Lead Software Engineer (m/f/d)

Build a career powered by innovations that matter! At Novanta, our innovations power technology products that are transforming healthcare and advanced manufacturing-improving productivity, enhancing people’s lives and redefining what’s possible. We create for our global customers engineered components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance for a range of mission-critical applications-from minimally invasive surgery to robotics to 3D metal printing.

Novanta is one global team with over 26 offices located in The Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Looking for a great place to work? You have found it with a culture that embraces teamwork, collaboration and empowerment. Come explore Novanta.

This position is part of Novanta’s Advanced Surgery business unit. Specialized in the field of Minimally Invasive Medicine, Novanta Medical develops devices and accessories so that doctors can operate with small cuts. We produce Cameras, Insufflators, Medical Pumps, and tubing that makes diagnosis and treatment easier for everyone. Our insufflators and pump systems dilate cavities in the body and turn previously complicated surgeries into minor procedures. Together with customers, doctors, and technical experts, our teams continuously search for new ways to innovate.

Primary Responsibilities

• Leading software development for medical devices and guiding engineers in the implementation of software solutions
• Leading the transformation from classical software development to AI-supported software development within the team
• Requirements analysis based on the functional specification or other requirements
• Creating and reviewing software requirements and maintaining the required software and device documentation for medical-device development, including documentation needed for compliance, traceability, and product lifecycle support
• Conducting design and code reviews
• Independent planning of tasks for oneself and the team
• Creation and execution of software tests
• Analysis and correction of software modules in highly complex error cases
• Applying software standards and ensuring standards within the team
• Creating and maintaining comprehensive technical and regulatory documentation to ensure compliance with FDA and ISO 13485/IEC 62304 standards
• Further development of internal software standards
• Assumption of advanced technical or organizational roles within the organization (e.g., Product Owner)
• Leading and organizing training sessions on software development practice, tools, and standards
• Support for strategic decisions in the specialist area through preparation, evaluation, recommendation, and advice

Additional Responsibilities

• Leading software development for regulated medical devices and supporting engineers in complex implementation decisions
• Identifying, evaluating, and introducing AI-supported software development practices, tools, and workflows in the specialist area
• Supervision of students and external development service providers with focus on technical quality, regulatory expectations, and team learning
• Assessment of the impact of changes to standards, technologies, and AI-supported development methods on the specialist area
• Independent mentoring of new employees and engineers in software development practices
• Participation in the hiring process for new employees, with focus on technical leadership capability and readiness for AI-supported software development
• Support in the performance evaluation of employees by providing technical input on software engineering skills, collaboration, and development practices
• Participation, where appropriate, in specialist conferences and external committees to monitor trends in medical-device software development and AI-supported engineering
• Advising management on business and technology decisions related to software development leadership and AI-supported software engineering

General Tasks

• Close collaboration within the development department and across the company to align medical-device software development activities and AI-supported engineering practices
• Contributing to company standards and ensuring their practical application in both regulated software development and AI-supported software development workflows
• Initiating and actively participating in measures related to process improvement, standardization, waste elimination, and the effective use of AI-supported development methods
• Active participation in the innovation process, with special attention to AI-supported software engineering and its responsible use in medical-device development
• Strict compliance with quality, occupational safety, and environmental regulations and implementation of the instructions of quality/environmental management representatives and the occupational safety specialist

Required Experience, Education, Skills, Training and Competencies

• Degree in computer science, electrical engineering, mechatronics, systems engineering, automation engineering, or equivalent
• Approximately 2 years' experience in leading software development for regulated medical devices and guiding engineers in the implementation of software solutions
• Strong understanding of AI-supported software development approaches and practices, with the ability to lead their adoption within a development team
• Very good knowledge of system development, software architecture, and software design
• Extensive knowledge of embedded software development in C/C++ sufficient to provide technical direction, review solutions, and guide implementation decisions
• Experience providing technical guidance, mentoring engineers, and ensuring high-quality implementation in software projects
• Confident use of software development tools, AI-supported engineering approaches, and Microsoft Office
• Good verbal and written English skills (CEFR B2)*
• Desirable: knowledge in the areas of electrical engineering and transmission protocols
• Strong leadership mindset with the ability to guide engineers, set technical direction, and create alignment in software development activities
• High willingness and capability to drive change, especially the transformation from classical software development to AI-supported software development
• Quality-conscious, trustworthy, and reliable
• Team-oriented, communicative, and able to influence without relying on direct disciplinary authority
• Structured and systematic working style with the ability to translate strategic goals into practical team practices

Travel Requirements

• Willingness to travel to all sites and business contacts, up to a maximum of 10% travel

(*) Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Novanta is proud to be an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, military and veteran status, disability, genetics, or any other category protected by federal law or Novanta policy.

Please call +1 781-266-5700 if you need a disability accommodation for any part of the employment process.