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The Biomedical Engineering (BME) Department at Carnegie Mellon University is renowned for its interdisciplinary approach to solving complex healthcare challenges. Located within CMU's College of Engineering, the department emphasizes the integration of engineering principles with biomedical sciences to address pressing medical and biological issues. The department is characterized by its focus on creating impactful technologies and therapies that improve patient care and advance biomedical innovation globally.
The Department of Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University is seeking a Technical
Project Manager to provide scientific and technical leadership for a large-scale project focused on
developing a wearable, multimodal maternal–fetal monitoring system to transform intrapartum care. The project encompasses the full translational pipeline of perinatal device development - from multimodal sensing hardware through physiology-informed AI, human-factors design, and clinical validation at several hospital sites.
This position is technical and science-facing. The Technical Project Manager works closely with the PI and task leads to keep the program’s science and engineering directions coherent across institutions: connecting with clinicians to surface translationally relevant questions, tracking the substance of the work happening at partner labs and companies, and providing high-level technical oversight of
approaches, dependencies, and timelines. This position regularly handles sensitive and pre-publication technical information. It is suited to a senior research scientist who wants to remain deeply engaged in science while moving toward a collaboration- and leadership-oriented role.
Core Responsibilities:
Clinical Coordination and Translational Direction
- Build and maintain working relationships with the clinical collaborators - maternal-fetal medicine specialists, OB/GYN faculty, neonatologists, and pediatric anesthesiologists
- Engage with clinicians to understand current intrapartum monitoring practice, unmet needs, decision points, and the clinical context surrounding fetal hypoxia and labor management; surface insights to the PI and task leads.
- Identify clinically meaningful opportunities and directions for the solution platform and translate these into experimental questions, study aims, and validation priorities.
- Help shape protocol design, endpoints, and clinical data collection plans for the studies so that the science generated is both rigorous and clinically credible; coordinate with clinical co-investigators on protocol refinement.
- Represent the technical team in conversations with clinical partners; communicate technical capabilities and constraints in language that clinicians can act on.
External Lab and Industry Partner Coordination
- Serve as the substantive technical point of contact between the CMU lead labs and external
academic and industry partners. - Develop a working understanding of sensor designs, signal processing approaches, software
stacks, hardware integration plans, regulatory and manufacturing posture. - Track partner progress against project deliverables, surface technical risks early, and flag where
dependencies between partners are at risk. - Synthesize partner activity into clear technical updates for the PI, task leads, and (when
needed) funding agency.
Technical Direction and Strategic Oversight
- Provide high-level technical oversight across different tasks on the project and assessing
- whether the overall technical strategy and the work plans of individual partners are coherent and on track.
- Identify technical risks, gaps, and over-investments early; recommend prioritization, scope adjustments, or additional collaborations to the PI.
- Maintain a current internal picture of the system architecture and ensure each partner’s effort plugs into that architecture cleanly.
- Support technical content for reporting, milestone reviews, FDA Q-submissions, and regulatory planning, in collaboration with the Program Manager (who handles program-level reporting logistics) and the task leads
Science Engagement and Leadership
- Remain hands-on with the science: participate in technical discussions, review data and figures, and contribute to manuscripts, abstracts, and grant proposals as a senior author or co-author where appropriate.
- Mentor graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and research staff on experimental design, multimodal data interpretation, and translational thinking
- Help foster a collaborative and inclusive lab and consortium culture, particularly across the
engineering / clinical / industry boundary
Adaptability, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within Carnegie Mellon University. We are in search of a team member who can effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.
Qualifications:
- PhD in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, biophysics, neuroscience, applied physics, or a related field (or equivalent research experience).
- Multiple years of post-PhD research experience in a relevant laboratory or research-and-development setting.
- Demonstrated experience working in or coordinating multi-institutional and/or international research collaborations is strongly preferred.
- Familiarity with clinical research, human-subjects studies, IRB processes, and/or regulated medical device development (IDE, De Novo, PMA, 510(k)) is preferred.
- Prior experience interfacing with federal sponsors such as ARPA-H, DARPA, NIH, or DoD on milestone-driven programs is a plus.
- A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.
You Must Demonstrate:
- Significant prior research experience in biomedical engineering, biomedical optics, biomedical instrumentation, neuroengineering, or a closely related field — ideally several years of postdoctoral, staff scientist, or equivalent experience in an active research lab.
- Technical depth in one or more sensing modalities relevant to the project (diffuse optics, EEG/EMG/ECG, ultrasound, photoacoustics, or related), and the breadth to engage credibly with adjacent modalities and AI/ML work.
- A track record of substantive scientific output (peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and/or contributions to funded grants).
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate and lead across multiple stakeholders — academic collaborators, clinicians, and/or industry partners — and to translate between their distinct cultures and constraints.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to engage clinicians on clinically meaningful questions and engineers on technical detail, and to summarize either for the other.
- Sound technical judgment: the ability to evaluate whether a proposed approach is appropriate, whether a plan is realistic, and where the real risks live, without needing to design every method personally.
- Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative disposition; comfort operating across institutional and international boundaries.
- A clear interest in growing as a scientific leader / coordinator who stays engaged with the science.
Requirements:
- Successful Background Check
Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.
Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays, and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance.
Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and much more!
For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.
At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.
Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?! Apply today!
Location
Pittsburgh, PAJob Function
Engineering, Research and Project ScientistsPosition Type
Staff – Fixed Term (Fixed Term)Full Time/Part time
Full timePay Basis
SalaryMore Information:
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