M1M1 — Manager (Team Lead)
R&D Product Development Supervisor (First-Level Manager)
The M1 role is an entry-level R&D management position responsible for day-to-day oversight of medical device product development activities at the team level.
What this level means
Front-line people manager of a single team; owns delivery, coaching, and execution.
- Scope
- A single team
- Autonomy
- Manages within established goals
- Complexity
- Day-to-day delivery and people issues
- Impact
- Team output and health
- Decision rights
- Owns team execution, hiring input, performance
- Leadership
- Direct people management of one team
- Typical experience
- 3–6 yrs
What you'd do
- Lead a team of R&D engineers/scientists in executing product development tasks.
- Provide hands-on technical support and problem-solving.
- Ensure the team adheres to design control processes and documentation practices.
- Act as the primary communicator for the team.
- Coordinate available resources for the team.
- Supervise and support team members’ performance and growth.
- Work closely with cross-functional peers.
- Lead team meetings
- Coordinate project resources
- Ensure compliance with design controls
Skills, knowledge & tools
- Technical support
- Team leadership
- Resource coordination
- Design control adherence
- Performance supervision
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- R&D processes
- Design control standards
- Team management
- Medical device regulations
- Technical problem-solving
- Resource management
- Performance evaluation
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Attention to detail
- Organizational & Planning Skills
- Communication & Transparency
- Problem Solving & Analytical Thinking
- Leadership & Team Building
- Adaptability
- Basic Strategic Alignment
What good looks like
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related scientific field.
- Approximately 5–7 years of total experience in R&D or product development roles.
- Advanced degree (M.S.) in a relevant field.
- Certifications like Project Management Professional (PMP) or Six Sigma Green Belt.
Common titles
R&D Product Development Supervisor
What it pays
Market-pay benchmarks for this family × level are being recalibrated across all survey sources and will return shortly.
O*NET / SOC: 19-0000 — Life, Physical, & Social Science Occupations (inferred)