Senior Product Development Program Manager
mdtkangaroo · Northridge, California, United States of America ·
- Seniority
- Senior
- Employment
- Contract
- Category
- Project management
- Experience
- 5+ years
At MiniMed, you can begin a lifelong career of exploration and innovation, while helping make a difference in the lives of people living with diabetes around the globe. You'll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation for a more connected, compassionate world.
About the Role
The Senior Product Development Program Manager will lead strategic cost reduction and value engineering initiatives for the next generation product platform. This role will partner closely with R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Sourcing, Quality, Regulatory, and Finance teams to identify, prioritize, and execute product cost improvements while maintaining product performance, quality, reliability, and regulatory compliance.The ideal candidate combines strong program management capabilities with hands-on experience in value engineering, cost modeling, and cross-functional product development. This individual will work directly with R&D teams to influence product architecture, design decisions, manufacturing strategies, and implementation plans that support achievement of long-term product cost targets.
Responsibilities may include the following and other duties may be assigned.
Program Leadership & Execution
Lead cross-functional cost reduction programs supporting next generation product platforms.
Develop and maintain integrated project plans, schedules, milestones, dependencies, and implementation roadmaps.
Coordinate activities across R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, and Sourcing.
Facilitate governance reviews and communicate program status, risks, mitigation plans, and key decisions to leadership.
Drive alignment on project priorities, resource requirements, and implementation strategies.
Value Engineering & Product Cost Leadership
Lead Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE) activities to identify and implement sustainable product cost reduction opportunities and provide report outs on progess.
Partner directly with R&D teams throughout concept, design, and sustaining engineering phases to optimize product cost and manufacturability.
Facilitate structured value engineering workshops and design reviews to challenge cost assumptions and identify breakthrough opportunities.
Evaluate alternative materials, components, suppliers, manufacturing processes, and product architectures.
Drive Design-for-Cost (DFC), Design-for-Manufacturing (DFM), and Design-for-Assembly (DFA) initiatives across the product lifecycle.
Develop should-cost models, cost analyses, and investment business cases to support prioritization and decision-making.
Establish cost reduction roadmaps aligned with annual operating plans and long-term business objectives.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Build strong partnerships across R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, and Finance organizations.
Coordinate technical, operational, and commercial activities required to implement cost reduction initiatives.
Lead resolution of program risks, technical trade-offs, and implementation challenges.
Align stakeholders around project objectives, timelines, and expected business outcomes.
Financial & Business Analysis
Quantify product cost reduction opportunities and track savings realization.
Partner with Finance and Supply Chain teams to validate business cases and financial impact.
Develop and maintain metrics, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to monitor progress against cost reduction targets.
Support capital investment evaluations and return-on-investment analyses where required.
Change Implementation & Commercialization
Coordinate implementation of design, supplier, manufacturing, and process changes supporting cost reduction objectives.
Ensure appropriate design controls, validation activities, and regulatory requirements are incorporated into project plans.
Support commercialization and operational readiness activities associated with approved product changes.
Monitor implementation effectiveness and sustain realized savings following launch.
Key Individual Accountabilities
Deliver product cost reduction targets.
Develop and maintain a multi-year cost optimization roadmap.
Lead implementation of Value Analysis / Value Engineering initiatives from concept through commercialization.
Influence product design decisions that improve cost, manufacturability, quality, and supply chain performance.
Ensure delivery of project milestones on schedule and within approved budgets.
Identify and proactively manage risks, dependencies, and implementation challenges.
Maintain cross-functional alignment and accountability across all participating functions.
Balance cost optimization objectives with product quality, reliability, and regulatory compliance requirements.
Key Shared Accountabilities
Support strategic product cost reduction initiatives in partnership with R&D and Operations leadership.
Establish program priorities and implementation road maps aligned with business goals.
Develop business cases supporting investment and cost reduction decisions.
Drive cross-functional risk identification and mitigation planning.
Facilitate effective communication between leadership teams, project teams, and functional stakeholders.
Support long-range product margin improvement strategies and operational excellence initiatives.
Objectives & Key Results (OKRs)
Product Cost Reduction: Achieve annual and multi-year cost reduction targets.
