Sr. Director of Research & Development Controlled Temperature Technologies

Work Schedule

Environmental Conditions

Job Description

Location/Division Specific Information:

The Controlled Temperature Technologies (CTT) Business Unit is a portfolio business consisting of two primary product segments: the Cold Storage and Temperature Control. The cold storage segment includes Ultra-Low Temperature Freezers, Laboratory Refrigerators and Freezers, Cryogenic and ELED. The Temperature Control segment includes Chillers, Bath Circulators and Heat Exchangers

Position Summary

As the Sr. Director of Research & Development CTT, you will be responsible for setting the strategic direction and leading the execution of R&D across the CTT portfolio, driving innovation, and ensuring the successful delivery of differentiated new products and technologies to market. You will oversee a team of scientists, engineers, and technicians, fostering a culture of collaboration, creativity, technical excellence, and continuous improvement. You will lead and influence through direct and matrix management relationships across a diverse, global organization. This position reports directly to the Vice President CTT and is a key member of the BU leadership team, providing strategic R&D and technology leadership to enable the long-term growth of the business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and enact the multi-year strategic direction for the R&D function, ensuring alignment with overall business growth objectives, market needs, and P&L priorities to improve competitiveness, profitability, and long-term value creation.
• Lead end-to-end development of innovative technologies and solutions, applying advanced design principles, sustainability practices, and digital capabilities to deliver differentiated, high-quality products that meet evolving customer and market needs.
• Partner with Product Management to define and prioritize multi-year product and technology roadmaps, incorporating regulatory, environmental, competitive, and market insights.
• Build strong partnerships with Engineering, Operations, and Quality teams to ensure manufacturability, reliability, quality, and cost effectiveness.
• Establish and lead the strategic and technical collaboration framework with OEM partners, ensuring product design integrity, quality, and performance while protecting Thermo Fisher’s intellectual property and technical leadership.
• Manage R&D budgets, resource allocation, and portfolio priorities to optimize R&D investment and achieve business targets. Drive adoption of best practices in systems engineering, design controls, and compliance.
• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration across Product Management, Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Commercial teams, ensuring seamless integration of R&D priorities throughout the product lifecycle — from concept and development to launch and sustaining support.
• Drive strategic alignment and innovation across external partnerships, leveraging complementary capabilities to accelerate product development, enhance technical differentiation, and support long-term business growth.
• Build, mentor and develop a high-performing R&D organization, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Manage R&D budgets, resource allocation, and portfolio priorities to optimize R&D investment and achieve business targets. Drive adoption of best practices in systems engineering, design controls, and compliance.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, global standards, and industry norms for safety, quality, and environmental sustainability requirements.

How you will get here: 

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific or engineering field. A master's or Ph.D. is preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive R&D leadership experience in complex engineered systems or technology-driven product environments, preferably within regulated, high-reliability, or performance-critical industries, with demonstrated experience leading broad R&D organizations and portfolios.
• Strong technical background and expertise in scientific research methodologies, experimental design, and data analysis, combined with strong business and strategic acumen.
• Experience managing OEM development partnerships and technology transfers.
• Demonstrated track record of successful driving innovation, delivering new products to market, and leading complex, cross-functional organizations and initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate, develop talent, and foster a culture of innovation and collaboration.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and industry standards relevant to controlled-temperature, laboratory, or other complex engineered products is desirable

Travel requirements

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 25% of the time.