Staff Supplier Development Quality Engineer - St. Paul, MN

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 109,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Structural Heart Business Mission: why we exist

Our business purpose is to restore health and improve quality of life through the design and provision of device and management solutions for the treatment of structural heart disease.

We aim to lead the markets we serve by requiring the solutions we offer customers provide an improved benefit/risk profile as compared to existing standards of care; a performance threshold that by definition, guides and ensures the productive output of our engineering, business development, and clinical research efforts result in outcomes that advance the standard of care.

As the Staff Supplier Development Quality Engineer this role drives improvement and corrective action in the quality of components sourced from outside suppliers. Provides technical support in the selection of suppliers. Develops acceptance criteria for materials. Monitors supplier performance to drive supplier corrective action, manufacturing yield issues and field failures.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Assess potential new suppliers for technical, quality and manufacturing capabilities.
• Provides technical support for the introduction of components from a new supplier.
• Generates and maintains incoming inspection procedures.
• Trains inspectors to these procedures.
• Develops and/or sources inspection tools and equipment.
• Assists in generating component specifications.
• Generate test protocols, monitor testing, issue qualification test reports and approve components for use in products.
• Provide input to Design Engineering on new component technology and assist in component selection with quality and reliability analysis.
• Analyzes incoming material defects.
• Dispositions and drives corrective action as necessary.
• Communicates issues to suppliers.
• Reviews new design specifications and provides input from component quality and manufacturability perspective.
• Investigates field failures related to supplier materials.
• Develop corrective action plan where necessary
• May supervise inspectors.
• Cultivates a wide range of internal networks and begins to develop an extensive external network of resources to facilitate completion of tasks.
• May lead a project team of moderate scope.
• Provides guidance to less experienced staff. Acts as a mentor to lower level individual contributors. Influence exerted at peer level and occasionally at first levels of management. May involve supervising lower level engineers.
• Plans, organizes, and prioritizes own daily work routine to meet established schedule.
• Exercises authority and judgment within defined limits to determine appropriate action.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE YOU'LL BRING

Required

• BS degree in Engineering or Technical Field or equivalent experience; advanced degree preferred
• 7+ years' Engineering experience and demonstrated use of Quality tools/methodologies
• Detailed knowledge of FDA, GMP, ISO 13485
• Solid communication and interpersonal skills
• Advanced computer skills, including statistical/data analysis and report writing skills
• 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 approximately 10%
• Ability to maintain regular and predictable attendance

Preferred

• Project management and leadership skills, including the demonstrated ability to lead multi-departmental project teams and resolve quality-related issues in a timely and effective manner
• Prior medical device (implantable) manufacturing experience preferred but not necessary.
• Experience implementing various product and process improvement methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing)

WHAT WE OFFER

At Abbott, you can have a good job that can grow into a great career. We offer:

• A fast-paced work environment where your safety is our priority
• Production areas that are clean, well-lit and temperature-controlled
• Training and career development, with onboarding programs for new employees and tuition assistance
• Financial security through competitive compensation, incentives and retirement plans
• Health care and well-being programs including medical, dental, vision, wellness and occupational health programs
• Paid time off
• 401(k) retirement savings with a generous company match
• The stability of a company with a record of strong financial performance and history of being actively involved in local communities

Learn more about our benefits that add real value to your life to help you live fully: http://www.abbottbenefits.com/pages/candidate.aspx

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that provides the growth and strength to build your future. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal.