Johnson & Johnson – IT recruitment for a pharmaceutical leader for an R&D hub in Warsaw, Poland

Ani Gasparyan

Last updated on September 24, 2025 | 12 min read

• DevsData LLC recruited expert engineers for Johnson & Johnson’s Warsaw R&D hub, contributing to medical device development in real surgeries and cardiac treatments.
• The project involved sourcing expert-level C++ and data engineering talent in a narrow talent market, with decision-makers based in Israel and roles located in Poland.

Introduction

Johnson & Johnson, a global leader in pharmaceuticals and medical technology, partnered with DevsData LLC to help grow its R&D operations in Warsaw, Poland. As part of a broader initiative to strengthen their engineering capabilities in Europe, Johnson & Johnson sought a recruitment partner with a strong understanding of the healthcare technology landscape and access to top-tier talent in the region. These roles were very important, as the products being developed would be used in real-life cardiac and surgical interventions, where safety and precision are critical.

Client overview

Johnson & Johnson is a global leader in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and healthcare technology. The company employs over 138000 people worldwide and operates in more than 60 countries. In fiscal year 2024, it reported annual revenue of approximately $88.8 billion. Its R&D division in Warsaw, Poland, plays a key role in advancing medical innovations for the European market.

Project summary

DevsData LLC recruited four highly skilled engineers within three months, including two data engineers and a C++ development team lead focused on hardware medical device development for laparoscopic surgical procedures, as well as a C++ tech lead who became the first member of a new software engineering team for Johnson & Johnson’s Biosense division. The client was highly demanding due to the critical nature of the work, which involved the development of medical hardware and software. Decision-makers were based in Israel, and DevsData LLC worked directly with them to meet these particular recruitment challenges.

Through close collaboration, DevsData LLC applied its expertise in recruiting top-level engineers for technically demanding and high-responsibility positions. With a strong background in supporting regulated industries, such as finance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and more, DevsData LLC was able to identify and attract the right talent, despite the tight talent pool and demanding expectations.

Project scope

As part of Johnson & Johnson’s R&D expansion in Warsaw, DevsData LLC supported two major engineering initiatives. The first focused on the development of laparoscopic surgical devices, where the company recruited data engineers and a C++ development team to lead advanced embedded systems for minimally invasive surgical hardware. The second initiative centered on cardiac electrophysiology devices. Here, DevsData LLC helped establish a new software engineering team by hiring a C++ tech lead along with supporting developers, enabling the launch of a platform dedicated to cardiac diagnostics.

Challenge

The recruitment process for Johnson & Johnson posed significant challenges due to the technically demanding nature of the roles, which were critical to the development of advanced medical devices used in life-saving surgical and cardiac procedures. These roles demanded not only advanced technical skills in C++ and data engineering but also a deep understanding of regulatory standards such as FDA 21 CFR Part 820, ISO 13485, and IEC 62304. The positions required candidates who could navigate these complex healthcare regulations while maintaining the precision and accountability necessary for life-critical devices.

A further challenge came from the international nature of the project, as decision-makers were based in Israel, while the roles were located in Warsaw, Poland. This required a level of cross-border coordination and alignment that added complexity to the hiring process, particularly due to time zone differences, cultural nuances, and managing expectations. However, DevsData LLC is well accustomed to such international projects, which allowed the team to navigate these challenges efficiently and keep the process on track.

The talent pool was narrow due to the niche skill set needed and the geographical focus on Central and Eastern Europe. DevsData LLC faced the additional challenge of managing a meticulous and highly detailed screening process. Normally, recruitment efforts for similar positions could be executed faster, but the high standards required by Johnson & Johnson, both in terms of technical expertise and personal responsibility, meant that the process would be slower and more rigorous than usual.

Solution

Deep collaboration with the client

To address the complexity of the recruitment challenge, DevsData LLC began with in-depth collaboration with Johnson & Johnson’s technical leads and decision-makers based in Israel. This step ensured a clear understanding of the specific technical requirements, industry expectations, and the high level of personal responsibility needed for roles involving life-critical medical devices. This alignment laid the foundation for a tailored recruitment strategy.

Tailored recruitment approach

DevsData LLC adopted a hyper-targeted recruitment strategy for Johnson & Johnson’s R&D center in Warsaw, where the focus was on advancing next-generation surgical and diagnostic devices. The team concentrated on engineers with expertise in C++, embedded systems, and data engineering, particularly those who had contributed to complex R&D environments in regulated industries.

Rather than relying on general job boards, DevsData LLC tapped into its proprietary database of more than 65000 vetted candidates and leveraged a trusted referral network across Central and Eastern Europe to identify talent capable of driving innovation in medical technology. The strategy prioritized quality over volume to meet the stringent standards set by Johnson & Johnson’s R&D leadership.

