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# Head of Product Design – Medical Device Company – Minneapolis, MN


 
Head of Product Design – Medical Device Company – Minneapolis, MN
Are you a strategic design leader driven by innovation and passionate about transforming healthcare through exceptional product experiences? We are seeking a Head of Product Design to lead design vision and execution for a fast-growing medical device company in Minneapolis, MN. This is a unique opportunity to shape how life-changing medical products are conceptualized, designed, and delivered to the market. If you thrive in a mission-driven environment and excel at guiding cross-functional teams toward breakthrough design solutions, this role is for you.
Lead Product Design Innovation in a High-Impact Healthcare Environment
A leading medical device company based in Minneapolis, MN is searching for a Head of Product Design to define and elevate the design strategy for its next generation of patient-centric medical solutions. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in product design leadership within regulated industries, a strong portfolio of human-centered design work, and a proven ability to collaborate across engineering, product, and clinical teams. If you are driven by innovation, usability, and improving patient outcomes, this is your opportunity to create meaningful impact in the healthcare landscape.
Key Responsibilities of the Head of Product Design – Medical Device Company
Design Vision & Strategy:
Define and lead the overall product design vision, ensuring alignment with company goals and regulatory requirements. The Head of Product Design will develop design strategies that integrate user-centered thinking and clinical needs to drive product innovation and competitive differentiation.
Human-Centered Product Development:
Champion usability and patient experience across all product lines. Collaborate with engineering, R&D, and clinical teams to ensure concepts translate into intuitive, safe, and effective medical devices that meet end-user needs.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Partner closely with Product Management, Engineering, Regulatory Affairs, and Quality to ensure design outcomes meet feasibility, compliance, and market requirements. Facilitate communication between departments to streamline development cycles and eliminate design bottlenecks.
Prototype & Concept Leadership:
Guide the ideation, prototyping, and iteration process from concept to commercialization. Oversee usability studies, product testing, and design reviews to refine product performance and mitigate development risks.
Design Process & Standards Ownership:
Establish and maintain design systems, documentation standards, and processes that support consistency, traceability, and compliance with FDA, ISO, and other medical device regulatory standards.
Team Leadership & Mentorship:
Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing product design team. The Head of Product Design will foster a culture of creativity, accountability, and continuous improvement, attracting top design talent to support the organization’s growth.
Regulatory & Compliance Alignment:
Ensure that product designs meet regulatory guidelines, risk management requirements, and quality assurance standards throughout the device lifecycle.
User Insights & Market Research:
Leverage clinical feedback, user interviews, and market research to identify unmet needs and translate insights into product design solutions that improve patient outcomes.
Product Launch & Go-to-Market Support:
Support commercialization efforts by collaborating with marketing and product teams to ensure design intent is maintained through manufacturing, packaging, and launch.
What the Client is Looking for in You
As the Head of Product Design for a leading medical device organization, the client seeks a visionary design leader who can transform complex medical challenges into innovative, intuitive, and compliant product solutions. You should be a hands-on strategic thinker with the ability to balance creativity, usability, and regulatory requirements while driving excellence across the full product design lifecycle.
Proven Leadership in Product Design & Medical Devices
The ideal candidate brings extensive experience leading product design within the medical device, healthcare technology, or other highly regulated industries. You should have a strong portfolio demonstrating successful product launches, design for usability, and cross-functional team collaboration. Experience working with FDA/ISO guidelines, human factors engineering, and usability testing is highly valued.
Strategic Vision & Innovation Mindset
As the Head of Product Design, you must be able to establish and articulate a long-term design vision that aligns with company goals and market demands. The client values leaders who can identify opportunities for innovation, anticipate user needs, and convert clinical insights into groundbreaking product solutions that improve patient outcomes.
Human-Centered Design Expertise
You should have deep experience in human-centered design principles, understanding user behavior, ergonomics, and patient experience. The client is looking for someone who can translate real-world clinical and patient feedback into thoughtful, intuitive product designs that are both functional and user-friendly.
Strong Cross-Functional Collaboration
Success in this role requires partnering closely with Engineering, Product Management, R&D, and Regulatory teams. You should excel at influencing without authority, communicating design decisions clearly, and driving alignment across departments to achieve timely and successful product delivery.
Proven Ability to Build and Lead High-Performing Teams
Leadership is at the core of this role. The client wants a Head of Product Design who can attract, mentor, and inspire top design talent. You should foster a culture of innovation, ownership, and continuous improvement while maintaining high design standards and accountability.
Results-Oriented & Data-Driven Decision Making
You should have a strong command of design metrics and be comfortable using research data, usability testing, and market feedback to guide design decisions. The client values a leader who can balance creative intuition with measurable results, ensuring the design vision supports business goals.
Commitment to Compliance, Quality, and Process Excellence
The client expects a leader who prioritizes regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and documentation accuracy throughout the design and product development process. A strong understanding of FDA, ISO, and quality management systems is essential to ensure consistent and compliant product delivery.
FAQs About the Role – Head of Product Design – Medical Device Company
1. What are the key responsibilities of the Head of Product Design in this role?
As the Head of Product Design, you will lead the design strategy and execution for medical device products from concept to commercialization. Your responsibilities include defining design vision, leading human-centered design processes, overseeing prototyping and usability testing, ensuring regulatory compliance (FDA/ISO), and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, patient-centric solutions.
2. What qualifications and experience are required for this position?
The ideal candidate should have deep experience in product design leadership within the medical device, healthcare technology, or other regulated industries. You should possess expertise in human-centered design, usability engineering, prototyping, and working within regulated design processes. A strong portfolio showing successful medical device launches is highly preferred. A degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, Human Factors Engineering, or a related field is required; advanced qualifications are a plus.
3. What key leadership qualities does the client expect?
The client seeks a Head of Product Design who is visionary, collaborative, and highly strategic. You should be able to inspire and guide design teams, communicate design decisions with clarity, influence cross-functional stakeholders, and foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to balance creativity with regulatory constraints are essential.
4. What challenges can I expect in this role?
You can expect challenges such as managing complex design requirements, balancing user needs with regulatory and engineering constraints, and ensuring usability and safety in every design iteration. The role requires agility, excellent communication, and the ability to navigate fast-paced development timelines while maintaining design integrity.
5. What impact will the Head of Product Design have on the company?
The Head of Product Design will play a crucial role in shaping patient experiences and influencing how medical products are used in real-world clinical settings. Your leadership will directly affect product success, market differentiation, and the company’s ability to bring life-changing technologies to market faster, safer, and more efficiently.
6. What is the company’s culture and work environment like?
The company fosters a collaborative, mission-driven, and innovation-focused culture. Teams work closely across design, engineering, product, and regulatory to deliver solutions that improve patient lives. Designers are encouraged to think creatively, take ownership, and continuously refine products based on user insights and clinical feedback.
What Remuneration Can You Expect from This Job?
As the Head of Product Design for a leading Medical Device company in Minneapolis, MN, you can expect a highly competitive compensation package designed to attract experienced design leaders who excel in innovation, usability, and product strategy. The remuneration for this role typically includes:
1. Base Salary
The base salary for a Head of Product Design in the medical device industry generally depends on company size, product complexity, and regulatory landscape. For mid-to-large medical device organizations, the annual base salary typically ranges between $180,000 to $250,000, with the potential for higher salaries for candidates with strong medical device launch experience and human-centered design expertise.
2. Performance-Based Bonuses
In addition to the base salary, this role may include annual performance-based bonuses tied to product launch success, innovation milestones, user adoption metrics, and overall business performance. Bonus opportunities often range from 15% to 40% of the base salary, depending on individual and company achievements.
3. Equity & Stock Options
Many medical device companies offer equity incentives to ensure the Head of Product Design shares in long-term company success. This may include stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), or equity grants tied to key performance goals. These incentives allow you to directly benefit from the future valuation and growth of the organization.
4. Long-Term Incentive Plans (LTIPs)
For senior leadership positions, companies may offer long-term incentive plans that reward sustained design impact, product performance, and market success over multiple years. LTIPs encourage strategic thinking and long-term commitment to innovation and design excellence.
5. Comprehensive Executive Benefits
Executive-level benefits for this role often include:

