt charts, critical path analysis, and resource-loaded schedules
• Strong technical aptitude enabling effective communication with engineers about design challenges, technical trade-offs, and integration complexities without needing to be a domain expert
• Track record of driving results in fast-paced, resource-constrained environments where priorities shift and teams must balance multiple parallel work streams

• PMP, PMI-ACP, or Certified Scrum Master certification demonstrating formal project management methodology training
• Direct experience with robotic surgical systems, catheter-based devices, or other endoluminal/endovascular medical technologies
• Previous employment at early-stage medical device startups (Series A/B funding stage) where you helped establish foundational project management processes and systems
• Familiarity with systems engineering approaches…