Associate Manager, R&D

VB Spine; Leesburg (VA); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

PTO & holidays

Training & development

Job summary

VB Spine seeks an Associate Manager, R&D to lead engineers, designers, and project managers while guiding multi-functional teams on sustaining products, design evolution, regulatory documentation, and supply chain continuity.

The role is hybrid (Leesburg, VA or Allendale, NJ with three days on site) and may involve up to 20% travel. Compensation is competitive, with a typical range of $125,000–$135,000 annually plus bonuses and benefits.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of relevant work experience in medical device R&D or similar
• Experience supervising teams and coordinating cross-functional projects
• Strong knowledge of orthopedic products and clinical requirements
• Experience with regulatory requirements (FDA, EU) in medical devices
• Strong written and verbal communication, and ability to interface with physicians and engineers

Responsibilities

• Lead engineers, designers, and project managers on sustaining and development projects
• Oversee product design evolution, regulatory docs, and supply chain continuity
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams including Quality, Manufacturing, Regulatory
• Lead design reviews, risk management, and verification/validation activities
• Mentor team members on design controls and NC/CAPA processes
• Develop metrics and reports for senior leadership

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related discipline

Tools

Creo

SolidWorks

Job description

Associate Manager, R&D

Location: Leesburg, VA or Allendale, NJ (Hybrid – 3 days onsite | Up to 20% Travel)

Company: VB Spine

Looking for a career where your work truly matters? At VB Spine, you’ll be part of a mission-focused team that supports surgeons during life-changing spinal procedures. We’re the largest privately held spine company and among the largest family-owned medical technology companies in the world, dedicated to innovation, surgeon partnerships, and improving patient outcomes in spine care. As an Associate Manager, R&D in our R&D function within the Spine division, you’ll lead engineers, designers, and project managers while managing complex multi-functional teams focused on sustaining commercially available products — including product design evolution, regulatory documentation updates, and supply chain continuity.

What You’ll Do:

• Coach, develop, and manage direct reports to meet performance objectives and support their professional growth
• Manage resource planning and allocation of personnel and equipment for the product development and sustaining portfolio
• Interface with surgeons and sales representatives to gather clinical input for product design and evaluation
• Utilize advanced knowledge of surgical procedures to drive innovative solutions that meet customer needs
• Lead or actively participate on cross-functional design teams and manage large sustaining projects
• Collaborate closely with R&D, Quality, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Clinical, Marketing, and Project Management to ensure project success
• Participate in and lead design reviews and product investigations
• Develop and manage metrics and reporting for senior leadership
• Approve verification and validation activities for product designs
• Support regulatory submissions including 510(k), PMA, and CE Mark
• Lead creation and refinement of engineering documentation such as Design History Files and Change Control records
• Mentor others on industry standards, design requirements, test strategies, design controls, risk management, and NC/CAPA processes
• Identify and implement improvements to reduce cost, increase efficiency, and strengthen organizational capabilities
• Develop and manage expense budgets and team spending
• Write annual performance reviews for direct reports
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships across Spine R&D, other VB sites, and external partners

What You Bring:

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related discipline (Master’s preferred or equivalent relevant experience)
• 6+ years of relevant work experience (medical device industry preferred); previous supervisory experience is a plus
• Demonstrated success in product development, bringing concepts to market, and/or managing R&D sustaining activities, product transfers, NC/CAPA, or remediation
• Experience managing multiple technology projects from inception to launch
• Strong knowledge of orthopedic products (Spine preferred), including clinical issues and performance requirements
• Experience working within international regulatory requirements (FDA, EU, ROW) in the medical device industry
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong technical writing ability
• Ability to interface effectively with physicians, engineers, and operational personnel
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and work with remote teams
• Applied knowledge of parametric CAD packages (Creo or SolidWorks preferred) is a plus

Why VB Spine?

We believe in growing talent from within. At VB Spine, step into a people-leadership role where you’ll develop engineers, drive sustaining excellence, and help ensure the continued success of innovative spinal products that improve patient lives.

Compensation:

Pay for this role is competitive and based on experience, qualifications, and performance. The typical pay range for this position is $125,000.00 - $135,000.00 annually, with potential for bonuses and incentives plus benefits. Final compensation is determined on a case-by-case basis and considers a variety of factors including experience level, leadership experience, and market conditions.

Benefits include:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities
• Opportunity to grow within a fast-paced, dynamic company