Supplier Engineering Manager

Company Description

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.

We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.

Job Description

Primary Function of the Position

Manage a team of Supplier Engineers with a focus on introducing new products into production and sustaining products already in production for the Multiport business unit. The successful candidate will have the ability to lead a team, and understand and solve complex issues associated with the supplier manufacturing process, quality, and business inter-relationships. This person will develop supplier quality systems and manufacturing processes to sustain suppliers and parts effectively.

Essential Job Duties

• Lead a team of supplier engineers in strategic supplier selection, evaluation, development, and improvement with the goal of establishing and maintaining a high-performing, long-term, sustainable production supply chain.
• Develop and implement a robust long-term supplier strategy for the product family.
• Select and evaluate suppliers that fit the supplier strategy and influence critical stakeholders to utilize and maximize the use of the Production supply base.
• Ensure suppliers are compliant with the Intuitive quality management system.
• Manage quality and lead the team in mitigating business risks and overcoming related challenges.
• Manage supplier relationships to partner with Intuitive and the supplier effectively.

• Support the team in completing the Production Part Qualification deliverables: pFMEA, Special Process Validations, FAI, and Process Capability Analysis
• Support transfer of parts and suppliers throughout the product development life cycle
• Manage the planning and implementation of supplier change management projects using the Supplier Change Request process (SCR).
• Develop and use measurement techniques for supplier part quality, capability, cost, capacity, and delivery by creating metrics to determine if an action is required.
• Identify and investigate opportunities for cost reduction and/or quality improvement by collecting opportunities and creating tactics to present opportunities, perform research, and provide data-driven plans to management.
• Drive the supply base to continually improve their business and manufacturing process performance to meet Intuitive’s requirements for supplier excellence using a collection of best practices in project management, Six Sigma, Lean, SPC, and negotiation.
• Review, analyze, and close non-conformances, and first article inspections by judging risk analyses and justifications, determining corrective and preventive actions at suppliers (SCAR), and looking for opportunities with suppliers to eliminate recurrence.
• Led the team in solving complex process issues in the manufacture of components and assemblies.
• Facilitate, influence, and work cross-functionally to improve supplier engineering processes.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience 

• Proven ability to lead teams to solve complex technical and process problems
• Proven ability to hire highly capable staff, and grow and mentor staff
• Proven ability to assess cost and capacity across supply base and develop plan to meet strategic targets
• Outstanding analytical skills along with good judgment
• Proficient in Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing techniques; certification preferred
• Proficient in pFMEA, process validation, route cause investigation, inspection, and test techniques
• Knowledge of document management systems and ERP Systems, preferably Agile and SAP
• Knowledge of 21 CFR part 820 and ISO 13485 preferred
• Demonstrable knowledge of a wide range of manufacturing processes, including an understanding of key input variables for quality, cost, and capacity
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentations to executives
• Demonstrated Project Management skills
• Experience in a high-volume medical device company is a plus
• Ability to travel to suppliers on an as-needed basis – domestic and international (25%)

Required Education and Training 

• BS degree in engineering, advanced degree preferred
• Minimum 8 years related experience in Manufacturing, Operations, Supplier Quality, Supplier Development, or related field with significant medical or medical device experience preferred
• Minimum 1 years of experience leading supplier development or supplier quality engineering teams, or leadership of equivalent areas.

Working Conditions 

• None

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Plastics Injection Molding Process Development Knowledge
• Plastics Extrusion Process Development Knowledge
• Silicone/Elastomer Processing Knowledge

Additional Information

Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19.  Details can vary by role.

Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.

Mandatory Notices

U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer:  In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees
who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.

Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).  

For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s
start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes. 

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

Preference will be given to qualified candidates who do not reside, or plan to reside, in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Tennessee.

This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on
business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.
Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the
candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.

Accommodation & Accessibility Notice:

Intuitive is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation during any part of the application or interview process, please contact People Services at [email protected].

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target compensation ranges are listed.