Principal Program Manager - Acute Care Software
Werfen
Summary
Principal Software Program Manager provides strategic leadership for the planning, execution, and delivery of complex software development programs within the medical device space that are critical to business success. This senior leadership role oversees a portfolio of software initiatives, manages and mentors Program Managers, and partners with executive leadership to align technology investments with organizational goals. The Principal Software Program Manager drives operational excellence, establishes program management best practices, and ensures successful delivery of high-quality software products across multiple teams and product lines while maintaining compliance with regulatory bodies.
Job description
Position Summary
Principal Software Program Manager provides strategic leadership for the planning, execution, and delivery of complex software development programs within the medical device space that are critical to business success. This senior leadership role oversees a portfolio of software initiatives, manages and mentors Program Managers, and partners with executive leadership to align technology investments with organizational goals. The Principal Software Program Manager drives operational excellence, establishes program management best practices, and ensures successful delivery of high-quality software products across multiple teams and product lines while maintaining compliance with regulatory bodies.
Key Accountabilities
Strategic Program Leadership
- Lead large-scale, cross-functional software programs from concept through commercial release and lifecycle support.
- Develop and execute program strategies that align with corporate objectives, product roadmaps, and customer needs.
- Drive portfolio planning, prioritization, and execution across multiple concurrent software programs.
- Ensure alignment between engineering, product management, quality, regulatory, operations, and commercial teams.
People Leadership and Team Development
- Directly manage, mentor, and develop a team of Software Program Managers and Project Managers.
- Establish clear performance expectations
- Create career development and succession plans for program management team members.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and operational excellence.
- Recruit, onboard, and retain top program management talent.
Program Execution
- Oversee development and maintenance of integrated program plans, schedules, budgets, and resource forecasts.
- Manage cross-program dependencies, risks, issues, and escalation pathways.
- Ensure software development activities meet quality, security, regulatory, and business requirements.
- Drive successful execution of Agile, Scrum, SAFe, or hybrid development methodologies.
- Monitor program performance, proactively addressing schedule, budget, scope, or resource challenges.
Stakeholder Management
- Serve as the primary interface between executive leadership and program teams.
- Present program status, risks, mitigation plans, and strategic recommendations to senior executives.
- Build strong partnerships across engineering, product management, quality, operations, and external stakeholders.
Qualifications
Minimum Knowledge & Experience Required for the Position:
- BS in STEM field (engineering, chemistry, physics, etc.), MS/MBA preferred
- Additional course work in accounting, business economics, strategy development, resource management and project management is desired
- At least 10 years of experience, preferably in product development with at least 7 years of successful technical leadership, project coordination, or project management are required
- Experience in the development and release of at least one successful product launch of a medical instrumentation product is desirable
- Certification in program management is preferred
- Full and comprehensive knowledge of the complete product lifecycle, including all aspects of product development from conception to manufacturing introduction
Skills & Capabilities:
- Strategic thinking
- Leadership
- Functional/technical skills
- Analytical Skills
- Developing direct reports
- Problem-solving, conflict management, listening, managing and measuring work
- Strong project management skill set and familiarity with project management tools and techniques
- Team player, self-motivated, perseverance
- Strong oral and written skills
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Design Control
Travel Requirements: Less than 15% of the time.
Requirements
- BS in STEM field (engineering, chemistry, physics, etc.)
- MS/MBA preferred
- Additional course work in accounting, business economics, strategy development, resource management and project management is desired
- At least 10 years of experience, preferably in product development
- At least 7 years of successful technical leadership, project coordination, or project management
- Experience in the development and release of at least one successful product launch of a medical instrumentation product is desirable
- Certification in program management is preferred
- Full and comprehensive knowledge of the complete product lifecycle, including all aspects of product development from conception to manufacturing introduction
- Strategic thinking
- Leadership
- Functional/technical skills
- Analytical Skills
- Developing direct reports
- Problem-solving, conflict management, listening, managing and measuring work
- Strong project management skill set and familiarity with project management tools and techniques
- Team player, self-motivated, perseverance
- Strong oral and written skills
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Design Control
Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- 401(k) Matching
- Paid Vacation
- Sick Leave
- Performance-Based Bonus
Company overview
Werfen is a global leader in specialized diagnostics, founded in 1966 in Barcelona, Spain as a family-owned innovative company. The organization has established itself as a worldwide authority in five key clinical areas: Hemostasis, Acute Care Diagnostics, Transfusion, Autoimmunity, and Transplant diagnostics. With headquarters in Barcelona and technology centers strategically located in the United States and Europe, Werfen operates directly in 30 countries and serves more than 100 territories through distributors. The company achieved remarkable financial performance with worldwide sales exceeding €2.2 billion in 2024, supported by a workforce of over 7,000 employees globally. Werfen's comprehensive portfolio includes advanced diagnostic systems, reagents, laboratory automation solutions, and point-of-care testing platforms that enable healthcare providers to deliver precise and timely patient care. Their innovative technologies span from blood gas analyzers with hemolysis detection capabilities to automated immunoassay systems and specialized diagnostic assays. As a vertically integrated diagnostics company, Werfen maintains complete control over research, development, manufacturing, and distribution, ensuring quality and reliability across their product lines while continuously advancing diagnostic science to address critical healthcare challenges worldwide.