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Director Research Development Jobs in California

Director R&D Location : This position is based in our Campbell, California office. This position is on site and full time. Why Imperative Care? Do you want to make a real impact on patients?

Director R&D

Campbell, CA ยท On-site

$235K - $255K/yr

Director R&D Location : This position is based in our Campbell, California office. This position is on site and full time. Why Imperative Care? Do you want to make a real impact on patients?

Technical Director - R&D

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$190K - $210K/yr

The Technical Director, Research & Development is a strategic scientific leader responsible for driving the development and execution of innovative molecular diagnostic products and technologies ...

Technical Director - R&D

San Diego, CA ยท On-site

$190K - $210K/yr

The Technical Director, Research & Development is a strategic scientific leader responsible for driving the development and execution of innovative molecular diagnostic products and technologies ...

Culinary R&D Associate, Robotic Kitchen Product Lab37 Robotics, is a technology company focused on the development and deployment of robots designed specifically for direct-to-customer food ...

As Director, R&D Quality Assurance, you will play a critical leadership role in advancing quality assurance governance to ensure discipline, compliant, and value-driven quality decisions across the ...

The Executive Director (ED), R&D Quality Assurance (RDQA), reporting to the Head of Quality, will set the strategic direction, governance model, and operational excellence framework for Quality ...

Defining, implementing and/or maintaining R&D strategy, guidelines, systems and services for VISHAY Aligning and ensuring implementation of R&D budgets, monitors R&D programs, and allocates resources.

Every member of Gilead's team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life ... The Director, Research Systems provides strategic, operational, and handson technical leadership ...

Every member of Gilead's team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life ... The Director, Research Systems provides strategic, operational, and handson technical leadership ...

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Showing results 1-20

Director Research Development information

See California salary details

$64.6K

$160.6K

$212.2K

How much do director research development jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for director research development in California is $160,576.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $133,200.00 and $191,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Research Development, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Research Development, you need advanced expertise in research methodologies, project management, and grant writing, usually backed by a graduate degree in a relevant field. Familiarity with research administration software, funding databases, and compliance systems is essential, along with certifications like CRA (Certified Research Administrator) being advantageous. Strategic thinking, leadership, and excellent communication skills are critical for building collaborations and guiding multidisciplinary teams. These competencies are vital for securing funding, ensuring research integrity, and driving innovative projects to successful completion.

How does a Director of Research Development typically collaborate with other departments to drive innovation within an organization?

A Director of Research Development often works closely with cross-functional teams such as product management, engineering, marketing, and executive leadership to align research initiatives with organizational goals. This role involves facilitating communication between departments, ensuring that research projects support strategic objectives, and integrating insights from various stakeholders. Effective collaboration helps drive innovation, as the Director ensures that research outcomes are actionable and directly contribute to product or service enhancements. Regular meetings, joint project planning sessions, and clear reporting structures are common practices to maintain alignment and foster a culture of innovation.

What is the difference between Director Research Development vs Research Scientist?

AspectDirector Research DevelopmentResearch Scientist
CredentialsAdvanced degrees (PhD preferred), leadership experienceTypically a PhD or Master's degree in a relevant field
Work EnvironmentStrategic planning, team management, cross-department collaborationLaboratory or field research, data analysis, experimentation
Employer & IndustryResearch institutions, biotech, pharma, corporate R&DUniversities, research labs, industry R&D
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding leadership roles in research developmentDetails about research-focused roles and career paths

The main difference between a Director Research Development and a Research Scientist lies in their responsibilities and focus. The Director oversees strategic planning, manages teams, and collaborates across departments, while the Research Scientist conducts experiments, analyzes data, and advances scientific knowledge. Both roles require advanced degrees, but the Director typically has more leadership experience and works in a broader strategic context.

What does a Director of Research Development do?

