Sr Supplier Engineer – Electronics, Future Forward

Intuitive•Sunnyvale, CA

1d•$136,500 - $231,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Supplier Engineer will lead supplier engineering activities on a design project for Intuitive’s Future Forward organization, which explores emerging technologies and develops next-generation solutions for robotic-assisted surgery. The role influences design architecture, component specifications, and manufacturing processes based on supplier capabilities. It supports design for manufacturing, cost modeling, commodity knowledge, supplier selection, bill-of-material cost targets, component qualification, and launch planning. After launch, the engineer drives continuous improvement in suppliers’ business and manufacturing processes. The engineer partners with design, quality, and other engineering teams to translate design intent into measurable component specifications, select appropriate component technologies, assess design risks and mitigations, and develop test methods and acceptance criteria. Responsibilities also include optimizing the supply base, mitigating supplier and materials risks, leading design transfer and qualification activities, assessing supplier ramp readiness, resolving supplier process issues, and using metrics to evaluate supplier cost, delivery, quality, capacity, and capability. The role requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent and at least eight years of related experience. The position is listed as a day-shift role and is onsite weekly, with the percentage of onsite work set by the leader. Target compensation ranges are $160,600–$231,000 for Region 1 and $136,500–$196,400 for Region 2. Compensation depends on job level and candidate qualifications.

Requirements

Demonstrable knowledge of a wide range of electronics, motors, cable assembly, and PCBA-related manufacturing processes, including key quality input variables, supplier test design, qualification, and capacity.
General understanding of manufacturing processes such as metal fabrication, plastics injection molding, extrusions, and/or contract manufacturing.
Ability to work alongside design engineers and assess supplier capability during design iterations.
Demonstrable knowledge of evaluating and challenging suppliers’ technical, quality, and business capabilities.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentations to executive-level management.
Excellent interpersonal and team-building skills.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills and good judgment.
Significant computer experience using Windows, Word, Excel, Access, and ERP information systems, preferably SAP.
Ability to read and interpret detailed mechanical drawings and communicate technical information.
BS degree in Engineering or equivalent.
Minimum 8 years of related experience in Supplier Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Process Engineering, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of cutting-edge motor-control technologies, including incremental and absolute encoders.
Knowledge of cutting-edge cable-connection technologies.
Experience with GD&T and component measurement techniques.
Experience with tolerance stack-up and CAD experience using 3D modeling tools.
Knowledge of 21 CFR Part 820 and ISO 13485.

Responsibilities

Partner with design engineering to understand design intent and translate it into component design; ensure critical design outputs are clearly documented and measurable in component specifications.
Influence engineering teams’ selection of component technologies to meet short- and long-term needs from prototype through production while meeting cost and preferred-supplier objectives.
Collaborate with Quality Engineering and Design Engineering on dFMEA reviews and evaluate the feasibility of design risk mitigations.
Drive changes to component specifications and perform Design for Manufacturing activities to establish robust, scalable manufacturing processes.
Work with design engineering to develop test methods and acceptance criteria for supplied parts and sub-assemblies.
Develop strategies to optimize the supply base and reduce risks from complex sub-tier suppliers and long lead times.
Determine risk mitigations for high-severity parts, sole suppliers, and proprietary materials.
Lead design transfer and component qualification activities, including pFMEA, special-process validations, FAI, correlation, and Cpk; train and mentor suppliers through the process.
Develop supplier ramp-readiness plans based on forecasts, supplier capacity, quality performance, and process capability.
Drive supplier corrective actions by requiring root-cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions.
Develop and use metrics for supplier part cost, delivery, quality, capacity, and capability to measure improvement and determine when supplier or commodity intervention or changes are needed.