Staff AI/ML Software Engineer – Navigation R&D

6149-DePuy Synthes Products Inc. Legal Entity; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 94,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson & Johnson is seeking a Staff AI/ML Software Engineer for Navigation R&D in a hybrid role based in Boston, MA or Warsaw, IN. You will architect and drive AI/ML development for surgical navigation software, bridging AI/ML and software engineering teams and delivering production-grade components.

You will lead model packaging, deployment, APIs, data contracts, and regulatory documentation while collaborating across software, hardware, and quality teams to ensure safe, reliable solutions

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Machine Learning, AI, CS, Computer Engineering or related field (8+ years software exp.)
• 5+ years delivering ML models into production software
• Experience with image-based inference in production
• Strong Python and OO design, testing and APIs
• Experience in regulated environments (SaMD) preferred

Responsibilities

• Architect, plan and lead AI/ML development for surgical navigation software
• Integrate ML models into production software with on‑device and cloud deployments
• Lead API/data contract development between ML components and navigation software
• Support regulatory documentation and IEC 62304, ISO 14971
• Contribute to Agile/Scrum planning and design/code reviews

Skills

Python

ML/AI model deployment

API design

Communication

Agile/Scrum

Education

BS/MS in ML/AI/CS/Computer Engineering

Tools

TensorFlow

Keras

PyTorch

scikit-learn

AWS SageMaker

Azure ML

.NET (C#) API

Job description

Job Overview

We are searching for the best talent for a Staff AI/ML Software Engineer - Navigation R&D. This is a hybrid role to be based out of Boston, MA or Warsaw, IN.

Purpose

As a Staff AI/ML Software Engineer in the Navigation R&D team, you will architect, plan and lead the AI/ML development and integration for next-generation surgical navigation and planning systems. You will serve as the technical bridge between AI/ML and software engineering teams, assisting the software teams with translating models into production-grade, maintainable software components. You’ll collaborate closely with a cross-functional team of software, systems, hardware, firmware, quality, and regulatory partners to deliver safe, reliable, and scalable software that directly impacts patient outcomes.

Job Responsibilities

Be a key contributor in the evolution of DePuy Synthes’ AI/ML platform for flexible machine learning model training, fine-tuning, transformation and evaluation across surgical navigation initiatives, driving model improvements using the latest techniques. Build and integrate production ready, on-device and cloud-based AI/ML models into the navigation software product, owning model packaging, versioning, and deployment while meeting real-time performance, latency, memory, and compute constraints. Co-Lead definition, development, and maintenance of APIs and data contracts between ML components and the navigation software, partnering with software engineers to ensure models are testable, maintainable, and verifiable within the product. Contribute to regulatory documentation, traceability, and V&V aligned with IEC 62304, ISO 14971, and related guidance; support submissions (e.g., FDA 510(k)) as needed. Contribute to product planning and Agile/Scrum delivery, lead design/code reviews to sustain long-term maintainability, and mentor engineers.

Required Qualifications

BS/MS in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field 8+ years of overall software engineering experience, including 5+ years delivering machine learning models into production software (or equivalent) Significant hands-on experience developing, optimizing, and deploying ML models for image-based inference (e.g., classification, object detection, segmentation, landmark/pose estimation) in production software 2+ years of participating in a scrum team as an AI/ML software SME, with excellent communication, collaboration, and technical influence skills. Proven ability to lead architecture and design reviews Highly proficient in Python, with strong object-oriented design, design patterns, and unit/integration testing skills Proven experience with developing, deploying, and maintaining AI/ML processes in a large user base production environment. (Enterprise MLOps experience a huge bonus) Demonstrable expertise in ML frameworks (TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch, scikit-learn, etc.) and ML model training/optimization, both local and cloud (AWS SageMaker, Azure Machine Learning studio) Experience developing AI systems in regulated environments (e.g., SaMD), such as surgical, medical imaging, or healthcare-related AI/ML applications, across the full SDLC: requirements, design, implementation, implementation, testing, technical documentation, traceability, validation, release, and maintenance

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated experience in multiple types of AI technologies beyond traditional Machine Learning (Agentic AI, Generative AI, LLMs), including AI-driven development and testing Experience developing machine learning models using various input data types beyond static images (point clouds, numerical data, text data, etc.) Experience with production .NET (C#) API development Experience with requirements, design documentation in tools like Polarion, JAMA, etc.

About Orthopaedics

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 Orthopaedics? Ready to join a team that’s reimagining how we heal? Our Orthopaedics teams help keep more than 6 million people moving each year while delivering clinical and economic value to surgeons and healthcare systems. Our teams build solutions for joint reconstruction; trauma and craniomaxillofacial; sports, extremities, and elective foot and ankle; spine; and robotics and digital surgery. Your unique talents will help patients on their journey to wellness. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/medtech

Employment and Separation Details

Johnson & Johnson announced plans to separate our Orthopaedics business to establish a standalone orthopaedics company, operating as DePuy Synthes. The process of the planned separation is anticipated to be completed within 18 to 24 months, subject to legal requirements, including consultation with works councils and other employee representative bodies, as may be required, regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and approvals. Should you accept this position, it is anticipated that, following conclusion of the transaction, you would be an employee of DePuy Synthes and your employment would be governed by DePuy Synthes employment processes, programs, policies, and benefit plans. In that case, details of any planned changes would be provided to you by DePuy Synthes at an appropriate time and subject to any necessary consultation processes.

Equal Opportunity and Accommodation

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 accommodation, please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers or contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

Salary and Benefits

The anticipated base pay range for this position is : $94,000.00 - $151,800.00

• Vacation -120 hours per calendar year
• Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado -48 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
• Bereavement Leave - 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
• Caregiver Leave - 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period 10 days
• Volunteer Leave - 32 hours per calendar year
• Military Spouse Time-Off - 80 hours per calendar year

For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits

For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits

Additional Company Information

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/. Our Credo calls on us to respect the dignity of every individual and create an environment for all people to thrive. Throughout the recruitment process - from application through hiring - we are committed to providing reasonable accommodations/adjustments for qualified candidates with disabilities. If you need support at any stage of the recruitment process, please complete our candidate accommodation request form so we can assist you.