Savings Realization: Deliver measurable and sustained financial savings from implemented initiatives.
Program Execution: Meet key project milestones and implementation commitments.
Design Optimization: Increase adoption of DFM, DFA, DFC, and VA/VE methodologies across product development activities.
Commercialization Success: Deliver approved changes without disruption to product supply or quality.
Cross-Functional Alignment: Maintain stakeholder engagement and execution discipline across all project teams.
Operational Excellence: Improve product competitiveness through cost, quality, and manufacturability enhancements.
Required Knowledge and Experience:
Requires a Bachelor's degree and minimum of 7 years of relevant experience, or advanced degree with a minimum of 5 years relevant experience.
Preferred Qualifications :
Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related technical discipline.
Relevant experience in product development, engineering, operations, manufacturing, or program management.
Experience leading complex cross-functional programs in a regulated environment.
Demonstrated experience leading Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE) initiatives, product cost optimization programs, and cross-functional engineering teams to achieve product cost reduction targets.
Strong understanding of product cost structures, cost modeling, and business case development.
Proven ability to influence stakeholders and drive execution without direct authority.
Excellent communication, leadership, problem-solving, and project management skills.
Medical device or other regulated industry experience.
Experience partnering directly with R&D organizations on product architecture decisions, design changes, material substitutions, and platform optimization initiatives.
Experience developing should-cost models, financial analyses, and investment business cases.
Working knowledge of Design-to-Value (DtV), Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE), Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Lean Product Development methodologies.
Experience supporting sustaining engineering and product lifecycle management programs.
Experience working with suppliers and strategic sourcing teams to identify and implement cost reduction opportunities.
Advanced degree (MS) preferred.
PMP certification or equivalent program management experience.
Physical Job Requirements
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position, but they are not an exhaustive list of all the required responsibilities and skills of this position.
The physical demands described within the Responsibilities section of this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. For Office Roles: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be independently mobile. The employee is also required to interact with a computer and communicate with peers and co-workers. Contact your manager or local HR to understand the Work Conditions and Physical requirements that may be specific to each role.
Benefits & Compensation
MiniMed offers a competitive salary and flexible benefits package
At MiniMed, we put people first. A commitment to our employees lives at the core of our values: We recognize their contributions. They share in the success they help create. We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every stage of your career and life.
Salary ranges for U.S (excl. PR) locations (USD):$164,000.00 - $278,000.00For roles located in California, Seattle WA, Washington DC, Boston MA, and New York City, the salary range is $181,000.00 - $309,000.00 USD.
Actual compensation may vary based on factors including experience, education, certifications, skills, market conditions, internal equity, and geographic location. Compensation and benefits information pertains solely to candidates hired within the United States (local market compensation and benefits will apply for others).
At MiniMed, we are committed to supporting the well-being and financial security of our employees. Regular employees working 20 or more hours per week are eligible for a robust benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, as well as access to a Health Savings Account, Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, life insurance, long-term disability leave, and a dependent daycare spending account. In addition, all regular employees enjoy incentive plans, a 401(k) plan with company match, short-term disability coverage, paid time off and holidays, participation in our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and access to our Employee Assistance Program. Eligible employees may also benefit from our Non-qualified Retirement Plan Supplement and Capital Accumulation Plan, subject to IRS minimum earnings requirements. Please note that “regular employees” refers to those who are not temporary staff, such as interns, and some benefits may not apply to employees in Puerto Rico.
For further details about our comprehensive benefits, we encourage you to visit the link below.
MiniMed Benefits Overview
About MiniMed
MiniMed is a full-stack insulin delivery company dedicated to supporting people living with diabetes through every step of their journey — when and how they need it. For more than 40 years, we’ve been committed to redefining what’s possible: intelligent dosing systems designed for real life, predictive insights that stay a step ahead, and always on support when it’s needed most. At the heart of everything we do is a simple Mission: to make every day a better day for people with diabetes.
Learn more about our business, and our mission here.
It is the policy of MiniMed to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, familial status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. In addition, MiniMed will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.
If you are applying to perform work for MiniMed in any position which will involve performing at least two (2) hours of work on average each week within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, you can find here a list of all material job duties of the specific job position which MiniMed reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. MiniMed will consider for employment qualified job applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.