Supplier Engineer, Machining

Intuitive; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive is seeking a Supplier Engineer to own the CNC machining supplier base, drive capability, and support DFM during NPI to enable scalable, high-quality medical device production. You will collaborate with design, sourcing, and manufacturing to optimize cost, capacity, and risk management while ensuring robust supplier processes.

The role emphasizes supplier assessments, audits, and early involvement in launches to deliver manufacturable designs and reliable supply chains.

Responsibilities

• Own the CNC machining commodity with accountability for supplier capability, performance, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and execute supplier development roadmaps aligned with cost, capacity, quality, and business objectives.
• Lead supplier capability assessments and drive improvements in machining processes, controls, and technical maturity.
• Partner with sourcing on supplier selection, onboarding, dual sourcing, and long-term commodity strategy.
• Drive supplier performance through scorecards, development plans, and regular technical reviews.
• Lead early supplier involvement and DFM engagement with CNC machining suppliers during NPI and product launches.
• Work closely with design engineers to influence part design, tolerances, materials, and machining strategies to ensure manufacturability and cost targets.
• Facilitate supplier feedback into design iterations and document DFM decisions and trade-offs.
• Support prototype, pilot, and production ramp phases to ensure robust, scalable machining processes.
• Ensure supplier readiness for launch through process capability, capacity, and risk assessments.
• Drive supplier cost improvement initiatives including should-cost analysis, value engineering, and productivity enhancements.
• Evaluate supplier manufacturing capacity, scalability, and constraints; develop capacity expansion and mitigation plans.
• Identify and manage supplier-related risks (design, process, capacity, regulatory, and continuity of supply).
• Lead mitigation actions for high-risk suppliers or components in partnership with cross-functional teams.
• Lead and manage / support supplier-related projects such as supplier transfers, process changes, and capacity expansions.
• Own project plans, milestones, timelines, and deliverables to ensure on-time execution.
• Communicate status, risks, and recovery plans to stakeholders with data-driven recommendations.
• Apply manufacturing core tools to support supplier development and process maturity.
• Support supplier audits, process validations (IQ/OQ/PQ), and first article inspections (FAI) as part of supplier readiness.
• Lead structured problem-solving efforts to address supplier process gaps and performance issues.

Job description

Job Description

Primary Function of Position

In this role, you will move surgery forward by putting the highest quality and most innovative products in the hands of our customers to enable better surgical outcomes for patients. The ideal candidate must serve as the commodity owner for CNC machining suppliers, with responsibility for developing supplier capability, supporting DFM during product launches, and driving improvements in cost, capacity, quality, and risk management. This role works closely with design engineering, sourcing, manufacturing, and suppliers to ensure manufacturable designs and scalable, capable supplier processes. Medical device manufacturing experience is preferred. The Supplier Engineer must be capable of making sound decisions when faced with time constraints and ambiguous or incomplete information which is typical in a research and development environment. They will interface with suppliers and manufacturing to build high-quality parts and productize new designs.

Supplier Development & Commodity Ownership

• Own the CNC machining commodity with accountability for supplier capability, performance, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and execute supplier development roadmaps aligned with cost, capacity, quality, and business objectives.
• Lead supplier capability assessments and drive improvements in machining processes, controls, and technical maturity.
• Partner with sourcing on supplier selection, onboarding, dual sourcing, and long-term commodity strategy.
• Drive supplier performance through scorecards, development plans, and regular technical reviews.

DFM & NPI / Launch / Commodity Expansion Support

• Lead early supplier involvement and DFM engagement with CNC machining suppliers during NPI and product launches.
• Work closely with design engineers to influence part design, tolerances, materials, and machining strategies to ensure manufacturability and cost targets.
• Facilitate supplier feedback into design iterations and document DFM decisions and trade-offs.
• Support prototype, pilot, and production ramp phases to ensure robust, scalable machining processes.
• Ensure supplier readiness for launch through process capability, capacity, and risk assessments.

Cost, Capacity & Risk Management

• Drive supplier cost improvement initiatives including should-cost analysis, value engineering, and productivity enhancements.
• Evaluate supplier manufacturing capacity, scalability, and constraints; develop capacity expansion and mitigation plans.
• Identify and manage supplier-related risks (design, process, capacity, regulatory, and continuity of supply).
• Lead mitigation actions for high-risk suppliers or components in partnership with cross-functional teams.

Project Management & Execution

• Lead and manage / support supplier-related projects such as supplier transfers, process changes, and capacity expansions.
• Own project plans, milestones, timelines, and deliverables to ensure on-time execution.
• Communicate status, risks, and recovery plans to stakeholders with data-driven recommendations.

Technical & Quality Support

• Apply manufacturing core tools to support supplier development and process maturity.
• Support supplier audits, process validations (IQ/OQ/PQ), and first article inspections (FAI) as part of supplier readiness.
• Lead structured problem-solving efforts to address supplier process gaps and performance issues.