Manager Supplier Engineering - SP

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.

Primary Function of Position

Manage a team Supplier Engineers working throughout the product development lifecycle for the SP Advanced Instruments, Stapler & Vessel Sealer products.  Lead the team to execute strategic projects to optimize commodities, sub-commodities and individual suppliers; execute detailed projects with suppliers to implement changes and improvements affecting quality, cost, capacity, risk; manage supplier and sub-tier supply-chain risk; and support launch of new products. Ability to understand and solve complex issues associated with supplier’s manufacturing process, quality and business inter-relationships.

Essential Job Duties

Lead a team of supplier engineers in strategic supplier selection, evaluation, development, and improvement to establish and maintain a high performing, long term sustainable production supply chain.

• Supplier Selection and Evaluation
  • Lead a product family in developing and implementing a robust long-term supplier strategy.
  • Select and evaluate suppliers that fit the supplier strategy and influence key stakeholders to utilize and maximize the use of the Production supply base.
  • Lead the assessment of suppliers against key selection criteria for Preferred Suppliers.
  • Develop suppliers in operations and quality to meet requirements of ISI and promote new suppliers to production status. 
  • Manage supplier relationships to effectively partner ISI and the supplier.
  • Using the ASL and Global Commodity Matrix, manage quality and performance of the commodity supply base within ISI in partnership with Engineering and Purchasing.
• Process Development
  • Take a lead role in manufacturing process selection
  • Complete Production Part Qualification deliverables: pFMEA, Special Process Validations, FAI, and Process Capability Analysis
  • Support transfer of parts and suppliers from NPI to sustaining production
  • Provide status of the readiness (quality, capacity, delivery) of the supply chain for major production process changes.
  • Drive changes to ISI requirements as necessary by initiating and managing changes to specifications and drawings through the ECO process.
  • Manage the planning and implementation of supplier change management projects using the Supplier Change Request process (SCR).
  • Promote DFM enhancements by engaging suppliers and Engineering early in the development cycle to deliver feedback on manufacturability improvements in the designs prior to production.

Required Skills and Experience 

• Proven ability to lead teams to solve difficult technical and process problems
• Proven ability to hire highly capable staff, and grow and mentor staff
• Proven ability in New Product Introduction and rapid scaling in production
• 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 system and ERP Information Systems, preferably Agile and SAP
• Demonstrable knowledge of a wide range of manufacturing processes including understanding of key input variables for quality, cost and capacity
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including presentations to executive level management
• Demonstrated Project Management skills
• Ability to travel to suppliers on an as needed basis – domestic and international

Required Education and Training

• BA or BS degree in engineering

• 12 or more years related experience in Manufacturing, Operations, Supplier Quality, Supplier Development, or related field with significant medical or medical device experience preferred
• Minimum 3 years of experience leading engineering teams, or leadership of equivalent areas.

Work Location

• Sunnyvale, CA or Orange, CT

Preferred Skills and Experience  

• Knowledge of 21 CFR part 820 and ISO 13485 preferred
• Experience in a high-volume medical device company is a plus

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.

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.