Sr. Supplier Process Engineer

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

Responsible for ensuring suppliers meet ISI requirements for quality, service, delivery, and cost. Drive both suppliers and internal teams to continuously improve both manufacturing and business processes. Evaluate and collaborate on supplier selection with cross functional partners. Support ongoing production by engaging with suppliers to improve supplier performance, monitor product and process performance, scale-up production, and work with design and manufacturing teams to implement improvements. Lead and execute detailed supplier projects to implement changes affecting product quality, cost, capacity, risk mitigation/supply continuity, and integration of new manufacturing technologies.

The ideal candidate possesses a broad process experience in metal machining and/or plastic Injection molding and extrusions, and has the skills and experience to assess and develop optimal supplier partners in these categories while mentoring others in this skillset.

Essential Job Duties

• Manage complex supplier changes including manufacturing process changes, design changes, production optimization, facility changes, new equipment qualification, and new line validations.
• Complete part qualification deliverables including: First Article, Supplier pFMEA, Process Validations (IQ/OQ/PQ), Inspection Reports, Gage R&R, and Process Capability Analysis, and lead, train, and mentor suppliers through the process.
• Partner with suppliers to execute cost reductions, capacity improvements, and risk mitigation projects for high severity parts, sole suppliers, or proprietary materials.
• Participate in supplier selection process: selecting the right process and supplier for the part, considering long term fit, and total cost of ownership.
• 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 at several suppliers simultaneously, without managerial guidance.
• Own and drive to closure supplier nonconformances from symptom through root cause analysis to corrective action, including Nonconformance Reports and SCAR documentation.
• Drive changes to ISI requirements as necessary, by initiating and managing changes to supplier documentation and specifications through the Engineering Change Order process
• Develop metrics for supplier part cost, delivery, quality, capacity, and capability, and continually drive for timely achievement of those metrics.
• Provide effective and timely component inventory health information and recommendations to management by creating and delivering data-driven supply base information.
• Review, analyze, and close customer complaints, manufacturing nonconformances, and first article inspections by judging risk analyses and justifications, determining corrective and preventive actions at suppliers. Look for opportunities with suppliers to eliminate recurrence.
• Effectively prioritize and advance multiple concurrent high priority projects. Effectively integrate and distill communications across multiple teams for cohesive and unified messaging both internally and externally. Create formal networks with key decision makers and serve as external spokesperson for the organization.

Required Skills and Experience

• Demonstratable knowledge of supplier part qualifications, supplier change controls, and design controls
• Demonstrable knowledge in evaluating and challenging supplier technical, quality, and business capabilities
• A proven history of implementing Lean/6 Sigma/SPC Programs at suppliers
• Demonstrable knowledge of a wide range of manufacturing processes including understanding of key input variables for quality, cost, and capacity (i.e. metal fabrication, plastics, extrusions, electronics, and/or contract manufacturing)
• Demonstratable knowledge of CAPA and SCAR processes (specifically containment, root cause analysis, corrective/preventive actions, and verification of effectiveness)
• Excellent Project Management skills and experience in influencing without formal authority
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including presentations to upper-level management
• Excellent interpersonal skills and team-building skills
• Excellent analytical, root-cause, and problem-solving skills along with good judgment
• Excellent knowledge of 21 CFR part 820 and ISO 13485 (experience in auditing suppliers to these standards preferred)
• Proficiency with Windows, Word, Excel, ERP Information Systems (preferably SAP), and PLM Systems (preferably Agile)

Required Education and Training

• BS degree in Engineering or equivalent.
• Minimum 8 years related experience in Supplier Engineering, Supplier Quality Engineering, and/or a related field.

Working Conditions

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

Preferred Skills and Experience  

• Experience with one or more of the following commodities is preferred: metal fabrication, plastics, extrusions, electronics, and/or contract manufacturing.
• Experience in the Medical Device industry is preferred
• Experience with GD&T, tolerance stack and CAD experience with 3D modeling tools is a plus
• Ability to read and interpret detailed mechanical drawings (GD&T) and communicate technical information
• Proven ability to work alongside Design Engineering and assess supplier capability during the design iteration process
• Experience with statistical analysis software such as Minitab 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.

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.

Accommodation & Accessibility Notice:

Intuitive is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation during any part of the application or interview process, please contact People Services at [email protected].

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.