General Summary
We are establishing a dedicated Supplier Development capability within Supplier Quality Engineering focused on strategic supply chain initiatives, strengthening supplier capability, and improving long-term supply continuity and resiliency. The Senior Supplier Quality Engineer (Supplier Development) will play a key technical role in driving supplier development initiatives through partnership with Strategic Procurement on supplier development efforts and cross-functional programs. This is an opportunity to help shape and grow an emerging organization with visibility, cross-functional influence, and long-term impact to the overall business.
This position is responsible for leading complex supplier development, supplier qualification, capability assessment, and risk reduction activities while helping suppliers improve quality, scalability, process robustness, and readiness to support business growth. The role will provide technical leadership across supplier development programs and influence cross-functional decisions that impact supply continuity and product quality.
Primary Responsibilities
Supplier Development & Capability Improvement
- Lead and/or support supplier capability development initiatives to improve quality, scalability, process robustness, and long-term supplier readiness.
- Execute and support supplier improvement roadmaps and long-term development plans aligned with Strategic Procurement strategies and Technical Operations Engineering priorities
- Drive supplier improvement activities including Kaizen events, process optimization projects, variation reduction efforts, and operational excellence initiatives.
- Perform supplier capability assessments, manufacturing evaluations, and technical due diligence activities
- Support make-versus-buy analyses by providing technical, quality, and manufacturing assessments
- Identify and drive opportunities to improve supplier performance, supply risk, and supplier controls
Supplier Qualification & Enablement
- Lead supplier qualification activities including process assessments, manufacturing readiness evaluations, and technical reviews.
- Support complex supplier programs including large qualifications, supplier expansion activities, and supplier capability growth efforts
- Lead supplier stabilization and monitoring activities for new suppliers, outsourced processes, or developing supply chains
- Support Strategic Procurement on:
- Category strategy and diversification efforts
- New supplier identification, qualification, and development initiatives
- Supply risk reduction initiatives and inspection programs
- Evaluation of outsource programs
Supply Risk Reduction
- Assess supplier capability, capacity, scalability, and operational risks that could impact supply continuity
- Support supplier segmentation and risk stratification activities
- Participate in subtier supplier assessments and mitigation efforts when appropriate
- Drive technical risk reduction activities for critical suppliers and supply chain initiatives
- Support development of long-term supply continuity and supplier resiliency strategies
Technical Leadership
- Lead or support cross-functional supplier development projects with broad organizational impact.
- Serve as a technical subject matter expert for supplier capability and supplier improvement initiatives.
- Apply engineering and quality tools to identify sources of process variation and opportunities for improvement such as supplier kaizens.
- Lead complex root cause investigations and corrective action efforts involving suppliers.
- Mentor Supplier Quality Engineers and cross-functional team members on supplier quality, process capability, and supplier development methodologies.
- Influence decision making across Procurement, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality organizations.
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Collaborate closely with Strategic Procurement, Manufacturing Engineering, R&D, Operations, and Quality teams.
- Support new product introductions, supplier transfers, second-source qualifications, and supplier improvement projects.
- Communicate supplier performance, risks, and development opportunities to leadership and project teams.
- Build strong working relationships with suppliers to drive sustainable improvements and long-term partnerships.
Required Qualifications
- BS or MS degree in Engineering or related technical discipline.
- 6+ years of experience in Supplier Engineering, Supplier Development, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Engineering, Supplier Quality Engineering, Operations Engineering, or related technical functions.
- Experience leading supplier development, process improvement, supplier value-adds or capability development initiatives.
- Experience working directly with suppliers to resolve technical, quality, or manufacturing challenges.
- Demonstrated experience partnering with Procurement, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality organizations.
- Strong technical problem-solving and project leadership skills.
- Ability to independently lead initiatives with broad cross-functional impact.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Medical device or other regulated manufacturing experience.
- Lean or Six Sigma training preferred.
- Experience with supplier diversification efforts, second-source programs, or supplier transfer initiatives.
- Experience leading supplier Kaizens and continuous improvement efforts.
- Experience supporting supplier capability growth, scalability, and operational excellence initiatives.
- Experience assessing manufacturing processes, process capability, and production readiness.
- Experience with global suppliers and complex supply chains.
- Working knowledge of statistical methods, process validation, risk management, and root cause analysis methodologies.
- ASQ CQE, CQA preferred.
What Success Looks Like
The successful candidate will be recognized as a trusted technical leader who can independently drive supplier development initiatives, improve supplier capability, reduce supply chain risk, and deliver measurable improvements in supplier performance, quality, and supply continuity. This individual will effectively influence suppliers and cross-functional teams without direct management responsibility while serving as a key contributor to the growth and success of the Supplier Development organization.
Location: Alameda, CA
Annual Base Salary Range: $119,000 to $166,000
We offer a competitive compensation package plus a benefits and equity program, when applicable.
Individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location.
Working Conditions
General office, laboratory, and cleanroom environments
Willingness and ability to work on site. May have business travel from 0% - 25%
Requires some lifting and moving of up to 25 pounds
Must be able to move between buildings and floors.
Must be able to remain stationary and use a computer or other standard office equipment, such as a printer or copy machine, for an extensive period of time each day.
Must be able to read, prepare emails, and produce documents and spreadsheets.
Must be able to move within the office and access file cabinets or supplies, as needed.
Must be able to communicate and exchange accurate information with employees at all levels on a daily basis.
Skills Required
- BS or MS degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline
- 6+ years of experience in Supplier Engineering, Supplier Development, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Engineering, Supplier Quality Engineering, Operations Engineering, or related technical functions
- Experience leading supplier development, process improvement, supplier value-add, or capability development initiatives
- Experience working directly with suppliers to resolve technical, quality, or manufacturing challenges
- Experience partnering with Procurement, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality organizations
- Strong technical problem-solving and project leadership skills
- Ability to independently lead initiatives with broad cross-functional impact
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
- Medical device or other regulated manufacturing experience
- Lean or Six Sigma training
- Experience with supplier diversification, second-source programs, or supplier transfer initiatives
- Experience leading supplier Kaizens and continuous improvement efforts
- Experience supporting supplier capability growth, scalability, and operational excellence initiatives
- Experience assessing manufacturing processes, process capability, and production readiness
- Experience with global suppliers and complex supply chains
- Working knowledge of statistical methods, process validation, risk management, and root cause analysis methodologies
- ASQ CQE or CQA certification
Penumbra Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Penumbra and has not been reviewed or approved by Penumbra.
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Healthcare Strength — Company materials describe comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with immediate eligibility, alongside life and disability insurance. Feedback suggests health coverage quality is a standout element of the package.
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Parental & Family Support — Company sources indicate fully paid parental leave and on-site support for nursing parents in key locations. Feedback suggests family support policies compare favorably within med‑tech employers.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Company postings outline paid holidays, sick leave, and vacation that increases with tenure. Feedback suggests time‑off provisions are broadly competitive when weighing total package value.
Penumbra Insights
What We Do
Penumbra, Inc., headquartered in Alameda, California, is a global healthcare company focused on innovative therapies. Penumbra designs, develops, manufactures and markets novel products and has a broad portfolio that addresses challenging medical conditions in markets with significant unmet need. Penumbra sells its products to hospitals and healthcare providers primarily through its direct sales organization in the United States, most of Europe, Canada and Australia, and through distributors in select international markets. The Penumbra logo is a trademark of Penumbra, Inc. Members of the Penumbra team agree that this is where their work has meaning -- we are transforming the treatment of some of the world's most devastating conditions. Penumbra is where everyone's ideas matter, and where learning and growth are constant.
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