Program Manager, Advanced Operations (AO)

Stryker Corporation; San Jose (CA); On-site; Confidential; Full time

Job summary

Stryker Corporation in San Jose, CA is seeking a Program Manager, Advanced Operations, to lead high-impact engineering programs, ensuring effective planning, prioritization, and execution across multiple initiatives onsite.

You will coordinate cross-functional teams (R&D, Quality, Manufacturing), manage program risks and changes, and drive delivery within scope, budget, and schedule while working with external vendors and reporting to senior leadership.

Qualifications

• BS Degree in a scientific or technical discipline.
• 8+ years of work experience leading engineering or product development programs within a regulated industry (medical device strongly preferred)
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
• Strong understanding of Advanced Operations responsibilities, including Design transfer, Process development and validation, Manufacturing readiness and scale-up
• Experience managing scope, schedule, budget, and change control
• Demonstrated ability to identify risks, solve operational problems, and drive decisions under pressure
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills, including working with engineering, quality, and external partners
• Experience managing third-party vendors and contractors
• Preferred MS Degree or MBA
• Experience within Advanced Operations or manufacturing engineering organizations
• Background in new product introduction (NPI) or design-to-commercialization programs
• Experience influencing cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority

Responsibilities

• Plan, prioritize, and manage multiple complex engineering projects across Advanced Operations
• Lead program execution, ensuring alignment to scope, budget, and timeline commitments
• Develop project plans and allocate team resources effectively to meet key milestones and deadlines
• Monitor program progress and performance against established plans; proactively identify risks, issues, and delays
• Evaluate and approve changes that significantly impact project scope, budget, or schedule
• Lead complex and business-critical initiatives, driving resolution of operational challenges
• Partner with cross-functional teams (R&D, Quality, Manufacturing) to ensure successful execution through the product lifecycle
• Select and manage external vendors and contractors to ensure delivery of high-quality services and outcomes
• Serve as the primary program point of contact for senior leadership, delivering clear, concise updates on progress, risks, dependencies, and recommendations
• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate program‑level risks, escalating appropriately and driving resolution through governance forums

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Regulated industry experience

Medical device domain

Risk management

Schedule management

Change control

Operational problem solving

Vendor management

NPI / design-to-commercialization

Stakeholder influence

Education

BS Degree in a scientific or technical discipline

MS Degree or MBA preferred

Job description

Work Flexibility: Onsite

The Program Manager, Advanced Operations (AO), is responsible for leading high-impact engineering programs, ensuring effective planning, prioritization, and execution across multiple initiatives. This role drives alignment across cross-functional teams, manages program risks and changes, and ensures delivery against scope, budget, and timeline expectations. This role is onsite in San Jose, CA.

What You Will Do

• Plan, prioritize, and manage multiple complex engineering projects across Advanced Operations
• Lead program execution, ensuring alignment to scope, budget, and timeline commitments
• Develop project plans and allocate team resources effectively to meet key milestones and deadlines
• Monitor program progress and performance against established plans; proactively identify risks, issues, and delays
• Evaluate and approve changes that significantly impact project scope, budget, or schedule
• Lead complex and business-critical initiatives, driving resolution of operational challenges
• Partner with cross-functional teams (R&D, Quality, Manufacturing) to ensure successful execution through the product lifecycle
• Select and manage external vendors and contractors to ensure delivery of high-quality services and outcomes
• Serve as the primary program point of contact for senior leadership, delivering clear, concise updates on progress, risks, dependencies, and recommendations
• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate program‑level risks, escalating appropriately and driving resolution through governance forums

What You Need

• BS Degree in a scientific or technical discipline.
• 8 + years of work experience leading engineering or product development programs within a regulated industry (medical device strongly preferred)
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
• Strong understanding of Advanced Operations responsibilities, including Design transfer, Process development and validation, Manufacturing readiness and scale-up
• Experience managing scope, schedule, budget, and change control
• Demonstrated ability to identify risks, solve operational problems, and drive decisions under pressure
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills, including working with engineering, quality, and external partners
• Experience managing third-party vendors and contractors
• Preferred MS Degree or MBA
• Experience within Advanced Operations or manufacturing engineering organizations
• Background in new product introduction (NPI) or design-to-commercialization programs
• Experience influencing cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority

United States of America Pay Ranges: US30: $153,400 - $255,700 USD Annual View the U.S. work location and transparency guide to find the pay range for your location.

Travel Percentage: 10%

Stryker Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Stryker is an EO employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability. Stryker Corporation will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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.