Cold Chain Pharmacy Distribution Engineer

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 the Position

The Cold Chain Pharmacy Distribution Engineer serves as a leader within Intuitive’s Global Logistics Team, partnering closely with the Fluorescence Imaging organization to enable the successful commercialization of pharmaceutical imaging agents. The primary function of this role is to ensure that all aspects of distribution (e.g., specialty distributors and wholesalers), transportation, storage, and logistics are clearly defined and seamlessly orchestrated to ensure compliance with cold chain pharmaceutical standards.

This position leads the development and execution of RFPs, Operational Excellence (OpEx) initiatives, and end-to-end logistics and distribution programs—covering all cold chain processes, including specialty trade and regulatory compliance. The role is responsible for driving strategic, cross-functional initiatives focused on optimizing processes, enhancing scalability, and improving operational efficiency. Additionally, this role supports comprehensive project chartering, governance, and the execution of OpEx portfolio projects.
Ideal candidates possess demonstrated expertise in leading complex logistics and distribution projects within highly regulated pharmaceutical environments, including cold chain pharmacy logistics.

Essential Job Duties

- Lead logistics workstream for new pharmaceutical product introductions from later-stage development through commercialization, including establishing the logistics network (e.g., 3PL, specialty distributors, wholesalers).
- Define the end-to-end processes including inventory management, order flow, EDI/IT systems.
- Execute Fluorescence Imaging and Global Logistics projects within the approved budget, timeline and scope.

- Create process flow maps to help team partners and leaders gain a deeper understanding of process options.
- Assist in the management of day-to-day relationships with 3PL providers, specialty distributors, and wholesalers with Fluorescence Imaging organization.

- Develop and maintain project management infrastructure supporting project collaboration, communications, and delivery (e.g., Smartsheet, Box folders, project artifacts).

- Identify and schedule project deliverables, milestones, required activities and tasks.

- Assist in the creation of the Project Charter, execute and monitor to the Project Charter.

- Establish work plan and staffing for project activities, iterations or phases, and arrange for recruitment or assignment of project personnel.

- Implement project communication plan.

- Develop and execute logistics launch plans, including timelines, risks, and mitigation strategies.

- Ensure that project goals are accomplished and are in line with business objectives and success metrics.

- Direct and coordinate activities of project personnel to ensure that the project progresses on scope, on schedule and within budget.

- Present recommendations or ask for specific support to “go to green” of steering committees and leadership. - Collaborate with upstream and downstream partners to understand process pain points and drive improvements impacting cross-functional KPIs.

- Present project updates, findings, and detailed, prioritized recommendations to sponsors and key stakeholders in various formats (e.g., Smartsheet dashboards, written reports, steering committees).

- Collaborate with Global Process Owners to implement system and process improvements ensuring alignment and consistency for the Specialty program.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

 - Minimum of 7 years of operations process experience, ideally in the pharmaceutical distribution industry.

- Highly proactive with the ability to work independently.

- Highly organized with a strong ability to prioritize tasks and deliverables across a portfolio.

- Excellent communication skills, including experience presenting in front of leadership.

- Fluent English language skills (both verbal and written).

- Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 25%.

- Five plus years of BU or BU-facing experience, with sensitivity and commitment to business problem solving specifically in pharma, specialty pharma, and supply chain management.

- Demonstrated experience and ability to use soft skills successfully.

- Demonstrated experience in leading a cross-functional, global project teams.

- Experience in logistics and distribution environments, third party logistics and cold chain.

- Pharmaceutical regulatory compliance, e.g., FDA, DSCSA, QMS, beneficial.

- Experience working with or leading IT teams in developing SAP-centric solutions beneficial.

Required Education and Training

- Minimum bachelor’s degree in business, logistics, engineering, or similar, or an equivalent blend of work and certification experience

- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt preferred.

- Intermediate user of LucidCharts, Box, Zoom, and Microsoft Visio, PowerPoint, Project, Excel, or similar

Working Conditions

- Professional corporate offices

- Logistics warehousing sites

Preferred Skills and Experience 

- Program or Product ownership

- Familiarity with ISO13485:2016 and MDSAP

- APICS certification

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.