Digital Manufacturing Tech Lead/Surgical Robotics - OTTAVA

J&J Family of Companies; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson & Johnson RAD (Robotics and Digital) is seeking an innovative Digital Manufacturing Tech Lead to spearhead the design, implementation, and optimization of smart factory capabilities for the OTTAVA Surgical Robotic Platform.

Based in Santa Clara, CA, the role drives technology strategy, oversees MES/IIoT/Cloud integrations, mentors engineers, and collaborates with quality, cybersecurity, and operations to deliver scalable, compliant solutions in a regulated medical device environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing systems, automation, or digital manufacturing.
• Senior technical leadership experience in Industry 4.0 environments.
• Strong hands-on expertise with MES, IIoT, data platforms, and shop-floor to cloud connectivity.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional technical programs.
• Experience in regulated manufacturing environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the digital manufacturing technology strategy.
• Define KPIs and measure program impact.
• Serve as principal technical assessor for MES, cloud, digital twins, and analytics.
• Develop reusable architecture and roadmaps.
• Drive integration of shop-floor systems with ERP/PLM and analytics.
• Mentor and guide a core team of engineers.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, cybersecurity, and other teams.
• Pilot emerging technologies like AI/ML and digital twins.
• Manage partners and system integrators.
• Track Industry 4.0 trends and drive adoption when strategic.

Skills

Leadership experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Systems thinking

Mentoring

Regulatory awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s/PhD preferred

Tools

MES platforms

Industrial IoT

Cloud platforms

ERP/PLM

Digital twins

Data analytics

Job description

At Johnson & Johnson,we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build aworld where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured,where treatments are smarter and less invasive, andsolutions are personal.Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity.Learn more at jnj.com

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function:

Supply Chain Engineering

Job Sub Function:

Automation Engineering

Job Category:

Scientific/Technology

All Job Posting Locations:

Santa Clara, California, United States of America

Job Description:

Johnson & Johnson RAD (Robotics and Digital) is seeking an innovative Digital Manufacturing Tech Lead to spearhead the design, implementation, and optimization of our next-generation smart factory capabilities in support of the OTTAVA Surgical Robotic Platform.

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/ ( https://www.jnj.com/ .

About MedTech Surgery

Fueled by innovation at the intersection of biology and technology, we’re developing the next generation of smarter, less invasive, more personalized treatments.

Are you passionate about improving and expanding the possibilities of surgery? Ready to join a team that’s reimagining how we heal? Our Surgery team will give you the chance to deliver surgical technologies and solutions to surgeons and healthcare professionals around the world. Your contributions will help effectively treat some of the world’s most prevalent conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Patients are waiting.

Your unique talents will help patients on their journey to wellness. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/medtech

Purpose

Johnson & Johnson RAD (Robotics and Digital) is seeking an innovative Digital Manufacturing Tech Lead to spearhead the design, implementation, and optimization of our next-generation smart factory capabilities. This role will drive technology strategy, oversee engineering execution, and champion digital transformation by leveraging Industry 4.0 methodologies, including advanced automation, data analytics, IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things), and AI-enabled manufacturing solutions.

The successful candidate will deliver scalable, sustainable, and intelligent manufacturing systems that improve quality, efficiency, and agility in production.

Key Responsibilities

• Defining and leading the digital manufacturing technology strategy aligned with smart factory, Industry 4.0, and business objectives.

• Define measurable KPIs and track program impact, ensuring scalability across technical programs

• Serving as the principal technical assessor for digital manufacturing systems, including MES, Cloud platform, digital twins, advanced process control, Industry IoT, and manufacturing data platforms.

• Responsible for reusable architecture, standards, and technology roadmap implementations

• Driving the architecture, design, and deployment of connected manufacturing solutions that integrate shop-floor systems (equipment, PLCs) with enterprise platforms (ERP, PLM, analytics, cloud, WMS).

• Leading and mentoring a core team of engineers, providing technical direction, design reviews, and best-practice guidance.

• Collaborate closely with manufacturing engineering, operation, quality, J&J Technology, cybersecurity, and other supply chain teams to deliver end-to-end, compliant digital solutions.

• Collaborate with J&J Technology team ondata governance, cybersecurity, and system reliability standards for manufacturing systems in a Medical Device regulated environment.

• Identifying and piloting emerging technologies (AI/ML, agentic AI, advanced analytics, digital twins, edge computing) to improve yield, productivity, quality, and time-to-market.

• Managing partners and system integrator relationships, including technical evaluations, solution selection, and delivery oversight.

• Stay ahead of emerging Industry 4.0 trends and recommend adoption where strategic advantage can be gained

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s or PhD preferred in Engineering, Computer Science, Manufacturing, Automation, or a related technical field

• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing systems, automation, or digital manufacturing, with senior technical leadership experience in Industry 4.0 environments.

• Deep hands-on expertise with MES platforms, manufacturing data architectures, IIoT integrations, and shop-floor-to-cloud connectivity.

• Demonstrated skill in applying Industry 4.0 methodologies, including IIoT, connected assets, digital twins, advanced analytics, and edge/cloud computing in manufacturing environments

• Strong understanding of smart factory concepts, digital twins, advanced process control, and data-driven manufacturing.

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional technical programs and influence without direct authority.

• Proven ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including executives.

• Skilled in evaluating emerging technologies, vendors, and system integrators, and leading solution selection and implementation.

• Problem Solving & Systems Thinking: comfort operating in ambiguous, evolving environments while driving clarity and technical direction.

• Experience managing technical delivery across pilots, scale-up, and global deployment

• Effective and proactive written, presentation, and verbal communication skills.

• Passion for mentoring engineers and building high-performing, technically excellent teams.

Preferred

• Experience working in regulated manufacturing environments (e.g., medical devices, pharma, or other highly regulated industries) highly preferred.

• Creative, motivated, proactive, and focused on achieving results

• Sound analytical reasoning and problem-solving skills.

• Capability to resolve challenges, devise and implement strategies to validate crucial technological principles.

Other

• May require up to 10% of domestic and/or international travel

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers , internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

The anticipated base pay range for this position is :

$142,000.00 to $215,449.00

Additional Description for Pay Transparency

Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees and/or eligible dependents are eligible to participate in the following Company sponsored employee benefit programs: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, business accident insurance, and group legal insurance. Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)). This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program. Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, Employees are eligible for the following time off benefits: Vacation –120 hours per calendar year Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child Condolence Leave – 30 days for an immediate family member: 5 days for an extended family member Caregiver Leave – 10 days Volunteer Leave – 4 days Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours Additional information can be found through the link below. https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits