Product Development Lead - Diagnostics

Product Development Lead - Diagnostics

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Cambridge Design Partnership

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead innovative product development in diagnostics from concept to launch.
  • Company: Join a pioneering company shaping the future of healthcare and diagnostics.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus, 33 days holiday, and excellent learning opportunities.
  • Other info: Hybrid role with international travel and a supportive, collaborative culture.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare while working with cutting-edge technologies.
  • Qualifications: Expertise in diagnostics, leadership skills, and a relevant degree required.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

CDP design and develop point-of-care, home and lab-based in vitro diagnostics (IVD) systems and life science tools for some of the world’s leading diagnostics and life-sciences companies, developing innovative products from early-stage concept through to product launch. Your objective will be to guide our technical teams to drive product development programmes, delivering successful outcomes for our clients. With your technical knowledge and experience in in vitro diagnostics or life science tools, you will present as a trusted technical ‘face’ of the sector to our clients, collaborate with our sector business developers in EU and USA to bring in sales opportunities, and lead our multidisciplinary teams of technical experts in UK and USA to navigate the technical complexities of development projects to ensure the product meets requirements.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Oversee delivery of our client projects to a high level of technical quality. In the case of large projects, you would act as the programme manager or project leader, communicating and meeting with clients regularly.
  • Collaborate with the sector business developers to bring in sales opportunities from their leads, and from your own contacts within the industry.
  • Mentor and develop the team’s knowledge, skills and experience in in vitro diagnostics and life science tools, from graduate to senior levels.
  • Help nurture our internal team of Diagnostics sector technical specialists, drawing from our general capability teams, and recruiting externally.
  • Work with our client managers to nurture and develop long term client relationships.
  • Help the sector raise its public profile globally by attending conferences.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

This role is full time/hybrid with a minimum of 3 days per week on site at our beautiful modern Cambridge, UK site. International travel will be required for visits to our clients, conferences, and our Raleigh, USA office.

About You Skills and Attributes:

  • Expert knowledge in the in vitro diagnostics and life sciences market and landscape, able to understand specialist technologies and applications to help identify compelling opportunities for CDP and clients.
  • Expertise designing systems that implement complex biochemical assays; able to navigate the technical, user and cost trade-offs to develop ‘well balanced’ products.
  • Leadership and communication skills to empower the team and drive multidisciplinary development projects efficiently and effectively towards well-defined goals.
  • Creative and highly technical ability in many of the following areas: concept generation of consumables and reader systems; assay implementation, prototyping techniques, detail design; design of experiments; design for high volume manufacture, IVD V&V.
  • Familiar with industry regulations IVDR, MDR and standards ISO 13485, 21CFR part 820 and ISO14971; comfortable presenting to clients and groups, with confident, clear and compelling communication style.
  • Confident working in a fast-paced consultancy environment.

Experience and Education:

  • Career experience at medical or in vitro diagnostic device or life science tools companies, ideally having played a significant role in product launch of an in vitro diagnostic device. Alternatively, experience at a product/technology development consultancy working in the same field.
  • Track record of planning and leading large development projects, taking responsibility for quality, time, and cost.
  • Proven experience in account management activities, acting as technical lead in sales meetings, proposal writing and presenting.
  • Degree-level education, or equivalent in relevant subject such as Mechanical Engineering, Physics or Natural Sciences.

About Us:

Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is an end-to-end innovation partner, propelling global brands and ambitious start-ups to success. We build breakthrough products and services – from insight to ideas, prototypes to production – bringing innovation to life. Our teams are multi-disciplinary, uniting scientific rigor, design ingenuity, and engineering excellence for consumer and healthcare clients. People-centred, deeply collaborative, and – above all – expert, we’re uniquely positioned to shape the future for consumers, patients, and industry. Even our ownership model is innovative: We’re 100% owned by our employees, ensuring an open culture and a total commitment to our projects’ success.

As part of our benefits package, we offer:

  • a discretionary bonus
  • excellent learning and development opportunities
  • a 12% non-contributory pension
  • electric vehicle lease salary sacrifice scheme
  • share incentive plan
  • 33 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays

Product Development Lead - Diagnostics employer: Cambridge Design Partnership

Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant and collaborative work culture that fosters innovation and personal growth. With a commitment to employee ownership, our team enjoys a range of benefits including a generous pension scheme, extensive learning opportunities, and a healthy work-life balance with 33 days of holiday. Located in the heart of Cambridge, our modern facilities provide an inspiring environment for professionals passionate about advancing diagnostics and life sciences.

Cambridge Design Partnership

Contact Details:

Cambridge Design Partnership Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Product Development Lead - Diagnostics

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals at conferences or online. Building relationships can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.

Tip Number 2

Show off your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, don’t hold back on sharing your knowledge about in vitro diagnostics. It’ll help you stand out as a trusted technical face.

Tip Number 3

Be proactive! If you know someone in the industry, reach out and ask for informational interviews. This can give you insights into the company culture and possibly lead to job openings.

Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team. Make sure to highlight your relevant experience and how you can contribute to our innovative projects.

We think you need these skills to ace Product Development Lead - Diagnostics

Expert knowledge in in vitro diagnostics
Life sciences market understanding
System design for biochemical assays
Leadership skills
Communication skills
Concept generation for consumables and reader systems
Prototyping techniques

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Diagnostics:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for in vitro diagnostics and life sciences shine through. We want to see how your experience aligns with our mission to develop innovative products that make a difference.

Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Product Development Lead role. Highlight relevant experiences and skills that match the job description, especially your leadership and technical expertise in diagnostics.

Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and ensure your key achievements are easy to spot. This helps us quickly see how you can contribute to our team.

Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our innovative team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Cambridge Design Partnership

Know Your Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of in vitro diagnostics and life science tools. Be ready to discuss specific technologies and applications, as well as how they relate to the role. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the field but are genuinely passionate about it.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Since this role involves leading multidisciplinary teams, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully managed projects in the past. Highlight your communication style and how you empower your team to achieve goals. This will demonstrate that you can handle the responsibilities of a Product Development Lead.

Prepare for Client Interactions

You’ll need to present yourself as a trusted technical face to clients, so practice your presentation skills. Think about how you can clearly and compellingly communicate complex ideas. Consider doing mock presentations to friends or colleagues to get comfortable with your delivery.

Understand the Regulatory Landscape

Familiarise yourself with industry regulations like IVDR and MDR, as well as standards such as ISO 13485. Being able to discuss these during your interview will show that you understand the complexities of product development in this sector and are ready to navigate them effectively.