The Principal SaMD Technical Program Manager plays a pivotal role in driving the development and delivery of Software as aMedical Device (SaMD) products. This positionis responsible forenabling engineering teams tooperateat high velocity while ensuring strict compliance with global regulatory standards such as FDA, EU MDR, ISO 13485, and IEC 62304.Theyare responsible forcreating and managing the software development plan and partnering with engineering, quality, and regulatory team members toaligningthe process withagile and lean engineering practices.This approach empowers teams to innovate rapidly whilemaintainingaudit-ready outputs and supporting the full product lifecycle, including post-market surveillance and ongoing compliance maintenance.
Collaboration and leadership are central to this role. The Principal SaMD TPM acts as a bridge between engineering, product, regulatory affairs, clinical, and quality assurance teams,facilitatingstrategic decision-making and resolving cross-functional dependencies.They provide oversighttovarious aspects of the project portfolio, coordinatingmeetingsand projectdeliverable milestones. Theyareresponsible fortracking and communicating key metrics—such asriskinformation,documentation completeness, and team velocity—to both technical and business stakeholders. By engagingwithexecutive leadership and managing demand from diverse sources, theyensure that product needs are clearly understood, prioritized, and delivered in alignment with organizational goals.
As a catalyst for continual improvement,the PrincipalSaMD TPMresearches, recommends, and implements new practices and automation opportunities to accelerate delivery andalign activities with key businessobjectivesand product initiatives. The role requires hands-onexpertisein agile software development, process facilitation (Scrum, Kanban), and adaptive program management.Through a combination of technical acumen, process optimization, and collaborative leadership, theydrive the organization’s mission to deliver safe, effective, and innovative medical software solutions.
Responsibilities :
Lead SaMD Development Projects : Drive thefunctionalplanning, execution, and delivery of SaMD projects, ensuringeffective delivery and alignment with relevant regulatory standards andorganizationSOPs.
Project M anageme nt : Apply best-practice project management methodologies to ensureadherence to project timelines, requirements,and goals. Createandmaintaindashboards, project plans,schedules,charters,and risk registers tomonitorprogress and performance,resolve operational issues, and minimize any potential delays.Execute multiple projectssimultaneously, prioritizing competing initiatives.Organize and lead project team meetings with detailed agendas, documenting key tasks, action items, and decisions.
Lifecycle Management : LeadSaMD productdevelopment initiativesfrom Project Kickoff to End-of-Life, ensuring all requiredlifecyclemanagement activities are planned and executed, includingnew product development, change management,post-market surveillance,and maintenance activities.
Risk Management : LeadProject risk mitigation activities, including timeline,resource,and budgetary risksthat arise during the device lifecycleto ensure business priorities are met. Support device and compliancerisk management activities (hazard analysis, risk assessments)throughout the device lifecycle
Cross-Functional Collaboration : Act as a liaison between engineering, product, regulatory affairs, clinical, and QA teams to resolve dependencies,facilitatestrategic decision-making, and drive process improvement. Coordinate meetings and project deliverables.
Metrics and Reporting : Trackand communicate key metrics (risk status,milestone progress,documentation completeness, team velocity) to technical and business stakeholders.
Stakeholder Engagement : Engage with executive stakeholders to ensure product needs are understood, prioritized, and delivered.
Process Improvement : Research, recommend, and implement new practices and automation opportunities to accelerate delivery and improve compliance.
Qualifications :
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or related field (or equivalent practical experience).
9+ years of experience working on SaMD or regulated medical software products in technical program management, engineering, or project management roles using agile practices.Knowledge of FDAandEUMDR-relatedstandards.
Hands-on experience with design control, risk management, and technical documentation (DHF, traceability matrix, protocols, reports, risk assessments, testing, etc.).
Demonstrated experience working under a formal QMS (ISO 13485, 21 CFR 820)
Experienceworking with aneQMSand other tooling for managing SaMD projects.
Strong understanding of modern agile software development practices and adaptive program management.
Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills; ability to work effectively in a matrixed, cross-functional environment.
Experience supporting products through the full lifecycle, including post-market activities.
Ability to analyze data and communicate effectively through written and graphical formats to large audiences, including executives.
Experience with cybersecurity and / or AI / ML complianceformedical software is a plus.
Agile,PMPand Regulatory Certifications area plus.
Our Interview Practices
Compensation :
Target salary range CA, CT, CO, DC, HI, IL, MA, MD, MN, NY, RI, WA : $145,500 - $203,900
Technical Program Manager • West Adams St, IL, Chicago, USA