Supplier Engineer, Machining

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

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.

Qualifications

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Manufacturing, Mechanical, Industrial, or related field) or equivalent experience.
• Minimum: 7 years of relevant industry experience in machining, supplier development engineering, manufacturing engineering, or process engineering.
• Strong CNC machining and manufacturing experience in a production environment.
• Proficient in basic blueprint reading and knowledgeable in GD&T.
• Demonstrated experience owning a supplier commodity or managing a supplier portfolio.
• Experience supporting DFM with suppliers and design engineers.
• Strong working knowledge of manufacturing core and qualification process tools.
• Demonstrated project management, risk management, and structured problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with design engineering, sourcing, quality, program management and operations.
• Understanding of ISO-based quality systems (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 13485) and their practical application at suppliers.
• Ability to apply risk-based judgment and make sound technical decisions in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.
• Experience with supplier audits and regulatory preferred.
• Ability to travel to suppliers (domestic and international) as needed: minimum 25%

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.