As part of BlueRock Therapeutics vision to change the future of medicine by enabling ground-breaking cell therapies, the candidate will be a leader in the combination device development and manufacturing team responsible for ensuring that the company’s leading cell product candidates have an appropriately designed, tested and implemented combination device. Key elements include procedures to prepare and administer cell products compatible with current clinical technologies and practice of medicine, and medical device systems that safely, and accurately deliver these products to meet the unmet needs of patients with intractable diseases. The Device Development team works with leading physicians and other experts to develop clinical product procedures, delivery systems and other technologies in close partnership with our cell product development colleagues. The successful candidate is a proven team leader in the development and manufacturing of cutting-edge medical product technologies including combination medical devices and ancillary products. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of medical device development processes and regulations, is comfortable working directly with world-renowned physicians, is highly familiar with design and manufacturing technologies and has a demonstrated track record of leading product development teams that have taken concepts and advanced them into clinical evaluation and commercial launch utilizing internal and external capabilities. Collaboration with a highly motivated, world-class team of engineers and scientists promises an exciting and engaging work environment for motivated, self-starting candidates. Proven history in developing drug delivery device development is required; experience in combination product development and surgical device development is strongly preferred.
The Director, Device Development serves as a global technical and organizational leader responsible for the end‑to‑end design, development, transfer, and clinical readiness of complex medical devices and combination products for BRT’s Cell Therapy portfolio.
This role operates beyond individual project execution, providing strategic technical leadership, cross‑functional alignment, and governance‑level decision support across Device Development, TechOps, Quality, Regulatory, Clinical, and New Product Planning organizations.
The role is a recognized authority in device design, design control, and industrialization, and functions as a primary integrator between BRT internal teams and external device partners (e.g., CDMOs, suppliers, analytical labs), ensuring clinic readiness and compliance from development through clinical studies and eventual handoff to parties responsible for commercialization.
Responsibilities:
- Acts as technical representative on project teams for complex delivery and preparation device systems, spanning system, device, and component levels.
- Defines and maintains technical strategy, design intent, and risk profile across development phases, from early development through clinical phases and handoff to those with ownership for launch and commercial sustainment.
- Provides expert judgment on material selection, key quality target product profile, usability, manufacturability, and design trade‑offs, particularly for cell therapy combination products (drug delivery, dose preparation, accessories, etc.).
- Leads cross‑functional collaboration across Device Development, TDT, Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Commercial and Bayer stakeholders.
- Serves as primary escalation point for device‑related technical and executional issues, resolving ambiguity and enabling timely decision‑making.
- Coaches and mentors senior and mid‑level engineers, strengthening technical depth, decision quality, and design control rigor across the organization.
- Liaises with Bayer Device stakeholders to align approaches and maintain a network of internal and external device technical SMEs.
- Represents device engineering at program governance forums, steering committees, and executive reviews (e.g., Board, TechOps, CMC).
- Shapes device strategy narratives for leadership audiences, translating technical complexity into clear risk, readiness, and decision frameworks.
- Drives alignment on what BRT must own internally vs. leverage externally, enabling scalable development and industrialization models.
- Accountable for design control strategy and execution in accordance with BRT QMS and global regulatory expectations for combination products.
- Ensures design history file (DHF) integrity, robust V&V planning, and traceability across user needs, risk management, and performance requirements.
- Partners closely with Regulatory Affairs and Quality to support global submissions and associated efforts related to pre-clinical and clinical phases of development.
- Key contributor to design transfer to Bayer Product Supply, ensuring manufacturability, scalability, and global supply robustness.
- Shapes early phase clinical device strategy with commercial goals in mind, including supplier selection, design development and manufacturing site readiness to support clinical phases.
- Drives alignment across clinical, open‑label, and commercial device configurations, ensuring continuity and long‑term sustainability.
- Recognized internally as the go‑to authority for cell therapy device design and device strategy.
- Influences multiple programs and organizational capabilities, not just a single asset.
- Independently sets direction in areas of technical ambiguity, with decisions shaping program outcomes.
- Elevates the effectiveness of the broader device organization through mentorship, standards, and governance leadership.
1. Technical Leadership
2. Cross‑Functional & Matrix Leadership (No Formal Direct Reports Required)
3. Governance, Decision‑Making & Executive Interface
4. Design Control & Regulatory Stewardship
5. Industrialization, Transfer & Commercial Readiness Leadership
Impact Indicators
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or equivalent, or PhD with 10+ years of experience
- B.S. or M.S. in Biomedical, Materials engineering, or related and a minimum of ten years of medical product (preferably medical device or biologics) development and manufacturing experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the job duties as listed above may be considered.
- Thorough understanding of Design Controls and cGMP requirements compliant with ISO 13485 and the QSR (21 CFR Part 820)
- Significant experience in development and validation of medical device manufacturing processes and technologies is required
- Demonstrated cross functional leader with successful track record of delivering projects on time and within budget
- Experience with biologic product delivery (delivery media, bio-polymers, delivery technologies, micro-fluidic control, anatomy) is a strong plus.
- Experience leader in delivering products through IND
- Competency in computer skills and familiarity with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project)
Skills Required
- Bachelor's or Master's degree or equivalent, or PhD with 10+ years of experience
- B.S. or M.S. in Biomedical, Materials Engineering, or related field
- Minimum of ten years of medical product development and manufacturing experience
- Thorough understanding of Design Controls and cGMP requirements
- Significant experience in development and validation of medical device manufacturing processes
- Demonstrated cross-functional leader with successful track record of delivering projects
- Experience with biologic product delivery is a strong plus
- Experience leader in delivering products through IND
- Competency in computer skills and familiarity with Microsoft Office
What We Do
BlueRock Therapeutics is a leading engineered cell therapy company with a mission to develop regenerative medicines for intractable diseases. BlueRock Therapeutics’ cell+gene platform harnesses the power of cells to create new medicines for neurology, cardiology, and immunology indications. BlueRock Therapeutics’ cell differentiation technology recapitulates the cell’s developmental biology to produce authentic cell therapies, which are further engineered for additional function. Utilizing these cell therapies to replace damaged or degenerated tissue brings the potential to restore or regenerate lost function. BlueRock’s culture is defined by scientific innovation, the highest ethical standards and an urgency to bring transformative treatments to all who would benefit. The company strives to be a top employer of scientific talent, empowering every member of the team to make meaningful and lasting contributions to the burgeoning field of regenerative medicine. Become a BlueRocker! We are expanding our BlueRock team at all locations. Contact us via LinkedIn or our website to learn about rewarding career opportunities.
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