Director Engineering, Supplier Development
At a glance
Director-level Engineering Leadership role at Edwards Lifesciences. Irvine · full-time · $159,000–$226,000 base.
techroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Guide supplier engineering from product design through launch and ongoing support, preparing suppliers to meet technical and performance needs
- Coordinate with R&D, sourcing, quality, manufacturing and program teams to develop and bring cardiovascular technologies to market
- Oversee external suppliers and contract manufacturers as they develop and qualify catheter systems, components and delivery technologies
- Improve existing products by strengthening supplier capability, manufacturing processes, quality, reliability and production scalability
- Lead and coach engineers, set team goals, manage delivery, and build skills through training, development assignments and succession planning
What you bring
- You have an engineering bachelor’s degree and manufacturing experience that includes external suppliers and vendors
- You have led and developed engineering teams in a regulated medical device setting
- You have managed supplier engineering across both sustaining work and new product development programs
Who this fits
This director role suits an engineering leader who can combine technical guidance with team development across supplier readiness, product development and ongoing improvement. Expect domestic and international supplier travel of up to thirty-five percent.
From the employer
Imagine how your ideas and expertise can change a patient’s life. Our Global Operations & Quality team plays a central part in ensuring our products are delivered to patients with cardiovascular disease. You’ll partner cross-functionally with manufacturing operations and sales teams, delivering thoughtful solutions to complex challenges all while developing your knowledge of the medical device industry. Whether your work includes strategic inventory planning, labeling, warehouse management, material handling, or any of our other supply chain opportunities, you will be making a meaningful contribution to our team and to patients all over the world.
The Director Engineering will lead the Supplier Development Advanced Catheter category and provide strategic support to external manufacturing.
How you will make an impact:
- Lead Supplier Development Engineering activities across new product development, commercialization, and lifecycle management, ensuring supplier readiness, technical capability, and long-term performance.
- Partner cross-functionally with R&D, NPD, Sourcing, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, Quality, and Program Management to develop and commercialize innovative cardiovascular technologies.
- Provide engineering leadership throughout the product development lifecycle, including design development, design for manufacturability, verification, validation, qualification, and commercialization.
- Lead the development, qualification, and technical oversight of external suppliers and contract manufacturers, including complex interventional catheter systems, components, and delivery technologies.
- Drive lifecycle management and continuous improvement across commercial products, improving supplier capability, manufacturing processes, quality, reliability, and scalability.
- Serve as a hands-on technical and people leader, providing technical direction, coaching, and mentorship while fostering accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
- Build organizational capability through talent development, targeted assignments, training, and succession planning, aligning employee development with business needs.
- Establish clear objectives and manage team performance to ensure high-quality, on-time execution of engineering programs and deliverables.
What you’ll need (Required):
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering with experience in manufacturing, including managing external vendors and suppliers across sustaining engineering and new product development programs.
- Demonstrated success leading and developing high‑performing engineering teams within a regulated medical device environment.
- Travel up to 35% domestically and internationally to engage with suppliers and manufacturing partners.
What else we look for (Preferred):
- MBA or Master’s in Engineering (Mechanical or Biomedical).
- Medical Device experience in new product development with successful design optimization from development to commercialization.
- Experience in more than one of the following areas: Interventional access devices, rapid product development and manufacturing of components and complex assembly design.
- Experience in catheter and related manufacturing (extrusions, braiding, molding, laser-cutting and bonding processes).
- Experience with rapid product development in cross-functional teams, creative design, prototyping, and test method development (in-vitro-testing).
- Proven ability to apply technical knowledge and judgment to complex engineering problems. Knowledge of DFM, GD&T and Six Sigma methodology.
- Displays broad perspective and effective judgment, demonstrates well-reasoned problem solving and decision-making. Ability to be bold and decisive to drive action.
- Builds a shared vision; inspires others to action; sets clear direction; establishes plans consistent with that direction.
Aligning our overall business objectives with performance, we offer competitive salaries, performance-based incentives, and a wide variety of benefits programs to address the diverse individual needs of our employees and their families.
For California (CA), the base pay range for this position is $159,000 to $226,000 (highly experienced).
The pay for the successful candidate will depend on various factors (e.g., qualifications, education, prior experience). Applications will be accepted while this position is posted on our Careers website.
Edwards is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer including protected Veterans and individuals with disabilities.