Associate R&D Manager

Stryker Corporation; Cork; Hybrid; Confidential; Full time

Job summary

Stryker Ireland is seeking an Associate R&D Manager for the Foot & Ankle division to lead a high-performing team focused on innovative orthopedic solutions. You will coach engineers, influence cross-functional partners, and drive projects with purpose.

The ideal candidate has strong mechanical engineering depth, product development judgment, and leadership presence to grow people and deliver results. Travel ~20%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree or higher in Engineering or applicable technical field.
• 6+ years applicable experience, with 0+ years direct people management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical team members in research, design, development, modification and evaluation of modules, assemblies, or subsystems.
• Translate user needs to design inputs/specifications and produce complex system level designs independently.
• Mentor and influence in correction of complex product design issues.
• Lead projects and initiatives within the business unit, with responsibility for planning, budgeting, meeting project goals and staffing.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Tools

GD&T

CAE tools

Engineering drawings

Job description

Work Flexibility: Hybrid Position Summary

We are looking for a hands-on technical leader who thrives as a true player-coach who is as comfortable solving a difficult technical problem as they are developing the people around them. As Associate R&D Manager for Stryker Foot & Ankle in Ireland, you will help grow a high-performing R&D team focused on designing and delivering innovative orthopedic solutions for surgeons and patients around the world. This role calls for someone with strong mechanical engineering depth, sound product development judgment, and the leadership presence to coach engineers, influence cross-functional partners, and drive projects forward with purpose. You will join a business with a deep commitment to Foot & Ankle innovation, a broad portfolio of advanced medical technologies, and a mission to make healthcare better. If you are passionate about building products, building people, and building something that matters, we want to meet you.

What you will do:

Technical Responsibilities

• Lead technical team members in research, design, development, modification and evaluation of modules, assemblies, or subsystems.
• Apply and mentor others on advanced engineering theories, principles, and concepts.
• Translate user needs to design inputs/specifications and produce complex system level designs independently.
• Conduct, design, and select advanced prototyping and testing.
• Mentor and influence in correction of complex product design issues.
• Conduct technology exploration and influence application in the business.
• Develop invention disclosures, patents or trade secrets.

Technical / Managerial Responsibilities

• Execute a robust talent offense by attracting, developing, retaining, and engaging top talent while driving personal/professional growth of individuals, the team and delivering high quality results with passion, energy and drive.
• Proactively drive positive outcomes to technical, business, and personnel problems.
• Make decisions under guidance for project level issues.
• Leverage strong listening skills and written / verbal communication to influence and convey business, regulatory compliance, and/or technical ideas to customers, employees, peers, external partners, and senior leaders.
• Lead projects and initiatives within the business unit, with responsibility for planning, budgeting, meeting project goals and adequately staffing with talent.
• Support and mentor others in complex cooperative efforts across cross-functional teams, influencing one's own technical areas of expertise and building key relationships, to drive innovation and ensure achievement of business goals.

Support a culture of diversity, inclusion, and belonging at a team level in hiring and staff development.

Business Responsibilities

• Contribute to competitive and market strategy by demonstrating in-depth knowledge of the market, customer dynamics and competitive offerings.
• Apply strong understanding of clinical procedures to enhance product development.
• Drive financial accountability across direct team.
• Participate in cost center budget creation, projections, and tracking activities.
• Contribute and execute customer facing activities like Voice of Customer and customer centric design in partnership with internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate on Financial /business modeling and supports business reviews to validate a technical approach.

Med Device Compliance

• Lead others to create and refine engineering documentation, such as the Design History file and create more progressive technical content.
• Lead a team and cross-functional counterparts to demonstrate compliance with applicable regulatory requirements for a specific project/program.
• Follow and set example for others on procedures and design controls.
• Review and approve (or delegate) program / project specific technical documentation and deliverables.

Minimum Qualifications (Required)

• Bachelor of Science degree or higher in Engineering or applicable technical field.
• 6+ years applicable experience, with 0+ years direct people management experience preferred.

Preferred Qualifications (Strongly desired)

• Technical Skills: Experience in developing and optimizing complex designs for mechanical/electro-mechanical assemblies incorporating DFM principles.
• Experience in creating engineering drawings, models, applying GD&T and CAE tools to optimize the design.
• In-depth knowledge of materials, manufacturing and processing methods and technologies to support complex product development.
• Ability to communicate complex plans and technical information to team members.
• Leadership Experience: Talented performance coach who is skilled at providing actionable feedback to team members, setting clear performance objectives and managing team member performance.
• General knowledge of the healthcare market and competitors.
• Experience executing a talent and performance management strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate plans and technical information to team members within a business unit.
• Proven ability to deliver programs or other business goals on time, on quality and within budget.

#IJ Ireland Pay Ranges: Ireland: €69,000 - €115,000 EUR Annual

In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for incentive compensation (such as bonus and/or commissions where applicable), along with Stryker’s comprehensive benefits package.

Travel Percentage: 20%

Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies and, together with its customers, is driven to make healthcare better. We offer innovative products and services in Orthopaedics, Medical and Surgical, and Neurotechnology and Spine that help improve patient and hospital outcomes. We are proud to be named one of the World’s Best Workplaces! For more information, visit: www.stryker.com

Work Flexibility

• Remote – Role allows you to work the majority to 100% of time from an alternate workplace. These roles could have travel expectations, and you must work within the country of the job requisition location.
• Field-based – You can expect to regularly work a majority to 100% of time at customer facilities and has a set territory or expectation to travel within a set boundary. Almost all sales roles would likely be qualified as field-based.
• Onsite – Role is 100% located at a Stryker facility. Some ad hoc flexibility may be available depending on role, level, and job requirements. Manufacturing roles and any role that requires physical presence at the office would qualify under this category.
• Hybrid – You can expect to regularly work in both an alternate workplace and a Stryker facility. Roles that are partially remote or co-located would qualify as hybrid, and the expectation to be onsite would be defined and agreed upon by your manager/supervisor.