Rigorous screening process

Every shortlisted candidate underwent a multi-stage internal vetting process tailored to the demands of R&D work. This included:

• Advanced technical evaluations and coding challenges
• Problem-solving tasks simulating real-world scenarios in medical device development
• Behavioral interviews assessing communication, accountability, and the ability to work under pressure

Screenings were conducted by senior engineers who understood the intricacies of building software and hardware used in regulated medical environments.

Cross-border collaboration

Throughout the engagement, DevsData LLC maintained ongoing communication with Johnson & Johnson’s hiring team in Israel via Slack, Zoom, and email. They adapted to the time zone differences by implementing flexible working hours and holding frequent online meetings. Regular check-ins and feedback loops allowed the recruitment team to quickly adjust to shifting priorities and refine their sourcing criteria in real-time. This agile, feedback-driven model, combined with the flexibility of working hours across Poland and Israel, helped keep the project on track while maintaining high candidate quality.

Results

The sourcing process began in early June, and within the first three weeks, DevsData LLC had already shortlisted several promising candidates. Despite the complexity and high specificity of the roles, DevsData LLC delivered impressive results in a short 3-month timeframe.

Out of over 80 sourced candidates, 12 were shortlisted after a thorough screening process, resulting in four successful hires.

The team successfully recruited highly qualified engineers for Johnson & Johnson’s Warsaw R&D hub, including:

• Two data engineers
• One C++ development team lead for a laparoscopic surgical hardware project
• One C++ tech lead who became the first member of a newly established software engineering team for the cardiac electrophysiology platform

The recruitment process required a highly targeted search and thorough evaluations, yet DevsData LLC delivered within the three-month deadline. Johnson & Johnson was fully satisfied with the quality of the hires, who went on to strengthen the company’s Warsaw R&D hub focused on surgical and cardiac medical devices.

To attract candidates to what might initially seem like narrowly defined or highly technical roles, DevsData LLC emphasized the broader impact of the work. Recruiters framed the positions as opportunities to contribute to life-saving innovations in surgery and cardiology. This resonated strongly with senior developers, many of whom were motivated by the chance to see their expertise directly improve patient outcomes.

By positioning the roles within the context of global healthcare innovation, DevsData LLC was able to inspire genuine interest and engagement from top-tier professionals who might otherwise have overlooked opportunities in the medical devices sector.

The hires made a significant impact on project timelines by accelerating the development of life-saving medical devices. The C++ development team lead and data engineers contributed to the laparoscopic surgical device development by optimizing embedded software for precision and regulatory compliance, which streamlined design and testing.

Meanwhile, the C++ tech lead and developers played a key role in advancing the cardiac electrophysiology device by leading the development of diagnostic algorithms for heart rhythm disorders. Their technical expertise and ability to work within highly regulated environments enabled Johnson & Johnson to meet critical milestones and stay on schedule, directly contributing to the timely delivery of these essential healthcare technologies.

Successfully recruiting top-tier talent for life-critical medical technology development requires a highly focused, strategic approach. DevsData LLC demonstrated its ability to navigate complex recruitment challenges and deliver exceptional engineers, ensuring the success of Johnson & Johnson’s critical R&D initiatives in Warsaw.

Key takeaways

• Sourcing engineers with expertise in C++, embedded systems, and data engineering for medical technology roles in a narrow talent market required a targeted approach. DevsData LLC leveraged its proprietary database and referral network to identify candidates with specialized skills in regulated industries, providing Johnson & Johnson with highly qualified professionals for critical positions.

• Successfully recruiting for Johnson & Johnson’s R&D hub in Warsaw involved effective coordination between teams in Israel and Poland. Despite time zone differences and cultural nuances, the close collaboration between decision-makers and DevsData LLC led to precise alignment on technical requirements and expectations.

• Every candidate underwent a multi-stage vetting process that included technical assessments, coding challenges, and behavioral interviews. This thorough approach selected only the most qualified candidates, meeting the exacting standards needed for developing life-critical medical devices.

• Due to the highly specialized nature of the roles and the industry’s demanding standards, the recruitment process required the full three-month timeline. This focused approach ensured Johnson & Johnson received top-quality hires capable of meeting the technical and regulatory challenges in medical device development.

• This case highlighted DevsData LLC’s ability to handle recruitment for roles in the regulated medical industry, finding candidates with the technical expertise and understanding of safety and precision necessary for medical technologies, particularly in surgical and cardiac procedures.

If you’re looking to build a skilled, high-performing tech team with a recruitment partner who understands the nuances of regulated industries, contact DevsData LLC at general@devsdata.com or visit www.devsdata.com to learn more about their proven approach to hiring top talent for your business needs.