NPD Program Director Robotics

Company: Smith & Nephew
Location: Pittsburgh
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

Life Unlimited. At SmithNephew we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living. The NPD Program Director, Surgical Robotic Applications and Enabling Technologies will lead large scale/complex HW/SW/Systems programs from ideation through commercialization, working closely with R&D, Marketing, Quality, and Regulatory Affairs. What will you be doing? The NPD Program Director Robotics will create a clear sense of urgency, transparency in reporting, and effective resource management to ensure projects are delivered on-time, at budget, and with high-quality. The Program Director will apply best practices to ensure delivery of specific projects and on-going releases of SW platforms. They will ensure delivery is compliant with all Quality Management Systems and Medical Device best practices. They will manage day-to-day project execution including all reporting of progress, risk identification, mitigation planning, and problem resolution. The role will work closely with R&D and Commercial partners to ensure projects maximize business value per project charter and to develop an overall program pipeline strategy that aligns with key product group strategies and priorities. The Program Director, Robotic Surgical Applications and Enabling Technologies reports to the Senior Director, NPD PMO, Robotics and Enabling Technologies. Core team leader/project manager of significant and complex strategic products consisting of HW, embedded systems, workflow automation, and cloud applications within a connected digital ecosystem. Direct responsibility for leading and delivering projects on time, within budget and with minimal long-term sustaining engineering required. Forms and leads cross-functional new product development teams to deliver project objectives. Fosters teamwork within project team and with other groups. Works with partner groups to gain alignment and support to achieve project objectives. Develops and maintains detailed project schedules and budgets for assigned projects. Leads tactical project execution. Provides direct and regular communication to senior management on progress, opportunities and issues. Additionally, interacts with Franchise leadership to help set Franchise direction for product pipeline and product commercialization. Oversees the design and implementation of cloud applications and services. Applies Agile development methodologies and leverages DevOps practices Collaborates with key project sponsors across the range of cross-functional expertise and competencies necessary for the successful commercialization of prioritized projects. Contributes to monthly Phase Review project governance process and yearly portfolio planning. Routinely reports on the status of the project relative to the schedule, budgets, risks, and opportunities. Ensures design control requirements are met for project. Contributes to the Design History File (DHF). Ensures a quality focus and that customer needs are met. Actively leads development activities for complex electromechanical systems and software development. This includes the integration of software technical project management with design control activities. Facilitates Engineering Design Reviews, Systems Requirements, Vendor Review Meetings, and other cross functional meetings, as needed. Ensures proper documentation of the proceedings and follows up on any incomplete action items. Fosters an environment of collaboration, continuous improvement and best practices. What will you need to be successful? A minimum 10 years’ Program Management experience with a demonstrated ability to influence the organization and process evolution to a future vision of large-scale product platforms. Successful history of large, multi-disciplinary project leadership in a MedTech / medical devices environment, including experience developing Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) and Medical Device Data Systems (MDDS), IOT solutions, or complex electromechanical systems such as robotics. Familiarity with FDA regulations and processes is preferred. Cloud / Hosted SW project management experience is desirable as is a technical background in such systems. Experience with solutions of this type in the regulated medical field is a strong plus. Demonstrated experience with Project Management and Agile best practices. PMP, Agile/ScrumMaster certifications preferred with demonstrated experience with tool suites and platforms that facilitate these work processes. [Ex: MS Project, Project Server, JIRA, JAMA, Confluence, Sharepoint, Teams, etc.] Proven organizational change management skills, to be the catalyst for global teams and spearhead the transformation to a fail-fast, learn-fast culture. Excellent negotiation, facilitation, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Innovative, self-motivated, high energy and results driven. Demonstrated ability to build interdependent internal and external partnerships, acting as the mediator between organizations while optimizing the value proposition and global customer focus. Demonstrated success leading cross-functionally without direct line management authority. Leading projects with mix of local, remote, and offshore contributors is a plus. Executive presentation skills, a collaborative approach, the ability to connect, and the ability to manage complexity and ambiguity including the ability to zoom-in/zoom-out for strategic and tactical, high-level, and detailed discussions. Up to approximately 10% domestic and international travel. This position is our Pittsburgh, PA office and may require periodic program-related travel to other Smith Nephew development locations. B.S degree in Engineering or equivalent in related discipline: electrical engineering, software engineering, integrated systems engineering, bio-medical engineering, or mechanical engineering preferred. You Unlimited. Inclusion Belonging: Committed to Welcoming, Celebrating and Thriving. Learn more about our Employee Inclusion Groups on our website https://www.smith-nephew.com/ Your Future: 401k Matching Program, 401k Plus Program, Discounted Stock Options, Tuition Reimbursement Work/Life Balance: Flexible Personal/Vacation Time Off, Paid Holidays, Flex Holidays, Paid Community Service Day Your Wellbeing: Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account (Employer Contribution of $500 annually), Employee Assistance Program, Parental Leave, Fertility and Adoption Assistance Program Flexibility: Hybrid Work Model (For most professional roles) Training: Hands-On, Team-Customized, Mentorship Extra Perks: Discounts on fitness clubs, travel and more! SmithNephew provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. Stay connected by joining our Talent Community . We're more than just a company - we're a community! Follow us on L inkedIn to see how we support and empower our employees and patients every day. Check us out on Glassdoor for a glimpse behind the scenes and a sneak peek into You . Unlimited . , life, culture, and benefits at SN. Explore our website and learn more about our mission, our team, and the opportunities we offer.

Keywords: Smith & Nephew, Youngstown , NPD Program Director Robotics, Engineering , Pittsburgh, Ohio