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Supplier Industrialization Engineer
About Neuralink:

We are creating devices that enable a bi-directional interface with the brain. These devices allow us to restore movement to the paralyzed, restore sight to the blind, and revolutionize how humans interact with their digital world.

About the Team

Supply Chain owns the external manufacturing network that builds and delivers every component going into the Implant and the Robot. The Supplier Industrialization Engineering (SIE) function partners with Design, Quality, Manufacturing, and Strategic Sourcing to take parts from prototype through volume production at our external partners — ensuring suppliers can deliver to Neuralink’s technical, cost, schedule, and regulatory requirements throughout the product lifecycle.

About the Role

As a Supplier Industrialization Engineer, you will own component industrialization at our external suppliers across the full breadth of what goes into the Implant and the Robot. This is explicitly a generalist role: rather than specializing in a single commodity, you will move across machined parts, molded plastics, electromechanical assemblies, PCBAs, optics, hermetic packaging, coatings, and biocompatible materials — going wherever the program needs the most engineering horsepower. You will lead parts from supplier selection and process qualification, through NPI builds, ramp, and into sustaining production, working hands-on at supplier sites to ensure manufacturing processes are capable, controlled, and audit-ready. Because Neuralink’s products are implanted in patients, the bar for supplier quality, traceability, and process discipline is exceptionally high — your work directly enables us to put more devices into more patients, safely.

We expect this person to be biased toward learning new manufacturing domains rapidly, to be comfortable owning parts they have not personally built before, and to bring strong first-principles engineering judgment to every supplier conversation.

We are hiring across multiple levels. Early-career engineers will own a focused portfolio of parts with strong mentorship; senior and staff engineers will own multi-commodity strategy across programs, lead the toughest supplier recoveries, and set the technical bar for the function.

What You'll Do

Industrialization & NPI

• Own industrialization end-to-end for a portfolio of parts spanning mechanical, electromechanical, electronic, optical, and materials commodities going into the Implant and the Robot.

• Drive supplier readiness for NPI builds, design changes, and ramp-to-volume — including capacity planning, fixture and tooling design, and line build-outs.

Design & Manufacturing Engineering

• Partner with Design Engineering on DFM/DFA/DFT reviews early in the development cycle to drive manufacturability, yield, cost, and reliability into the design.

• Translate design intent (drawings, GD&T, specifications) into supplier-actionable manufacturing requirements, control plans, and inspection plans.

Process Qualification & Quality

• Qualify supplier manufacturing processes through PPAP/APQP, FAI, capability studies (Cp/Cpk), gage R&R, and process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ where applicable); ensure first-time-right launches.

• Partner with Quality Engineering to ensure our suppliers meet ISO 13485 and 21 CFR Part 820 expectations — with appropriate change control, traceability, and validation documentation.

Supplier Performance & Corrective Action

• Lead containment, root cause, and corrective action (8D, RCCA) for non-conforming material; close issues quickly while raising the underlying process bar so they do not recur.

• Build supplier scorecards and apply SPC, Lean, and continuous-improvement methods to improve yield, cycle time, cost, and on-time delivery across the supply base.

Cross-functional Partnership & Site Presence

• Travel to suppliers (domestic and international) to lead on-site audits, process walks, line qualifications, and corrective-action verification.

• Partner with Strategic Sourcing on supplier selection, dual-source strategy, and should-cost/piece-price negotiation; provide the technical voice in supplier business reviews.

Required Qualifications

Background & Education

• B.S. in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Electrical, Materials, Chemical, Biomedical, Aerospace, or a related engineering discipline — or equivalent practical experience that demonstrates the same technical depth.

• Generalist mindset: a demonstrated track record of moving between multiple manufacturing domains and learning new processes quickly, rather than specializing in a single commodity. You should be able to point to at least two distinct process areas in which you have personally driven engineering outcomes.

• Working familiarity with multiple major manufacturing process domains, such as: precision CNC machining, injection or micro-molding, sheet metal and stamping, PCBA and electronics assembly, additive manufacturing, coatings and plating, optics, hermetic packaging, laser or micro-welding, EDM, or cleanroom assembly.

