Head of AI, Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM)
Head of AI, Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM)
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Lead the strategic vision, development, and deployment of next-generation AI solutions across Abbott's Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) and Electrophysiology (EP) platforms. Transform pacemakers, ICDs, loop recorders, and Merlin.net into predictive, personalized, and clinically validated tools for superior patient care. Secure and justify funding for AI initiatives. Exercise technical leadership in a multidisciplinary environment to expedite, manage, and coordinate interrelated activities within the constraints of limited resources and changing priorities.
WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON
- Define and execute a multi-year AI innovation plan aligned to CRM business objectives and patient outcome metrics.
- Collaborate with device engineering, software, and digital teams to embed AI into CRM cloud and hardware platforms.
- Oversee development of algorithms leveraging implanted device telemetry, wearables, and patient-reported data (e.g., voice, mobile apps).
- Deploy LLMs and AI agents to accelerate software/firmware development, automated testing, and complaint handling workflows.
- Champion real-time AI-driven image and signal analysis for implant procedures (e.g., CSP fluoroscopy guidance).
- Collaborate with marketing teams to align AI innovations with product strategy and market differentiation goals.
- Lead data generation, validation protocols, and submission strategies for new FDA 510(k) AI-based SaMD modules. Support international regulatory submissions.
- Ensure AI solutions comply with relevant regulatory standards and collaborate with Regulatory Affairs to support submission strategies and post-market surveillance.
- Conduct risk assessments and develop contingency plans for AI deployment.
- Recruit, develop, and mentor a small, high-impact AI innovation team; foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and compliance.
- Represent Abbott in industry consortia, publish scientific findings, and cultivate partnerships with academia, startups, and regulatory bodies.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree required. Ph.D. required in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
- AI/ML certifications and/or regulatory training preferred.
- 15+ years of experience required in AI/ML Product Development, with at least 5 years in healthcare or medical devices.
- Proven track record of FDA-cleared AI tools and SaMD development.
- Strong understanding of regulatory pathways and clinical validation.
- Demonstrated success in building and scaling AI teams and platforms.
- Expertise in deep learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch), LLMs, and edge AI.
- Familiarity with CRM device signals (EGM, impedance, accelerometry).
- Strong communication and leadership skills.
- Strategic mindset with hands-on technical capabilities.
- English required; multilingual capabilities a plus.
Preferred Attributes:
- Recognized thought leader in AI for cardiology or medical devices.
- Experience with GenAI safety frameworks and multimodal foundation models.
- Strong publication and/or patent record.
- Ability to navigate matrixed organizations and cross-functional teams.
Salary:
The base pay for this position is $216,700.00 – $433,300.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.
About Abbott
Abbott is in the business of life
Creating life-changing technology
From removing the regular pain of fingersticks as people manage their diabetes to connecting patients to doctors with real-time information monitoring their hearts, from easing chronic pain and movement disorders to testing half the world's blood donations to ensure a healthy supply, our purpose is to make the world a better place by bringing life-changing health technologies to the people who need them. That's our commitment to helping you live your best life.
At our healthiest, we can unlock all that life has to offer.
January 21, 2026
5-7 business days
After submission
- •Role explicitly requires hands-on use of AI tools and frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, LLMs, edge AI) indicating strong tool proficiency.
- •Position mandates embedding AI into device and cloud workflows plus deploying AI agents for automated testing and complaint handling — clear workflow integration.
- •Senior strategic responsibilities include defining a multi-year AI innovation plan, securing funding, and aligning AI to business/patient outcome metrics — strong strategic application.
This senior Head of AI role at Abbott scores strongly across higher-order needs (esteem and self-actualization) and safety, supported by a clear, competitive base salary and the stability of a large healthcare company. The posting explicitly supports cross-functional collaboration and leadership, offering high visibility and impact on patient outcomes. Primary gaps are the absence of explicit benefits/total-compensation details and an explicit statement of development budgets or formal career-path structures. The posting also warns of 'limited resources and changing priorities' and describes a small team supporting a broad charter, which could indicate resourcing and workload risks.
- •Explicit wording: 'within the constraints of limited resources and changing priorities' — indicates potential funding/prioritization instability and the need to repeatedly justify initiatives.
- •Scope vs. team size mismatch: role covers a very broad charter (device telemetry, wearables, LLMs, image/signal analysis, regulatory submissions, marketing alignment) while asking to 'recruit... a small, high-impact AI innovation team' — risk of unrealistic workload or insufficient staffing.
- •On-site requirement (Sylmar, CA) for a senior AI leadership role may reduce flexibility and complicate hiring for candidates seeking remote or hybrid arrangements.
- •Clear and competitive base salary range ($216,700–$433,300)
- •Strong company stability and scale (114,000 employees, global footprint)
- •High autonomy and strategic ownership (multi-year AI plan, funding justification, regulatory leadership)
- •Can you describe the current team: headcount, disciplines (ML engineers, clinical data scientists, regulatory specialists), and the immediate hiring priorities for the first 6 months?
- •How is AI initiative funding approved and sustained across multi-year programs? Can you give recent examples of projects that were funded end-to-end versus those that were deprioritized?
- •What specific benefits and total compensation components (healthcare, retirement/401(k) match, PTO, bonus/long-term incentives, relocation) accompany the base salary range?
Location
Salary Range
$217k - $433k
Employment Type
Full-time
Experience Level
Senior
Posted
October 23, 2025 (1 week ago)
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