A Director of Research Development leads and manages the planning, coordination, and execution of research strategies within an organization. They are responsible for identifying funding opportunities, fostering collaborations, and overseeing proposal development to secure grants and support research initiatives. Additionally, they work with faculty or research teams to ensure compliance with regulations and alignment with institutional goals, while supporting innovation and the growth of research programs.
What are the most commonly searched types of Research Development jobs in California? The most popular types of Research Development jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Director Research Development jobs in California? For Director Research Development jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Research Development jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Director Research Development jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Director Research Development jobs? Cities in California with the most Director Research Development job openings:
Infographic showing various Director Research Development job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $160,576 per year, or $77.2 per hour.
Director R&D

Director R&D

Imperative Care

Campbell, CA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago


Job description

Title: Director R&D
Location: This position is based in our Campbell, California office. This position is on site and full time.
Why Imperative Care?
Do you want to make a real impact on patients? Imperative Care is changing the way stroke and vascular diseases are treated.ย As part of our team, youโ€™d be supporting breakthroughs that will revolutionize the future of stroke care. Every day, the technologies that we develop at Imperative Care directly impact human lives. Our focus is on the needs of the patient, and they come first in everything we do
What Youโ€™ll Do
A Director of R&D will interpret functional strategy and set plans that meet research and product development goals and objectives.ย  This position will direct and oversee all activities of assigned R&D teams, projects, and cross-functional project teams and ensure tasks performed by reporting people leaders or individual contributors stay within prescribed time frames and funding parameters when transferring projects to manufacturing or contract manufacturer.
  • Lead assigned R&D team and provide clear direction that supports functional goals and objectives.
  • Provide development opportunities and manage performance of R&D team while fostering an environment of collaboration, growth, learning and achievement
  • Collaborate with internal cross-functional teams, including Senior Management and external stakeholders including KOLs, advisory boards, contract manufacturers, suppliers and development partners to understand current and future product development requirements, review project goals, priorities and resources and guide decisions that optimize projects.
  • Lead clinical needs-based brainstorming activities leading to new design solutions.
  • Direct R&D teams to rapidly prototype new ideas within and outside the stroke space, as required.
  • Develop project budgets, program timelines, organize resources according to project requirements and maximize expenditures within limitations of department and project budget allocations.
  • Identify and assign resources to specific phases or aspects of project (e.g., product design and process development, pre-clinical studies, design and process characterization and qualification, finalization of specifications, strategic project/technical plans, etc.).
  • Represent R&D in high level cross-functional discussions with potentially impact on clinical, regulatory, and business needs.
  • Monitor product complaints to understand issues with the devices. Utilize deep knowledge to lead design improvements to the current device or for implementation to future designs.
  • Ensure product design follows engineering principles, company standards, clinical requirements, and related specifications.
  • Supervise technical development activities and scheduling, resolve engineering design/test problems.
  • Oversee integration of technical activities and related support activities (i.e., marketing, regulatory, quality, clinical, manufacturing).
  • Prepare and lead R&D engineering team through design control documentation and processes.
  • Attend professional meetings (e.g., Professional conferences, Symposia) to build network of contacts, advance technological knowledge and to ensure professional expertise is maintained.

What Youโ€™ll Bring
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field, and a minimum of 10 years of experience including 3+ years of managerial experience; or equivalent combination of education and work experience
  • Product specific experience in medical device/pharmaceutical field and advanced degree are preferred.
  • Experience and involvement with MDRs, IDEs, PMAs and 510(k) filings preferred.
  • Knowledge and interpretation of applicable regulations, guidelines, and policy statements (QSR, MDD, and ISO) preferred.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; technical writing capabilities are a must.
  • Ability to influence decision-making/action across organizations, independent of reporting structure.ย 
  • Proven ability to manage a team of professionals and prioritize multiple projects independently.
  • Ability to work as an effective leader, be flexible, adaptable, and to work under pressure.
  • Demonstrated business acumen and ability to understand technical aspects of product development.
  • Able to travel up to 25% of the time.

Employee Benefits include a stake in our collective success with stock options, bonus, competitive salaries, a 401k plan, health benefits, generous PTO, and a parental leave program.
Salary Range: $235,000 - $255,000 annually
Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Imperative Care considers factors such as scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity, as well as location, market and business considerations when extending an offer
Join Us! Imperative Care
ย 

The use of external recruiters/staffing agencies requires prior approval from our Human Resources Department. The Human Resources Department at Imperative Care requests that external recruiters/staffing agencies not to contact Imperative Care employees directly in an attempt to present candidates. Complying with this request will be a factor in determining future professional relationships with Imperative Care.

Imperative Care will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates themselves for either current or future positions. Submission of unsolicited resumes in advance of an agreement between the Human Resources Department and the external recruiter/staffing agency does not create any implied obligation on the part of Imperative Care.

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