Development Engineer

VB Spine; Leesburg (VA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

PTO and holidays

Training and development opportunities

Career growth

Job summary

VB Spine is seeking a Development Engineer in its R&D Spine division to design and evolve implants and instrumentation. You will work with surgeons to capture design inputs, collaborate across multiple teams, and help ensure product performance through testing, documentation, and regulatory alignment.

The role emphasizes learning, ownership, and working under supervision in a regulated medical device environment, with travel up to 15% as needed.

Qualifications

• Requires a BS in Mechanical or Biomedical Engineering; MS preferred.
• 1+ year experience in medical device industry or co-op/internship.
• Strong reading and interpretation of engineering drawings.
• Fundamental knowledge of design principles, materials, and manufacturing methods.
• Ability to work under supervision in a regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Interface with surgeons to gather input for designs and evaluation.
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Clinical, Marketing, and PM teams.
• Design, develop, modify, evaluate, and verify components for medical devices.
• Support cadaver labs to evaluate designs and ensure user needs are met.
• Prepare and review Design History Files and regulatory documentation.

Skills

Cross-functional teamwork

Communicate with surgeons

Regulated environment

Learning mindset

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Creo

SolidWorks

Job description

Development Engineer

Location: Leesburg, VA or Allendale, NJ (Up to 15% Travel Required)

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 a Development Engineer in our R&D function within the Spine division, you’ll perform implant and instrumentation design work while actively participating on multi-functional teams to support sustaining projects for commercially available products — including product evolution, regulatory documentation updates, and supply chain continuity.

What You’ll Do:

• Interface with surgeons to gather input for designs and evaluation of new and existing products
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Clinical, Marketing, and Project Management teams (with supervision) to ensure project success
• Design, develop, modify, evaluate, and verify components for medical devices under supervision
• Participate in and support cadaver labs to evaluate designs and ensure user needs are met
• Interpret customer needs, understand design inputs, product intended use, and clinical procedures
• Create and refine engineering documentation, including Design History Files, Change Control records, Nonconformance & CAPA documentation, and Regulatory Technical files
• Learn and apply R&D procedures such as design controls, risk management, and change control per the Quality Management System
• Assist with prototyping, bench testing, and support problem-solving and root cause analysis
• Prepare and review information for invention disclosures and patent applications
• Develop foundational knowledge of industry standards, design requirements, and test strategies aligned with regulatory requirements
• Demonstrate ownership, integrity, and collaborative relationships while managing priorities

What You Bring:

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related discipline (Master’s preferred)
• 1+ year of experience (medical device industry preferred); Co-Op or Internship experience preferred
• Basic experience with a parametric CAD package (Creo or SolidWorks preferred)
• Fundamental knowledge of mechanical engineering practices, design principles, materials, and manufacturing methods (traditional and additive)
• Ability to read and interpret complex engineering drawings
• Basic knowledge of analysis tools and statistical methods
• Strong willingness to learn, take ownership, and work effectively under supervision
• Ability to set and manage personal priorities in a regulated environment

Why VB Spine?

We believe in growing talent from within. At VB Spine, join a high-performing R&D team where you’ll gain valuable hands-on experience supporting the evolution and sustainment of innovative spinal implants and instruments 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 $85,000.00 - $95,000.00 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, technical background, 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