Staff System and Test Engineer - DePuy Synthes

Description

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Position overview

Staff System and Test Engineer, Advanced Technology is a highly experienced individual contributor and technical specialist responsible for defining, developing, testing, and evaluating advanced technology prototypes and proofs of concept for surgical robotics and digital orthopedic applications. This role focuses on foundational technologies, early feasibility assessment, and integration of external advanced technology components.

This position partners closely with Advanced Technology, R&D, clinical, strategy, business development, and external innovation partners to translate unmet needs, technology hypotheses, and early opportunity assessments into structured feasibility plans, prototype requirements, and objective test strategies. The role enables evidence-based decisions on technology maturation, integration potential, and readiness for future product development consideration.

The Staff System and Test Engineer leads system definition and test planning for exploratory technology projects, including development of prototype architectures, definition of testable technical objectives, design of feasibility studies, integration of external technology components, and assessment of early external medical device prototypes. The role emphasizes rapid learning, rigorous technical evaluation, and clear documentation of risks, limitations, and recommendations.

While this role does not directly develop commercial products, it applies appropriate medical device engineering rigor, risk-based thinking, and quality principles to prototype and proof-of-concept activities. Responsibilities include defining experimental requirements, test methods, objective success criteria, prototype risk considerations, and technical evidence packages to inform strategic decisions and potential transition into future New Product Development (NPD) programs.

The Staff System and Test Engineer works in close collaboration with systems, software, controls, mechanical, electrical, clinical, quality, regulatory, business development, and external partner teams. As a technical leader without direct people management responsibility, this role drives cross-functional technical alignment, resolves complex integration and test challenges, and communicates feasibility outcomes to support portfolio and technology roadmap decisions.

This role requires strong hands-on system integration and test capabilities, with the ability to work across ambiguous early-stage concepts, external prototypes, benchtop systems, cadaveric or preclinical evaluations, and simulated use environments to generate actionable technical insight before product development commitment. The individual must be highly collaborative, energized by emerging technologies, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, agile environment where priorities may evolve and rapid pivots may be required.

Responsabilities

In accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws/regulations and Corporate Johnson & Johnson, procedures and guidelines, this position:

• Lead system definition and test strategy for advanced technology prototypes and proofs of concept, including architecture, integration approach, feasibility objectives, and success criteria.

• Develop and document prototype requirements, translating technology hypotheses, clinical workflow assumptions, and early user needs into clear, testable criteria.

• Collaborate across R&D, clinical, quality, regulatory, business development, external partners, and engineering disciplines to assess technology feasibility and integration potential.

• Work hands-on with prototypes, test setups, and experimental platforms while maintaining close collaboration with cross-functional teams to accelerate technical learning and decision-making.

• Develop prototype system architectures integrating external technologies, electromechanical subsystems, software, sensing, tracking, actuation, controls, and user interaction concepts.

• Apply risk-based engineering judgment to identify prototype hazards, technical limitations, use-related risks, integration risks, and evidence gaps.

• Define system behaviors, test cases, workflow assumptions, performance metrics, failure modes, and acceptance criteria for feasibility studies.

• Plan and execute feasibility and characterization studies for foundational technologies, external components, and early prototypes in lab, simulated use, or cadaveric environments.

• Lead technical reviews of prototypes and technology options, aligning on assumptions, risks, trade-offs, constraints, performance gaps, and maturation recommendations.

• Define and manage prototype interfaces to ensure compatibility, testability, and safe integration across internal subsystems, external components, and experimental platforms.

• Apply robust experimental design and data-driven evaluation methods, including DOE, statistical analysis, uncertainty characterization, and repeatability/reproducibility assessment.

• Partner with clinical and human factors experts to assess prototype usability, workflow fit, and clinical value while separating exploratory findings from product validation evidence.

• Apply relevant medical device standards awareness, quality, safety, usability, software, electrical safety, and risk management principles to non-product prototype work.

