Sr. Supplier Manufacturing Engineer, NPI - Machining

Sunnyvale, CA, United States

Not Remote

Manufacturing & Operations

JOB214673

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 Position

Responsible for ensuring suppliers meet ISI requirements for quality, service, delivery, and cost. Drive suppliers to continuously improve business and manufacturing processes. Evaluate and select suppliers. Guide Engineering in choosing suppliers for new products and provide DFM input to new designs. Supports NPI and monitors and works with suppliers to improve supplier performance. Executes detailed projects with suppliers to implement changes and improvements affecting quality, cost, capacity, risk, and sub-supplier management.

The ideal candidate possesses broad and deep hands-on machining and secondary process operations such as passivation, heat treatment, electropolishing, and the like. The scale and impact this candidate will have on Intuitive’s core business and products is very high, and self-motivated and driven candidates are encouraged to apply. The chosen candidate will work with highly specialized internal and external SMEs, and have autonomy over multiple key decisions.

Essential Job Duties

Complete project/ part qualification deliverables including Supplier pFMEA, Process Validations (IQ/OQ/PQ), Inspection Reports, Gage R&R, and Process Capability Analysis

Work with suppliers to execute cost reductions, capacity improvements, and supply chain risk mitigation efforts like dual sourcing or supplier driven design improvements.

Select the right process and supplier for the part, considering long term fit and total cost of ownership

Manage supplier changes including manufacturing process changes, production optimization, facility changes, new equipment qualification, and new line validations

Drive changes to ISI requirements as necessary by initiating and managing changes to specifications and drawings through the engineering change order process

Own and drive to closure supplier variances from symptom through root cause analysis to corrective action, including careful CAPA documentation

Effectively prioritize and advance multiple concurrent projects and tasks

Clearly communicate project status to key stakeholders

Build, own, and relentlessly pursue a vision for developing suppliers

Understand proper level of documentation detail for tracking of actions and justification of decisions

Generate key metrics for the team and suppliers, and continually drive for timely achievement of those metrics

Drive suppliers 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. Lead these efforts without managerial guidance at several suppliers simultaneously

Implement corrective and preventive actions for supplier process by driving supplier’s investigations and root cause analysis, reduce issue recurrence through thorough RCA implementation.

Create product supplier landscapes to determine launch readiness and report to management

Develop supplier ramp readiness plans by judging business risk based on forecast, supplier capacity, quality performance, and process capability.

DFM by engaging suppliers early in development cycle to feedback manufacturability improvements in the designs prior to production

Influence and guide Engineering in choosing suppliers by determining selection criteria for preferred suppliers and leading the team effort to evaluate & build preferred suppliers

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum 5 years related experience in engineering and/or manufacturing processes

Excellent written and verbal communication skills including presentations to executive level management and technical SMEs within Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, & Supplier Engineering

Excellent Interpersonal skills and team building skills. Ability to build and foster great working relationships with external suppliers is invaluable.

A proven history of implementing Lean/6 Sigma/SPC Programs at suppliers

Excellent Project Management skills

Excellent analytical and problem solving skills along with good judgment

Demonstrable knowledge in evaluating and challenging supplier technical, quality, and business capabilities

Demonstrable knowledge of a wide range of manufacturing processes including understanding of key input variables for quality, cost, and capacity (specialization can be in metal fabrication, plastics, electronics, and/or contract manufacturing)

Excellent knowledge of 21 CFR part 820 and ISO 13485

Significant computer experience using Windows, Word, Excel, Project, Access, and ERP Information Systems, preferably SAP or Agile

CAD experience with 3D modeling tools is a plus, such as SolidWorks

Experience with statistical analysis software such as Minitab is a plus

Proven ability to motivate suppliers

Experience in a high-volume medical device company is a plus

Ability to read and interpret detailed mechanical drawings (GD&T) and communicate technical information

Required Education and Training

BS degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Polymer Science etc.) or equivalent experience, advanced degree preferred

Working Conditions

Ability to travel to suppliers on an as-needed basis (~25%) – domestic and international

Preferred Skills and Experience[AU1]

New product development experience is a plus

Experience & examples of design transfer of NPI components, and production ramp-up of complex components are highly desirable

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.

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.

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.

Base Compensation Range Region 1: $160,600 USD - $231,000 USD

Base Compensation Range Region 2: $136,500 USD - $196,400 USD

Shift: Day

Workplace Type: Set Schedule - This job will be onsite weekly, the percentage of onsite work will be defined by the leader.