Manager, R&D

Position Description: Vocera, now a part of Stryker is seeking an experienced technical RD manager with a strong background in software engineering and cloud domain, coupled with excellent people management skills. In this role, you will mentor and lead a team, driving innovation and delivering high-quality enterprise-class products. You will oversee software development, support and testing, ensuring the scalability, longevity, and reliability of product releases. What will you do: Technical Management Responsibilities: Experience managing the development, testing, and deployment of a mission-critical Java-based backend platform serving customers. Provide technical leadership and guidance to the team in one or more of the following areas. (Java, Kotlin, Databases, Security, Observability, Infrastructure, Containerization, CI/CD, Cloud) Collaborate with teams in North America, Technical Support, Escalations, and DevOps to anticipate and mitigate project issues as well as troubleshoot issues encountered by customers. Deliver high-quality releases on legacy platform, including bug-fixes, security patches, and features as needed. Determine project staff assignments and schedule work to meet completion dates and RD deliverables. Build and mentor a high-performing team, fostering an environment of trust, psychological safety, and continuous learning. Lead with empathy and inclusion, fostering a culture where team members feel supported, challenged, and valued. Balance technical innovation with practical execution, ensuring high-quality releases at speed. Provide regular coaching and career development opportunities to help engineers grow their skills and advance in their careers. Experience executing a talent and performance management strategy. Promote a culture of collaboration, open communication, and shared ownership. What you will need: Technical Skills: Proficient in building robust back-end applications using Java , Spring Boot / Spring Framework . Knowledge of Kotlin is a strong plus. Hands-on expertise with Kafka Confluent for event streaming and message brokering. Experience with containerization and orchestration of Java applications with tools such as Docker and Kubernetes . Knowledge of microservice architecture , including designing, developing, and deploying scalable services. Knowledge of enterprise-grade observability tools (Datadog, Splunk, Prometheus, or other)is a strong plus. Strong experience with CI/CD pipelines using tools such as Jenkins , Gitlab CI/CD , or similar technologies. Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS , GCP , or Azure , and their associated services. A basic understanding of application security, identity management, and vulnerability management strategies is a strong plus. Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex technical issues and develop creative solutions. Good communication skills and the ability to work in Agile development environments. EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS Bachelor s degree in computer science or related field required. Masters in a related field preferred. 12+ years applicable experience, with 4+ years direct people management experience. Strong hands-on development background in Java, Kotlin, or a similar programming language preferred. Travel Percentage: 10%