Supplier Engineering Manager at Intuitive Surgical, Inc. in Sunnyvale, California

Job Description:

At Intuitive, 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. Our mission is our guiding force; our culture is the DNA that makes us unique.

As a pioneer in robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), we have been expanding our innovations through technology to help make a difference in the world. For 25 years, human ingenuity has guided our journey to help solve some of healthcare's complex challenges.

We believe a great idea can come from anywhere-inclusion and mutual respect are vital to our culture. We value character grounded in integrity, a strong capacity to learn, the energy to get things done, and diverse 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 strive to 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 help to advance the world of minimally invasive care.

Primary Function of Position:

Manage a team of Supplier Engineers focusing on New Product Introduction and products in production. The successful candidate will have an ability to lead a multidisciplinary team including external suppliers. The candidate understands and solves complex issues associated with DFM, the supplier manufacturing process, quality and business inter-relationships. This person will develop components, sub-assemblies and finished goods and their manufacturing processes across the full product lifecycle. Lead a team of supplier engineers to support single use instrument product lines. This person willbe responsible for strategic supplier selection, evaluation, and improvement and the qualification of components and sub-assemblies to maintain a high performing, sustainable and scalable production supply chain.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Supplier Selection and Evaluation
  
  
  • Lead the Single Use Instrument 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.
  • Develop supplier performance, quality, delivery cost and business continuity to meet requirements of ISI and promote new suppliers to preferred production status.
  • Manage key supplier relationships to ensure projects deliver on-time and within budget.
  • Using the ASL and Global Commodity Matrix, manage quality and performance of the commodity supply base within ISI in partnership with Engineering and Purchasing.
  • Ensure compliance to quality management system
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Data Analysis / Performance Evaluation
  
  
  • Provide effective and timely supply base health information to management by creating data-driven supply base information and delivering information to any level of management at ISI with minimal guidance (including Quality Review Board).
  • Develop and use measurement techniques for supplier part quality, capability, cost, capacity, and delivery by creating metrics to judge required intervention or change at a supplier or in a commodity.
  • Prepare and deliver supplier communications as required by working with suppliers on scorecards, creation of Strategic Business Reviews, Supplier Summits, etc.
  • 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.
  • Facilitate, influence and work cross-functionally to improve supplier engineering processes.
  • Perform DFM activities to help launch products as quickly as possible while laying the foundation for scaling them to meet customer demand.
  
  

Skills, Experience, Education, & Training:

• Minimum BS degree or equivalent and 10 or more years related experience in Supplier Management and Engineering, with significant medical or medical device experience
• Minimum 5 years of experience leading supplier development or supplier quality engineering teams, or leadership of equivalent areas.
• 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 DFM, DFA, GD&T
• Knowledge of supplier manufacturing processes
• Knowledge of pFMEA, process validation, inspection and test techniques
• Familiarity with medical device regulations
• Knowledge of Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing techniques
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to make effective presentations to peers and suppliers
• Domestic and International travel required to manage supplier

Intuitive is an Equal Employment 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.

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

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