Manager, R&D Engineering Applications

About the role

This role is part of the R&D Engineering Applications team at DePuy Synthes, reporting to the Senior Manager, R&D Applications & Master Data.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution and sustainment of R&D engineering applications, including CAD, simulation, PLM, and related engineering tools
• Manage a team of product owners and/or technical SMEs responsible for: gathering business requirements, supporting solution design and configuration, prioritizing and delivering enhancements
• Translate strategic roadmap direction into executable delivery plans, ensuring alignment with business needs and priorities
• Partner with R&D business stakeholders to understand evolving engineering workflows and ensure tools enable efficiency and compliance
• Oversee backlog management and Agile execution (Scrum/Kanban), ensuring consistent delivery of incremental value
• Collaborate with IT, enterprise architecture, and vendors for solution delivery, integration, and issue resolution
• Support application lifecycle management, including: intake and evaluation of new capabilities, system enhancements and upgrades, decommissioning of legacy tools
• Drive harmonization of engineering tools and processes to reduce duplication while maintaining critical capabilities
• Ensure data integrity and alignment with master data standards defined by the broader Applications & Master Data function
• Support data integration and interoperability across engineering and downstream systems (Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain)
• Maintain vendor relationships for engineering tools, including performance tracking and issue escalation
• Contribute to budget tracking and financial management for engineering applications within assigned scope
• Drive user engagement, feedback collection, and adoption efforts to maximize value of deployed solutions
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs), including: system adoption, delivery cadence, tool utilization, data quality (where applicable)

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in engineering applications, product management, or R&D technology roles
• Experience working with engineering platforms such as CAD, simulation tools, PLM, or related systems
• Demonstrated experience delivering technology solutions in partnership with business and IT stakeholders
• Experience with Agile delivery methodologies and managing backlogs and priorities
• Strong understanding of engineering workflows and product development lifecycle processes
• Experience operating in regulated environments or supporting compliance-driven systems
• Prioritized proven ability to manage teams or lead cross-functional workstreams
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (engineering, computer science, information systems, or similar)

Preferred Skills and Attributes

• Experience in medical device, life sciences, or regulated R&D environments
• Familiarity with application integration and data flows across enterprise systems
• Understanding of master data concepts and governance (working knowledge level)
• Ability to balance technical depth with business process understanding
• Strong problem-solving skills with a focus on continuous improvement
• Change management experience, particularly supporting user adoption of new tools or processes