Sr. Buyer

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
The Sr. Buyer is accountable for procuring materials, components, and equipment in help of new product introduction (NPI). Gathers quotations, knows about key supplier capabilities and matches those capabilities to new designs and project schedules. Tracks and updates orders, delivery commitments and inventory receipts both inside and outside of MRP. Insures adequate supply in place for production ramp-up of new products. Works in partnership with Strategic Sourcing to ensure the appropriate supplier strategy is utilized for new product release and scale up to production. Establish material requirements from engineering, new product build schedules, and maintains inventory at planned levels. Evaluates supplier reliability and works with Supplier Development Engineering and Strategic Sourcing to develop new supply sources as needed. Monitors cost, schedule, and scope of assigned new products and projects. Insures materials availability for production release in time to meet project schedules. Works as a key member of a high performance team.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Uses developed forecasts and proper planning techniques to ensure that optimal inventory levels are available to meet engineering and production ramp up requirements.

• Applies extensive new product introduction/R&D purchasing experience to minimize material run times and insure on time delivery of material to help NPI project schedules.

• Works with engineering to assist suppliers in developing efficient fabrication processes.

• Identifies second sources for critical components as necessary.

• Participates in the continuous improvement of current systems and processes.

• Works with Strategic Sourcing to identify and qualify new supplier resources.

• Identifies potential supplier capacity issues and works in conjunction with Strategic Sourcing to resolve these issues and insure no impact to project schedules.

• Creates, updates, and publishes project material cost models.

• Quickly and proactively, resolves and/or escalates issues related to delivery, supplier performance, quality or cost.

• Insures and maintains accuracy of all applicable reports, purchase orders, component item master information, etc. Work with engineering and production control to insure BOMs are accurate and will function in a production environment.

• Provides direction and/or effectively delegate critical tasks as needed. Be a functional, productive member of a high performance team.

Qualifications

Skill/Job Requirements:

• 5+ years of experience in supply chain management of which a minimum with specific expertise in new product introduction (NPI), R&D and/or engineering environments.

• Minimum 4 year degree in business, mechanical or electrical engineering or equivalent education/experience.

• Significant computer experience using Windows, MS Office skills, MS Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Excel (Vlookups, Pivot Tables, Charts, and filtering) and ERP Information Systems, preferably SAP and Agile.

• Experience working with engineers and manufacturing resources for prototype parts procurement, pilot activities and production launch of new products.

• Experience with and a functional expertise of the manufacturing processes utilized by the suppliers of mechanical components (precision machining, sheet metal, plastic injection molding and other plastics processes, etc), contract manufacturing, OEM, cables, PCA, etc.

• ECO implementation experience required.

• Ability to move across the factory, move materials, raise packages up to 35 lbs., and read and have a basic knowledge of engineering drawings.

Nice To Have:

• Ability to enjoy and work effectively in a fast paced, chaotic environment of constant change. Ability to manage change quickly and gracefully.

• Familiar with project management techniques for new product introduction.

• Familiarity with contract and cost negotiation techniques.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills a must. Ability to communicate at both high (strategic) and detailed (tactical) levels and the ability to know when one or the other is appropriate. Diplomacy and “grace under fire” is nice to have.

• Detail oriented with demonstrated ability to proactively follow-up on areas of responsibility in a timely manner.

• Ability to perform repetitive computer data entry and place phone calls for 50+% of the workday.

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.

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.

Client-provided location(s): Sunnyvale, CA

Job ID: d0ed9c13-6891-4f19-8b91-8081c3e3b2e1

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2026-02-06T21:19:27