Title: Design Program Manager – Medical Device Product Development

Location: St. Petersburg, FL (Onsite)
6+ month contract

Industry: Medical Devices / Healthcare Technology

Rate: TBD

Overview

• We are seeking an experienced Design Program Manager / Engineering Project Manager to lead complex medical device product development project.
• This role will oversee the design and development of electromechanical medical devices, embedded software systems, and disposable medical products, coordinating cross-functional engineering teams to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with customer requirements.
• The ideal candidate will have a strong engineering background, hands-on experience managing medical device design and development programs, and the ability to confidently communicate with customers, technical teams, and senior management.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead medical device product development projects from initial planning through design, verification, validation, and manufacturing transfer.
• Manage cross-functional engineering teams, including Mechanical, Electrical, Software, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, budgets, Statements of Work (SOWs), and technical deliverables.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for OEM customers, providing project updates, managing expectations, and addressing technical and commercial concerns.
• Identify project risks, develop mitigation strategies, and resolve issues affecting scope, schedule, cost, or quality.
• Manage project financials using Earned Value Management (EVM), budget forecasting, and cost tracking.
• Oversee project scope changes, including contract change orders (CCOs), cost estimates, and schedule impacts.
• Lead project reviews, stage-gate assessments, and cross-functional status meetings.
• Coordinate external engineering vendors, suppliers, and global design teams.
• Ensure project deliverables meet customer specifications, contractual requirements, and applicable quality standards.
• Maintain accurate project documentation, status reports, and performance metrics.
• Support compliance with medical device Quality Management Systems (QMS) and Design Controls.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Biomedical, or related discipline).
• 5+ years of technical project or program management experience, preferably in product design and development.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams across complex product development projects.
• Strong knowledge of project scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and scope control.
• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM), cost forecasting, and project financial tracking.
• Experience with structured stage-gate product development processes.
• Ability to manage customer relationships and communicate technical project information effectively.
• Experience working with project management and requirements management tools.
• Strong leadership, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Medical device product development experience, including electromechanical devices or disposable medical products.
• Knowledge of FDA Design Controls, ISO 13485, and medical device Quality Management Systems.
• Experience managing projects within a contract engineering, product design, or design services organization.
• Experience coordinating engineering teams across multiple sites or international locations.
• Experience managing external engineering suppliers and vendors.
• PMP Certification.

Additional Information

This is a hands-on program leadership position requiring strong technical understanding, financial accountability, and direct customer interaction. The successful candidate must be comfortable managing multiple stakeholders, leading technical discussions, and driving engineering teams toward project milestones.

Candidates must be able to work onsite in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Ascendo is a certified minority owned staffing firm, and we welcome and celebrate diversity. Ascendo is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, parental status, military service or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Contact information

Ruben Rabines