Health, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) with employer match
Paid time off and wellness benefits
Executive learning and development allowances
Travel reimbursement or hybrid work flexibility (where applicable)

6. Signing Bonuses & Relocation Support
If relocation is required to Minneapolis, MN, top candidates may receive a relocation package or signing bonus to support a seamless transition. These one-time incentives vary based on experience and negotiation.
Total Compensation Potential
When factoring in base salary, performance bonuses, equity, and benefits, the total compensation package for the Head of Product Design can range from $225,000 to $350,000+ annually, with significant growth potential as the company scales.
How to Apply
If you are a visionary design leader with a strong background in medical device product development and human-centered design, we encourage you to apply for the Head of Product Design role in Minneapolis, MN. This is a unique opportunity to lead product design strategy, drive innovation, and create life-changing medical products that elevate patient experience and clinical outcomes.
To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your experience in product design leadership, usability and human factors engineering, medical device development, cross-functional collaboration, and portfolio accomplishments. Be sure to highlight successful product launches, regulatory and compliance experience (FDA/ISO), and your ability to lead and mentor high-performing design teams.
This role offers a high-impact opportunity to shape the future of medical device design, influence strategic decisions, and contribute directly to improving patient lives. Apply today to take the next step in your leadership career as the Head of Product Design – Medical Device Company – Minneapolis, MN!
For more information or to explore similar design leadership opportunities, visit our Design Engineer Executive Search Firm page.
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Head of Product Design | Medical Device Product Design Jobs | Industrial Design Leadership | Human-Centered Design | FDA & ISO Compliance | Usability Engineering | Medical Device Innovation | Product Design Strategy | Leadership Opportunities | Minneapolis Design Jobs