• Characterize prototype performance, durability, accuracy, precision, robustness, and failure modes under representative experimental conditions.

• Support technology transition decisions by documenting feasibility results, limitations, integration risks, maturity gaps, and next steps for potential future NPD initiation.

• Investigate prototype test anomalies, perform root cause analysis, and define corrective actions to improve test validity, performance, or integration understanding.

• Ensure early technology evaluations are appropriately scoped, documented, and positioned relative to future product development or external partnership decisions.

• Communicate technology risks, constraints, opportunities, decision options, and actionable recommendations to senior management.

• Identify critical technical unknowns and feasibility risks, enabling structured problem-solving and rapid learning across Advanced Technology and R&D teams.

• Operate effectively in a fast-paced, agile advanced technology environment, adapting plans quickly as new evidence, risks, or strategic priorities emerge.

• Support advanced technology planning, including prototype build plans, feasibility schedules, external partner evaluations, resource needs, and maturation roadmaps.

Required experience:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.

• 6+ years of experience in multidisciplinary systems engineering, test engineering, advanced technology development, prototype development, or feasibility assessment.

• Experience with Class II or Class III medical devices, surgical robotics, navigation, digital surgery is preferred.

• Knowledge of embedded systems, software/firmware testing, electromechanical systems, sensing technologies, tracking systems, controls.

• 4+ years of experience developing, integrating, testing, or evaluating complex robotic, digital surgery, orthopedic, or multidisciplinary medical technology prototypes.

• English fluent, French nice to have.

• Strong understanding of systems engineering, test engineering, prototype development, and technology maturation principles.

• Experience with requirements, test, and technical documentation tools.

• Familiarity with test automation tools and scripting languages (e.g., Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB).

• Excellent technical writing, test reporting, executive communication, and evidence-based recommendation skills.

• Strong hands-on mindset, collaborative working style, intellectual curiosity for emerging technologies, and ability to pivot quickly in response to evolving technical or business needs.

• Certification or demonstrated competency in systems engineering, test engineering, reliability engineering, quality engineering, Six Sigma, or Design of Experiments is a plus.

• Proficient in sample size calculation and statistical methods for analyzing data.

Additional position requirements:

• Fact-based decision making

• Design of feasibility studies

• Biomechanical engineering

• Statistical data analysis methods

• Basic safety of class II or class III medical devices

• Robotics kinematics

• Understanding of control systems

Location & travel requirements:

The required location for this position is Gières, France. In office expectations are a minimum of 3 days per week, up to 5 days per week depending on project demand. An estimate of travel up to 10% may be required both domestic and international .

External interactions:

This position will require interactions with external technology partners, start-ups, research collaborators, suppliers, and development partners involved in advanced technology exploration. Work with Health Care Professionals, clinical experts, and internal stakeholders as appropriate to evaluate prototype usability, workflow assumptions, and early feasibility in preclinical, cadaveric, simulated use, or formative exploratory settings. Interact with external medical device innovators and technology suppliers to assess early prototypes, clarify technical assumptions, define evaluation plans, and document integration risks and limitations. Collaborate with third-party development partners to mature early proofs of concept and prototype demonstrators by providing clear technical objectives, prototype requirements, test feedback, and evidence-based recommendations.

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The anticipated base pay range for this position is:

Benefits:

In addition to base pay, we offer the following benefits*: an annual bonus with set target (% of pay) depending on pay grade / location, where the actual amount is based on the employees’ and companies’ performance of the previous calendar year, or sales commissions. Moreover, we offer vacation days, parental leave for a minimum of 12 weeks, bereavement leave, caregiver leave, volunteer leave, well-being reimbursement, programs for financial, physical and mental health. We also offer service anniversary and recognition awards, and subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees - and in some location’s eligible dependents - can participate in several insurance plans. For more information, visit Employee benefits | Supporting well-being & career growth | Johnson & Johnson Careers.

*This is for informative purposes only. Amounts and actual benefits may vary by location and are subject to change.