Engineering & Metrology

• Demonstrated ability to read complex engineering drawings and apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5 — including reading datum schemes, selecting appropriate tolerance callouts, and understanding the manufacturing implications of a given drawing.

• Strong working knowledge of metrology and inspection: CMM, optical comparators, vision systems, surface profilometry, leak/hermeticity testing, electrical test, and the tradeoffs between in-process, end-of-line, and incoming inspection strategies.

• Proficiency with common engineering and data tools (e.g., SolidWorks or equivalent CAD for reading models, Minitab or Python/R for data analysis, ERP/PLM systems, JIRA or equivalent for tracking work).

Supplier Quality & Process

• Working knowledge of the core supplier-quality toolkit: PPAP, APQP, PFMEA, control plans, First Article Inspection (FAI/AS9102), Measurement System Analysis (MSA, gage R&R), process capability studies (Cp/Cpk/Ppk), and Statistical Process Control (SPC).

• Hands-on experience leading structured root-cause and corrective-action work (8D, RCCA, fishbone, 5-Whys, fault-tree) on real production issues — from containment through verified, closed-loop fix.

• Familiarity with at least one Quality Management System framework (ISO 13485, 21 CFR Part 820, AS9100, IATF 16949, or ISO 9001) and the discipline required to operate inside it — change control, document control, deviations, and traceability.

Execution & Communication

• Project-management chops: able to drive a parallel portfolio of supplier deliverables to aggressive dates, sequence dependencies, escalate cleanly, and communicate status to stakeholders without being chased.

• Solid commercial instincts: comfortable reading a should-cost breakdown, participating in piece-price and tooling negotiations alongside Strategic Sourcing, and pushing back technically when a quote does not match the process or volume.

• Strong written and verbal communication. You can run a productive technical meeting with a supplier engineering team one hour, then write a crisp summary of risk and recommended actions for Neuralink leadership the next.

• Comfortable in a hands-on, fast-moving, ambiguity-tolerant environment where you are expected to own outcomes, not just tasks — and to make sound decisions with incomplete information.

Logistics

• Willingness to travel up to 25–50% to supplier sites, including international travel; valid passport (or ability to obtain one) is required.

• Must be able to physically work on supplier production floors, including standing for extended periods, gowning into cleanrooms, and handling small precision parts.

• Must be able to work on-site in South San Francisco, CA or Austin, TX.

Preferred Qualifications

Regulated & Complex Hardware Experience

• Experience industrializing parts at external suppliers in a regulated environment: medical device (ISO 13485/21 CFR Part 820), aerospace (AS9100), automotive (IATF 16949), or semiconductor.

• Launch experience with Class II or III medical devices, implantable electronics, micro-fabrication, or biocompatible materials.

• Experience taking parts from high-mix/low-volume clinical builds into higher-volume commercial production.

Technical Depth

• Direct hands-on experience with PPAP, APQP, FAI, PFMEA, control plans, MSA, SPC, and process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ).

• Track record of leading 8D/RCCA on supplier quality escapes — from first containment through verified closure.

• Familiarity with one or more of: micro-machining, micro-molding, thin-film processes, laser micro-welding, hermetic feedthroughs, flex circuits and HDI PCBs, BGA/flip-chip assembly, surgical instrument manufacturing, or precision motion systems.

Certifications & Language

• Lean/Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt).

• Working proficiency in a second language commonly used with international suppliers (Mandarin, German, Japanese, or Spanish a plus).

Expected Compensation:

The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the following range. Your actual base pay will be determined by your job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. We also believe in aligning our employees’ success with the company's long-term growth. As such, in addition to base salary, Neuralink offers equity compensation (in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSU)) for all full-time employees.

Base Salary Range:
$68,000 — $177,000 USD

What We Offer:

Full-time employees are eligible for the following benefits listed below.

• An opportunity to change the world and work with some of the smartest and most talented experts from different fields

• Growth potential; we rapidly advance team members who have an outsized impact

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance through a PPO plan

• Paid holidays

• Commuter benefits

• Meals provided

• Equity (RSUs) *Temporary Employees & Interns excluded

• 401(k) plan *Interns initially excluded until they work 1,000 hours

• Parental leave *Temporary Employees & Interns excluded

• Flexible time off *Temporary Employees & Interns excluded

Requirements found here choose your questions.

