Manager, Manufacturing Engineering

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. in; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 161,000 - 232,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. in Sunnyvale, CA is seeking a Manager of Manufacturing Engineering to lead automation and high-volume assembly initiatives for minimally invasive robotic surgery systems. The role emphasizes cross-functional leadership, design for manufacturing, and process validation.

You will mentor engineers, manage suppliers, and drive continuous improvement in yield and throughput while traveling ~30% for supplier visits and plant support. This is an onsite role in Sunnyvale.

Qualifications

• BS degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent. MS preferred.
• 5-7 years' experience in process/manufacturing with automated systems.
• Strong electrical/controls background.
• Experience with process capability and statistical analysis (cPK, SPC).
• Experience designing/maintaining automated production equipment.
• ISO 13485/9001 or medical device manufacturing experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a team of engineers to develop, implement, and sustain advanced manufacturing equipment and processes.
• Collaborate with multiple international teams in a high-volume environment.
• Design and develop next generation manufacturing architecture using internal and external resources.
• Create, maintain and improve mid- to high-volume manufacturing lines, BOMs, workflows and work instructions.
• Apply automation control and robot manufacturing system experience to ensure yield, MTBF, MTTR and OEE targets.
• Validate equipment designs using discrete event, PLC and robot path simulation.
• Lead DFA/DFM inputs during product design with cross-functional teams.
• Develop fixtures, tools and equipment; document and qualify them.
• Perform PFMEA risk analysis and validate critical tests in manufacturing.
• Oversee qualification of equipment and processes (IQ/OQ/DQ/PQ).
• Provide production line support and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage vendor relationships and project finances; mentor engineering staff.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Process engineering

Automation systems

Project leadership

Supplier management

CAD (SolidWorks)

English communication

Education

BS in mechanical engineering

MS preferred

Tools

SolidWorks

PLC programming

Robot control systems

Job description

Manager, Manufacturing Engineering (Finance)

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:

Contribute your technical manufacturing, equipment design, process engineering, and project management skills to lead a dynamic and growing engineering team responsible for creating and implementing high volume manufacturing solutions for minimally invasive robotic surgery. The role requires strong leadership within the within the cross-functional organization to develop and launch automation systems, components, assemblies, process documentation, tooling and validation methods. Our objective is to implement novel automation and vertical integration solutions to enable better outcomes for more patients every day.

Roles and Responsibilities - Manager and their Team:

• Lead and help grow a team of engineers to develop, implement, and sustain advanced manufacturing equipment and processes.
• Collaborate with multiple international teams to deliver product in a high volume environment.
• Design and develop next generation manufacturing architecture utilizing internal and external resources.
• Create, maintain and improve mid- to high volume manufacturing assembly lines, specifying and/or refining BOMs, workflow processes, manufacturing plan and detailed work instructions.
• Apply experience in automation control and robot manufacturing systems to ensure designs and processes are capable (Yield/MTBF), serviceable (MTTR) and able to produce required throughput consistently (OEE).
• Utilize process design tools such as discrete event, PLC and robot path simulation to validate equipment designs prior to physical build.
• Lead design for manufacturing, design for automation, tolerance stack analysis, locator development and other inputs with cross functional team during product design.
• Design, document, procure, qualify, implement, and improve fixtures, tools and equipment.
• Analyze manufacturing lines from a risk perspective (PFMEA) to develop protocols and validate critical tests used in manufacturing.
• Responsible for the validation and qualification of manufacturing equipment and processes leveraging standard qualification approaches (IQ/OQ/DQ/PQ).
• Provide production line support for day-to-day engineering issues
• Identify and implement continuous improvement projects with respect to first pass yield, cycle time reduction, product reliability, capacity enhancement and cost reduction.
• Take responsibility for maintaining compliance with medical device quality system including corrective action closure, discrepant material dispositions and engineering change implementation.
• Lead technical support analyzing and/or performing failure analysis for discrepant production components, assemblies and field returns. Utilize formal and informal techniques including fishbone, FMEA, etc.
• Function as single point of contact with equipment vendors, including business processes (contracts, POs, etc.) workload prioritization and escalations.
• Establish group and work goals consistent with overall product development goals
• Assign tasks, set priorities, establish metrics, and track progress
• Assess employee performance and provide coaching to improve performance
• Manage financial aspects of the program, build financial models, and evaluate financial feasibility/impact of actions.
• Manage, coach, and mentor manufacturing, equipment, controls, etc. engineers

Qualifications

Skill/Job Requirements:

• BS degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent. MS preferred
• 5-7 years' experience process and/or manufacturing experience including automated production systems.
• Preference for candidate with strong electrical and/or controls background.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to interface and update technicians, engineers, and leadership on a regular basis.
• Prior responsibility for process, equipment or product validation/verification.
• Experience with process capability/statistical analysis of production and engineering metrics (cPK, SPC, etc).
• Prior experience designing and maintaining automated production equipment.
• Strong project leadership experience and experience launching new manufacturing into production.
• Experience managing suppliers to specific timelines and deliverables.
• CAD experience (preferred Solidworks).
• Spanish language proficiency is a plus.
• Industrial robot and/or PLC programming experience is a plus.
• Experience in an ISO 13485, ISO 9001, or medical device manufacturing environment a plus.
• Role is 100% onsite, Sunnyvale California.
• Able to travel periodically to suppliers or Intuitive plants, including outside U.S. Travel is approximately 30%.

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.

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.

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: $161,400 USD - $232,200 USD
Base Compensation Range Region 2: $137,200 USD - $197,400 USD
Shift: Day
Workplace Type: Onsite - This job is fully onsite.