Vice President, Research & Development – Capital and Software Systems

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 jnj.com

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world.  We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual.  At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function:

R&D Product Development

Job Sub Function:

Multi-Family R&D Product Development

Job Category:

People Leader

All Job Posting Locations:

Irvine, California, United States of America, Milpitas, California, United States of America

Job Description:

Vice President, Research & Development – Capital and Software Systems

Locations: Irvine, CA or Milpitas, CA

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 vision treatments? Ready to join a team that’s reimagining how vision is improved? Our Vision team solves the toughest health challenges. Help combine cutting-edge insights, science, technology, and people to encourage eye care professionals and patients to proactively protect, correct and enhance healthy sight for life. Our products and services address these needs – from the pediatric to aging eye – in a patient’s lifetime. Your unique talents will help patients on their journey to wellness. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/medtech

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Vice President, Research & Development – Capital and Software Systems to be based out of Irvine, CA or Milpitas, CA. 

Purpose:

The Vice President, Research & Development – Equipment serves as the senior innovation leader responsible for the end to end R&D strategy and execution across the Cataract and Refractive portfolios. This includes capital equipment, laser platforms, software, digital and data enabled ecosystems, and associated accessories and disposables.

This role is accountable for shaping and delivering a bold, future forward R&D strategy that accelerates breakthrough, disruptive, and category defining innovation across the surgical continuum. The VP will own the creation, prioritization, and advancement of a balanced innovation portfolio spanning core product evolution, next generation platforms, digital and software enabled solutions, and long horizon transformational technologies, while ensuring strong linkage to clinical outcomes, surgeon experience, and business strategy.

You will be responsible for:

Breakthrough & Transformational Innovation Leadership

• Champion and deliver a breakthrough innovation agenda across Cataract and Refractive Surgery platforms, including capital equipment, lasers, software, and digital solutions.
• Provide visionary leadership that enables bold innovation choices, disciplined portfolio investment, and thoughtful long term technology bets.
• Drive rapid experimentation, platform evolution, and transformation across hardware, software, and integrated digital ecosystems.
• Foster external innovation through partnerships, technology scouting, and ecosystem engagement.

Portfolio Strategy & Long Term Pipeline Development

• Set the R&D vision and strategic direction for the Cataract & Refractive portfolio, aligned with clinical needs, customer insights, and enterprise strategy.
• Lead development of an integrated, multi year roadmap that connects core innovation, next generation platforms, and transformational opportunities.
• Ensure strong governance, prioritization, and trade off decisions across programs, balancing speed, risk, and impact.
• Partner closely with Regulatory, Quality, and Clinical teams to ensure robust development pathways and successful global launches.

Cross Functional Integration & Execution

• Collaborate closely with Global Strategic Marketing, Medical Affairs, Clinical, Regulatory, Quality, Supply Chain, Digital, and Manufacturing to deliver end to end platform solutions.
• Translate customer, surgeon, and patient needs into differentiated technical solutions across physical and digital products.
• Communicate R&D strategy, portfolio progress, and innovation outcomes to executive leadership and key stakeholders.

Team Leadership, Culture & Capability Building

• Lead and develop high performing, multidisciplinary R&D teams spanning mechanical, optical, laser, software, systems, and digital disciplines.
• Build organizational capabilities in platform thinking, systems integration, software and digital development, and customer centric design.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, scientific rigor, and inclusion, while developing next generation technical and people leaders.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Degree in a technical field such as Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, or related discipline required.
• Minimum 10–12+ years of progressive R&D experience, including senior leadership of large, complex technical organizations.
• Demonstrated experience delivering breakthrough or platform level innovation, ideally across capital equipment, lasers, and/or software enabled medical devices.
• Strong business acumen with experience aligning technical strategy to commercial and clinical outcomes.
• Proven track record of leading programs from concept through development, regulatory approval, and global launch.
• Exceptional communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence at the executive level.

Preferred Requirements:

• Advanced degree strongly preferred.
• Degree in Optometry, Ophthalmology, Engineering, or a relevant scientific field preferred.
• Understanding of ophthalmic surgical technologies (Cataract and/or Refractive preferred) preferred.

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 and 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 an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers and internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

Required Skills:

Capital Equipment

 

 

Preferred Skills:

Laser Surgery, Software Technologies

 

 

The anticipated base pay range for this position is :

$218,000.00 - $401,350.00

 

 

For Bay Area:

$251,000.00 - $461,150.00

 

 

Additional Description for Pay Transparency:

The Company maintains highly competitive, performance-based compensation programs. Under current guidelines, this position is eligible for an annual performance bonus in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan. The annual performance bonus is a cash bonus intended to provide an incentive to achieve annual targeted results by rewarding for individual and the corporation’s performance over a calendar/performance year. Bonuses are awarded at the Company’s discretion on an individual basis.

Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).

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





This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program.



Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:

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 period10 days

Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year

Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year