Sr. Supplier Development Engineer

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

The Opportunity

This position works onsite in our St. Paul, MN location in the Abbott Vascular Division.  Our medical devices help more than 10,000 people have healthier hearts, improve quality of life for thousands of people living with chronic pain and movement disorders, and liberate more than 500,000 people with diabetes from routine fingersticks.  Abbott Vascular provides innovative, minimally invasive, and cost-effective products for treatment of vascular disease.

What You’ll Work On

This position will be responsible for partnering with Design Engineering and Sourcing to identify, develop, qualify and release to manufacturing cost effective components/materials. Ensure the supply base understands and is in compliance with Abbott requirements.  Drive multiple aspects of component/material development, cost reductions and approval with suppliers as a member of a cross-functional team.

• Initiate establish & sustain effective partnerships with suppliers and develop technical capabilities.

• Work closely with appropriate buyer to manage overall supplier performance.

• Work cooperatively with cross functional teams - Design, Quality, Regulatory, and Manufacturing.

• Lead new development projects, supply risk reduction, yield improvement and cost reduction activities.

• Provide technical input for projects; including evaluation of supplier capability, specification review and design for manufacturing.

• Lead technical supplier related aspects of PDP, verification and validation.

• Partner with design and buyers to locate, evaluate, and approve new potential component/material suppliers.

• Work with cross-functional partners to clarify design intent, identify critical features, and assess feature risk.

• Define component qualification strategies and drive qualification plans and reports to completion.

• Partner with suppliers to ensure components/materials and sub-assemblies are qualified to the appropriate requirements.

• Work with suppliers in the development of control plans for components/materials to ensure appropriate acceptance activities are in place.

• Hold technical discussions with suppliers to identify and implement improvements in products and processes. 

• Apply statistical and analytical methods such as DOE, capability analysis and Gage Repeatability & Reproducibility studies.

• Verify compliance to procedures and process controls through site assessments of new and existing suppliers.

• Initiates corrective actions from audit findings and drives completion of tasks.

• Apply past experience to continuously improve upon existing process and procedures to support the advancement of the Supplier Development Engineering team.

• Ability to communicate technical information to varying levels of the organization required, with preparation assistance from management.

• Utilize Design for Reliability Management for device quality and reliability.

• Drive quality innovation through certification with a CQE, CRM, CQM or Six Sigma Black Belt certifications.

• Aid in managing supplier performance – May include audit, business review and technical visits to support development and sustainability of received product and service quality.

• Apply existing processes to classify suppliers based on risk, strategic importance and performance.  Ensure levels of management and communication are commensurate to classification.

• Domestic and international travel required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree ( 16 years) Mechanical, Chemical or any engineering or technical degree or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.

• Minimum 5 years engineering experience.  Medical device experience required. 

• Strong analytical, problem solving and project management.

• Six Sigma certification preferred.

• Demonstrated leadership capability in team settings.

• Experience working in a broader enterprise/cross-division business unit model preferred. 

• Ability to work in a highly matrixed and geographically diverse business environment. 

• Ability to work within a team and as an individual contributor in a fast-paced, changing environment.

• Ability to leverage and/or engage others to accomplish projects.

• Strong verbal and written communications with ability to effectively communicate at multiple levels in the organization.

• Multitasks, prioritizes and meets deadlines in timely manner.

• Strong organizational and follow-up skills, as well as attention to detail.

• Ability to travel, including internationally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience with supplier management, supplier quality engineering or component engineering, preferably in Medical Device industry.

• Experience in participating in all phases of the product development process.

• Knowledge of current practical mechanical design, materials, manufacturing methods, as well as future advancements, with the ability to apply appropriate methods and techniques.

• Advanced degree in an applicable technical, or business, discipline preferred, but not required.

• Understanding of, and ability to create, Gantt Charts and utilize project management tools.

• Experience in multiple product development disciplines (e.g. machining, injection molding extrusion, electronics).

• Experience leading junior engineers in an indirect capacity.

• Experience in a Food & Drug Administration (FDA)/Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)/International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Healthcare facility preferred.

• Working knowledge of DRM (Design for Reliability and Manufacturing) techniques.

• International manufacturing experience preferred.

Apply Now

 * Participants who complete a short wellness assessment qualify for FREE coverage in our HIP PPO medical plan. Free coverage applies in the next calendar year.

Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: 

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.

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The base pay for this position is $71,300.00 – $142,700.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.

Job Summary

Job number: 31064690
Date posted : 2023-09-11
Profession: Operations
Employment type: Full time