Senior R&D Project Manager

Brio Group; Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory (MN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Brio Group is seeking a Senior R&D Project Manager to lead cross-functional product development from concept to commercialization within a highly regulated medical device environment.

You will coordinate Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, and external partners to ensure on-time delivery, design transfer, and post-launch support while driving process improvements and ensuring design controls are followed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a STEM field is required.
• 3–5 years in R&D/product development with 5–7 years in project management.
• Experience delivering complex cross-functional projects on time and within scope.
• Experience with design transfer and external partners.
• Background in regulated medical devices or life sciences.
• Knowledge of design controls, quality systems, and regulatory standards.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with influence without authority.
• Experience with MS Project or Smartsheet.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional product development programs from concept to commercialization.
• Manage R&D initiatives, improvements, and quality system projects.
• Define scope, milestones, budgets, and resource plans with leadership.
• Drive execution with Engineering, Regulatory, Manufacturing, and partners.
• Oversee risks, timelines, dependencies, and key decisions.
• Ensure alignment with design controls, stage-gate, and regulatory standards.
• Foster communication across sites and hold teams accountable.
• Identify opportunities to improve PM processes and risk mitigation.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Communication

Presentation skills

Stakeholder management

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or STEM

PMP certification (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Project

Smartsheet

Job description

Are you an experienced project leader who thrives at the intersection of engineering, innovation, and cross-functional execution? This is an opportunity to lead high-impact R&D initiatives for a global medical device organization, bringing together technical teams to turn ideas into market-ready technologies.

We're looking for a Senior R&D Project Manager who can navigate complex product development programs, drive accountability across multidisciplinary teams, and keep projects moving forward in a highly regulated environment.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead cross-functional product development programs from early concept through commercialization, design transfer, and post-launch support.
• Manage strategic R&D initiatives, product improvements, technology integration, and quality system projects.
• Establish project scope, milestones, budgets, resource plans, and success metrics in partnership with business and technical leadership.
• Drive execution across Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, and external development and manufacturing partners.
• Oversee project risks, dependencies, timelines, and key decisions to keep initiatives on track.
• Ensure alignment with design controls, stage-gate processes, regulatory requirements, and design transfer expectations.
• Build strong communication and accountability across teams, including stakeholders at multiple sites.
• Identify opportunities to improve project management processes, risk mitigation, and overall execution.

What we're looking for:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or another STEM discipline.
• 3–5 years of experience in R&D or product/process development, along with 5–7 years of project or program management experience.
• A demonstrated track record of delivering complex, cross-functional projects within established timelines, budgets, and scope.
• Experience with design transfer and external design or manufacturing partners.
• Background working in a regulated industry, ideally medical devices or life sciences.
• Knowledge of design controls, quality management systems, and applicable regulatory standards.
• Strong organizational, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence teams without direct authority.
• Experience with project management tools such as Microsoft Project or Smartsheet.
• Willingness to travel up to 35%.

Ideal background:

• FDA submission experience, including 510(k), PMA, or IDE.
• Catheter-based technologies, capital equipment, or Class III medical devices.
• PMP certification or formal training in structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Familiarity with ISO 13485, EU MDR, and GMP.
• Systems engineering and requirements management.

Why consider this opportunity?

You’ll have the opportunity to lead meaningful product development initiatives within an established medical technology organization focused on advancing healthcare. This role offers visibility across R&D and business leadership, exposure to complex technical programs, and the ability to influence how products move from development into successful commercialization.

The organization also offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision coverage, a 401(k) with company match, paid time off, paid volunteer time, parental leave, and health and wellness programs.

If you’re a strategic, hands‑on project leader who enjoys bringing people together, solving complex challenges, and delivering results, this could be an excellent next step.