Senior Manager / Director, R&D

Description

The Role (Senior Manager / Director)

We’re seeking a hands-on biomaterials leader to drive program execution and commercialization of SINTX’s silicon nitride and advanced ceramic platforms—from concept through development, scale-up, and customer adoption. This role blends technical leadership in biomaterials with end-to-end program/project management and commercial partnership support, working closely with Operations, Quality/Regulatory, and Commercial teams to accelerate time-to-market.

Leveling: Title and scope (Senior Manager vs. Director) will be based on demonstrated leadership, portfolio complexity, and commercialization track record.

Requirements

1) Lead biomaterials innovation ? productization

• Drive development of silicon nitride biomaterials and related platforms (e.g., surface-engineered Si3N4, coatings, composites) into new applications and markets.

• Translate clinical/customer needs into clear product requirements, verification plans, and manufacturable specifications.

• Partner with Quality/Regulatory to ensure design controls, risk management, and documentation readiness for regulated pathways (especially medical devices).

2) Own program/project leadership (stage-gate + cross-functional execution)

• Build and run project plans, timelines, budgets, and risk registers across R&D ? pilot ? transfer to manufacturing.

• Implement/operate portfolio management and stage gates with measurable OKRs and decision-quality reporting to leadership.

• Lead multidisciplinary teams across ceramics processing, coatings/surface modification, composites, and additive manufacturing pathways.

3) Drive scale-up and manufacturing transfer

• Own technology-to-manufacturing scale-up: process windows, yield improvement, SPC/CPK targets, cost-down, and reliability-by-design.

• Partner with Operations to harden processes and enable repeatable production, supplier readiness, and capacity planning.

4) Partner with Commercial: customer-facing technical leadership

• Serve as a technical leader in customer meetings, translating application needs into development programs and timelines.

• Support go-to-market by developing technical value propositions, claims support (data), and application notes aligned to market needs.

• Identify and develop partnerships (OEMs, KOLs, labs/universities) that accelerate adoption and revenue.

5) External programs, partnerships, and IP support

• Contribute to partnership strategy and, where relevant, support non-dilutive or customer-funded development (e.g., SBIR/STTR, NIH/DoD) through technical scope and execution leadership.

• Support IP generation through invention disclosures and technical documentation in partnership with counsel.

What Success Looks Like (Example Outcomes in 12–18 Months)

• 1–2 key biomaterials/coatings programs progress through defined stage gates with clear design requirements, validated data, and manufacturing transfer plan.

• Demonstrated cross-functional execution cadence (weekly core team, monthly portfolio reviews, risk management discipline).

• At least one program shows measurable commercial momentum (e.g., customer evaluation, LOI/SOW, paid dev, design win, or equivalent).

• Manufacturing readiness improves (yield, cycle time, cost, CPK/SPC stability) for one or more processes.

Required Qualifications (Experience-Weighted)

We value demonstrated delivery and commercialization outcomes more than specific degrees.

• 8+ years (Senior Manager) or 12+ years (Director) of experience in biomaterials and/or advanced materials with a record of translating R&D into products/processes.

• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional programs (R&D, Ops, Quality/Reg, Commercial) with accountable scope/schedule/budget.

• Strong biomaterials/materials knowledge in one or more of: ceramic biomaterials (including silicon nitride exposure strongly preferred), surface modification/coatings, composites/hybrid constructs, additive routes, or advanced ceramics processing.

• Track record of scale-up and manufacturing transfer (process characterization, yield improvements, process control, cost-down).

• Comfort in customer-facing technical leadership: requirements capture, expectation setting, technical storytelling, and translating value to commercial teams.

• Experience working in regulated or mission-critical markets (medical devices, aerospace/defense, industrial), with working knowledge of design documentation discipline.

Education (De-Emphasized): BS/MS in Materials Science/Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related preferred; advanced degree a plus but not required with equivalent experience.

Preferred / Nice-to-Have

• Medical device experience (implants/coatings/trauma/spine) and familiarity with ISO 13485 / 21 CFR 820 / ISO 14971.

• Experience with aerospace/defense qualification environments (e.g., AS9100, MIL-spec testing).

• Experience integrating ceramics with engineering polymers (PEEK/PEKK/CFR-PEKK) or metals.

• Experience supporting IP strategy (invention disclosures, patents/publications) and external collaborations.

• Prior success executing customer-funded or non-dilutive R&D programs (SBIR/STTR, NIH/DoD).