Equipment Buyer/Planner

Job Description

Primary Function of Position

The Manufacturing Equipment Buyer/Planner is responsible for the planning, procurement, and lifecycle support of materials, components, and spare parts required to install, sustain, and maintain the operating continuity of manufacturing line equipment. This role is critical to ensuring uninterrupted production by proactively securing equipment-related materials and spare parts needed for maintenance, repair, upgrades, and capital deployments.

The position balances availability, cost, lifecycle risk, and technical requirements across manufacturing line equipment, automation, tooling, and supporting infrastructure. Working closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Manufacturing, and Sourcing/Category Management, the Buyer/Planner translates technical equipment and spares requirements into timely, compliant purchasing actions that reduce downtime risk, support ramp and sustainment, and enable long‑term equipment reliability.

Success in this role requires strong direct materials-focused buying expertise, technical aptitude, disciplined execution, and a proactive approach to inventory, obsolescence, and supply risk management.

Essential Job Duties

• Plan, buy, and manage direct materials and spare parts required to support manufacturing line equipment, tooling, automation, and test systems, ensuring continuity of operations and minimal production disruption.
• Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, and Production to define and maintain technical specifications, drawings, acceptance criteria, and documentation for equipment materials and spares supporting installation, sustainment, and repair activities.
• Own spare parts strategy for manufacturing equipment, including criticality assessment, recommended stocking levels, lead‑time risk mitigation, and lifecycle planning aligned to equipment uptime and production needs.
• Support Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), deviations, and qualification builds by assessing and executing procurement impacts related to equipment materials, spare parts, cost, lead time, and supplier scope.
• Execute sourcing events (RFI/RFQ/RFP) for manufacturing equipment materials, line tooling, test and measurement systems, and associated spare parts, evaluating total cost of ownership (TCO), serviceability, and long‑term supportability.
• Supports negotiation and of administration of supplier commercial terms where required—including pricing, payment terms, incoterms, lead times, warranties, service agreements, and after‑sales support—to meet manufacturing quality, cost, and delivery (QCD) objectives.
• Partners with Sourcing and Category Management in supplier governance and QBRs, includes monitoring of supplier performance (OTIF, lead time adherence, responsiveness, warranty performance, corrective actions) as well as identifying and mitigating supply risks that could impact manufacturing line availability.
• Converts approved requisitions into purchase orders; manage acknowledgements, expedites, changes, cancellations, and deliveries through installation, commissioning, or spares receipt with proactive risk management.
• Coordinate logistics and site‑readiness activities—including packaging, freight, customs documentation, rigging, utilities, and safety requirements—to enable on‑time deployment of manufacturing equipment materials and spares.
• Track and report procurement activities against manufacturing project schedules, equipment installations, and sustainment plans, providing clear status, risks, and recovery actions to stakeholders.
• Manage end‑of‑life (EOL) and obsolescence for equipment materials and spares by partnering with Engineering to identify, qualify, and transition alternate parts and suppliers.
• Serve as the liaison between Procurement, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Finance to execute the Request for Capital Expenditure (RCE) process in compliance with company procedures.
• Prepare, submit, and maintain complete technical, financial, and contractual documentation (RCEs, BOMs, contracts, spares lists) to support audit readiness and regulatory compliance when required.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• Manufacturing-Focused Procurement: Demonstrated experience buying materials, components, and spares for manufacturing line equipment, automation, tooling, or capital assets.
• Spare Parts and Lifecycle Planning: Strong capability in critical spares identification, stocking strategies, lead‑time risk mitigation, and lifecycle support of production equipment.
• Administration and Organization: Proven ability to organize and evaluate data to support timely execution of core job responsibilities and support sourcing events where required.
• Technical Acumen: Ability to interpret equipment drawings, data sheets, BOMs, and specifications, translating engineering and maintenance requirements into executable purchasing actions.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Effective partnership with Engineering, Manufacturing, Maintenance, Finance, Quality, and Sourcing to align operational, technical, and compliance needs.
• Execution and Reliability: Strong bias for action with ownership of delivery performance, equipment readiness, and spares availability supporting manufacturing uptime.
• Analytical and Decision‑Making Skills: Ability to assess supply risk, forecast equipment and spare part demand, prioritize critical needs, and make data‑driven decisions under operational pressure.
• Process Discipline: Consistent execution across requisition‑to‑PO cycle time, PO accuracy, contract coverage, and documentation rigor.

Required Education and Training

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business, Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Formal training in purchasing, materials management, production planning, or inventory management.
• Experience or training in regulated or quality‑controlled manufacturing environments (e.g., medical devices, semiconductors, aerospace, automotive).
• Documented technical training enabling interpretation of equipment data sheets, mechanical/electrical drawings, P&IDs, and manufacturing BOMs.
• Proficiency in ERP and purchasing systems (e.g., SAP, SAP Fiori, Coupa, Agile, NEPTUNE) with strong Excel capabilities for cost modeling and analysis.
• Training in negotiation, cost analysis, and supplier management, through formal coursework, certifications, or structured programs.
• Strong written and verbal business communication skills for effective engagement with cross‑functional teams and suppliers.

Working Conditions

• Maintains on-site presence to perform core job duties; expected to be in the office a minimum of 5 days per week.  Schedule is subject to change as project schedules necessitate.
• Potential for up to 20% travel, including visits to domestic and international supplier sites and manufacturing locations.

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.

This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on
business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.
Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the
candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.

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.