Job Description
Primary Function of Position
The Director of Cardiac Product Development leads cross functional product development teams to develop a portfolio of instrument and accessory products that enable cardiac surgery with the da Vinci system. They also directly manage an organization of instrument and accessory design engineers. This role reports to the VP of Design Engineering for Instruments & Accessories and has “dotted line” reporting to the corporate VP for cardiac surgery (cardiac business unit lead).
The Director is responsible for ensuring new instrument and accessory product development efforts support Intuitive’s strategy for cardiac surgery, and that product development teams execute to deliver the needed portfolio of cardiac products. The scope of responsibility includes new product development (NPD) programs as well as early-stage feasibility efforts and sustaining engineering for products on the market. Responsibilities of the role include growing, developing, and operating a team capable of executing multiple cross-functional product development efforts running concurrently. The Director has technical depth and leadership skills to ensure product development teams deliver high quality products that meet both customer needs and business objectives.
Essential Job Duties
- Setting long-term strategic vision, aligning team goals with business objectives
- Growing, developing, and managing an organization of design engineers supporting a portfolio of cardiac instrument and accessory products
- Managing a team of people managers with responsibility for product development activities through the entire product lifecycle, including early exploration and feasibility, new product development, and sustaining engineering.
- Creating teams to address product quality, cost, and supply chain issues as needed
- Translating customer needs and business strategies into detailed organizational and product development plans in collaboration with senior management and cross-functional stakeholders
- Setting goals for their organization, aligned with business and corporate strategy. Informing and shaping cardiac business unit strategy and goals.
- Collaborating with other key functions such as regulatory affairs, product management, and PMO to create product roadmaps and project plans that address customer and business needs
- Working cross-functionally and anticipating and mitigating challenges to ensure on-time delivery of innovative, high-quality products that meet the needs of customers
- Communicating directly with senior executives at the company on product development plans and status
- Championing design innovation and creation of intellectual property
- Ensuring Intuitive’s product development processes are effectively applied to cardiac instrument and accessory programs and advancing those processes to support Intuitive’s business needs