Sr. Production Manager

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

Achieve given team performance goals for either the Instruments or Systems Production Lines. The goals will include various metrics including, but not limited to:  efficiency, FPY, hours accuracy, scrap, time lost accuracy, and inventory accuracy.

Essential Job Duties 

• Drive cross-functional issue resolution

• Facilitate interdepartmental resource allocation

• Proactively recognize environmental changes and provide coordinated direction for mitigation

• Establish aggressive quarterly departmental goals and develop programs to achieve them

• Drive improvements in safety, production, quality, cost, and delivery

• Allocate resources appropriately to achieve departmental objectives

• Work effectively with other departments to ensure that the production area has all  necessary inputs in place in order to achieve the desired production outputs

• Report to senior management on the status of the production process, including, but not limited, to capacity, quality, scrap, and safety issues

• Perform periodic capacity analysis in order to support production growth

• Develop leadership personnel within the department in order to enable future departmental and company growth

• Establish and enforce Lean Manufacturing practices within the department

• Write and conduct formal annual performance reviews for staff

• Maintain compliance within the department to all applicable regulatory requirements

• Maintain compliance within the department to company safety policies

• Develop and manage departmental budget

• Develop and lead cross-functional projects including, but not limited to:  production line transfers, outsourcing initiatives, process improvements, corrective/preventative actions (CAPA/CPIP)

• Assist NPI team to transition new products from NPI to Manufacturing

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience 

• Strong working knowledge of lean manufacturing, DFT, and quality techniques.

• Proficient in the use of personal computers to perform daily work.  Familiar with the Microsoft Office suite of programs and MRP systems. 

• Superb communication skills, including written and verbal instruction.

• Proficient in developing complex project plans.  Familiar in the use of MS Project or equivalent program

• Proficient in developing presentations using MS Power Point or equivalent

• The ideal candidate will have a love for a fast-paced and multi-focused work environment, a great attitude, eager, willing/able to take initiative, work well with others in a team environment.

Required Education and Training 

• Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, Industrial Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Production Operations Management or related fields and 10 years of applicable work experience, including at least 3 years of previous supervisory or management experience. 

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Experience in the medical device industry is preferred.

• SAP and Agile experience preferred.

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: 7d59e403-ddfa-4e8e-afe4-08f86993d869

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2026-01-21T23:38:38