Sr Manager, Design Assurance
Key responsibilities include:
- Establish and maintain Design Assurance processes, tools, and governance supporting compliant and efficient product development.
- Provide strategic and tactical quality leadership across new product development, sustaining engineering, and design change activities.
- Ensure effective implementation of Design Controls, Risk Management, Verification & Validation, usability engineering, and design transfer requirements.
- Drive quality awareness, visibility, and communication across development teams to support functional and business objectives.
- Develop organizational capability through coaching, mentoring, and talent development of Design Assurance personnel.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:
- Lead Design Assurance activities supporting new product development, sustaining engineering, and lifecycle management activities.
- Provide oversight and guidance on implementation of Design Controls in accordance with internal procedures and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Lead and develop Design Assurance personnel including resource planning, hiring, performance management, mentoring, and career development.
- Partner with R&D and cross-functional teams to define development strategies that incorporate quality, reliability, manufacturability, and regulatory expectations.
- Provide leadership on development and execution of design verification and validation strategies, including protocol review, traceability, and objective evidence of compliance.
- Ensure robust application of risk management principles throughout the product lifecycle, including hazard analysis, risk evaluation, risk controls, and benefit-risk assessments.
- Guide teams in development of product requirements, design inputs/outputs, acceptance criteria, and design transfer readiness.
- Review and approve key design deliverables including design plans, requirements, risk documentation, V&V documentation, DHF content, and design changes.
- Drive product quality improvements through analysis of product performance, complaint trends, reliability data, and development metrics.
- Facilitate root cause investigations and corrective/preventive action activities associated with design-related issues.
- Collaborate with Manufacturing and Operations teams to ensure effective transfer of product designs into production and commercialization.
- Champion continuous improvement initiatives to streamline product development processes while maintaining compliance.
- Establish and monitor Design Assurance metrics to evaluate development effectiveness, product quality, and organizational performance.
- Support internal and external audits, regulatory inspections, and responses associated with product development activities.
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive experience in medical device Quality and/or Design Assurance roles with demonstrated leadership experience.
- Minimum of 3–5 years of people leadership experience, including management of technical teams.
- Demonstrated experience supporting product development and commercialization under Design Controls in regulated environments.
- Strong working knowledge of applicable regulations and standards including 21 CFR Part 820, ISO 13485, ISO 14971, EU MDR 2017/745, and IEC 60601 (where applicable).
- Experience with Design History File (DHF), risk management, verification and validation, usability engineering, and design transfer activities.
- Strong understanding of statistical methods, reliability engineering principles, and root cause investigation techniques.
- Demonstrated capability in cross-functional leadership, project execution, and decision making in fast-paced development environments.
- Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies preferred.
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), or equivalent certification preferred.
- Lead Auditor certification preferred.
- Responsible for leadership and development of Design Assurance personnel, including engineers and people leaders where applicable.
- Accountable for organizational capability, resource planning, performance management, and achievement of quality and development objectives.
Salary Range: $185,000 - $204,000
Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Imperative Care considers factors such as scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity, as well as location, market and business considerations when extending an offer.
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