Supplier Engineer

At Intuitive, we are united behind our mission: we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints.

As a pioneer and market leader in robotic-assisted surgery, we strive to foster an inclusive and diverse team, committed to making a difference. For more than 25 years, we have worked with hospitals and care teams around the world to help solve some of healthcare's hardest challenges and advance what is possible.

Intuitive has been built by the efforts of great people from diverse backgrounds. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere. We strive to foster an inclusive culture built around diversity of thought and mutual respect. We lead with inclusion and empower our team members to do their best work as their most authentic selves.

Passionate people who want to make a difference drive our culture. Our team members are grounded in integrity, have a strong capacity to learn, the energy to get things done, and bring diverse, real world experiences to help us think in new ways. We actively invest in our team members to support their long-term growth so they can continue to advance our mission and achieve their highest potential.

Join a team committed to taking big leaps forward for a global community of healthcare professionals and their patients. Together, let's advance the world of minimally invasive care.

Primary Function of Position

The Supplier Engineer role is responsible for overseeing engineering activities related to the supply chain for Intuitive's advanced training models. This position requires an extremely motivated individual with a high capacity to learn, proactive mindset, ability to work independently and collaborate with suppliers of training model components and raw materials. The individual will need to have a strong understanding of the requirements for the supplied tissue and non-tissue components as well as the skills to root cause and resolve quality, cost and capacity related issues. Joining Intuitive means joining a team dedicated to providing the highest quality and realistic training experience for our customers.

Essential Job Duties 

• Develop and maintain supplier controls, ensure continuity of supply, and resolve unanticipated issues as they arise.
• Responsible for supplier identification, selection, development, and consolidation.
• Manage approved supplier list, conduct surveillance audits, write and release audit reports.
• Create sourcing strategies for new and existing products and influence part design for supplier selection.
• Collaborate with the purchasing team to evaluate supplier capacity for each component and devise a strategy to fulfill the three-year rolling demand forecast.
• Ensure capacity, quality requirements and other risks are mitigated prior to launching new products or introducing major changes.
• Conduct design for manufacturability reviews for new products by engaging suppliers early in the design process. Perform first article inspections and factory acceptance tests.
• Hands-on troubleshooting of non-conforming product, lead root cause investigations, and identify process deficiencies. Work with quality engineering to drive to root cause and follow-up with supplier corrective actions.
• Develop and report on key performance indicators and metrics for supplier performance including but not limited to cost, quality, capacity and delivery during quality reviews.
• Implement changes on part specifications and processes at supplier locations. Train or facilitate training of staff at supplier locations.
• Review supplier contracts and assist procurement with supplier on-boarding activities.
• Implement workflow improvements at select supplier locations including but not limited to layout changes, material flow, fixtures and equipment setup, and waste reduction/management

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum 5 years related experience in manufacturing engineering, supplier engineering, supply chain or related field.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 standard and applications.
• Experience implementing Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Comfort with a wet production environment and porcine anatomy.
• Experience with plastics manufacturing including thermoforming, injection molding, machining, laser cutting and 3d printing.
• Project management experience and strong communication skills to interface with technicians, manufacturing trainers, supervisors, inspectors, quality and purchasing.
• Experience with statistical techniques and software (eg Minitab) including analysis of variance, process capability, and statistical process control.
• Ability to work with CAD models (eg Solidworks), read and interpret detailed part drawings and communicate technical, detailed information.
• Experience with lean manufacturing principles and six sigma.
• Excellent documentation skills and product lifecycle management systems (eg Agile).
• Proficiency with inventory management systems and production control systems (eg SAP).
• Proficiency with standard computer applications including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Visio, and Smart Sheet.

Required Education and Training

• BS degree in an Engineering discipline, Mechanical Engineering preferred.
• Green belt certification.

Working Conditions 

• Ability to travel to suppliers on an as-needed basis – domestic and international.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• MS degree in an Engineering discipline.
• Background in supply chain management.
• Knowledge of human and porcine anatomy.
• Experience working in food processing industry.
• Knowledge of ISO 13485.
• Medical device supplier management or manufacturing experience.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

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

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 salary ranges are listed.