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Requirements found

Supply Chain Scheduling (must) Negotiation (must) Python (must) Jira (must) Project Management (must) Writing (must) Spanish (nice) Training

What this posting asks for

Level: Not stated — The posting does not state a level or years of experience.

Main responsibilities

Industrialization & NPI
Own industrialization end-to-end for a portfolio of parts spanning mechanical, electromechanical, electronic, optical, and materials commodities going into t…
Drive supplier readiness for NPI builds, design changes, and ramp-to-volume — including capacity planning, fixture and tooling design, and line build-outs.
Design & Manufacturing Engineering
Partner with Design Engineering on DFM/DFA/DFT reviews early in the development cycle to drive manufacturability, yield, cost, and reliability into the design.
Translate design intent (drawings, GD&T, specifications) into supplier-actionable manufacturing requirements, control plans, and inspection plans.
Process Qualification & Quality
Qualify supplier manufacturing processes through PPAP/APQP, FAI, capability studies (Cp/Cpk), gage R&R, and process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ where applicable); e…
Partner with Quality Engineering to ensure our suppliers meet ISO 13485 and 21 CFR Part 820 expectations — with appropriate change control, traceability, and…
Supplier Performance & Corrective Action

Competencies an interviewer will look for

Technical skill Core
In the posting: “The Supplier Industrialization Engineering (SIE) function partners with Design, Quality, Manufacturing, and Strategic Sourcing to take parts from prototype t…” · “This is explicitly a generalist role: rather than specializing in a single commodity, you will move across machined parts, molded plastics, electromechanical…” · “We expect this person to be biased toward learning new manufacturing domains rapidly, to be comfortable owning parts they have not personally built before, a…”
Show it by: Names the tools, languages or systems used and how; Explains a technical choice and its trade-off.
Communication Core
In the posting: “Partner with Quality Engineering to ensure our suppliers meet ISO 13485 and 21 CFR Part 820 expectations — with appropriate change control, traceability, and…” · “Execution & Communication” · “Project-management chops: able to drive a parallel portfolio of supplier deliverables to aggressive dates, sequence dependencies, escalate cleanly, and commu…”
Show it by: Adapts the message to the listener; Gives an example of explaining something clearly in writing or speech.
Teamwork and collaboration Core
In the posting: “Partner with Design Engineering on DFM/DFA/DFT reviews early in the development cycle to drive manufacturability, yield, cost, and reliability into the design.” · “Partner with Quality Engineering to ensure our suppliers meet ISO 13485 and 21 CFR Part 820 expectations — with appropriate change control, traceability, and…” · “Cross-functional Partnership & Site Presence”
Show it by: Says what they did inside a team, not only what 'we' did; Shows how a disagreement was handled.
Planning and organisation Core
In the posting: “The Supplier Industrialization Engineering (SIE) function partners with Design, Quality, Manufacturing, and Strategic Sourcing to take parts from prototype t…” · “Drive supplier readiness for NPI builds, design changes, and ramp-to-volume — including capacity planning, fixture and tooling design, and line build-outs.” · “Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance through a PPO plan”
Show it by: Shows how priorities were set when everything was urgent; Mentions deadlines met and how.
Attention to detail and quality Core
In the posting: “The Supplier Industrialization Engineering (SIE) function partners with Design, Quality, Manufacturing, and Strategic Sourcing to take parts from prototype t…” · “Because Neuralink’s products are implanted in patients, the bar for supplier quality, traceability, and process discipline is exceptionally high — your work …” · “Process Qualification & Quality”
Show it by: Gives an example of an error caught before it caused harm; Names the check or standard they used.
Stakeholder management Core
In the posting: “The Supplier Industrialization Engineering (SIE) function partners with Design, Quality, Manufacturing, and Strategic Sourcing to take parts from prototype t…” · “Partner with Strategic Sourcing on supplier selection, dual-source strategy, and should-cost/piece-price negotiation;” · “Project-management chops: able to drive a parallel portfolio of supplier deliverables to aggressive dates, sequence dependencies, escalate cleanly, and commu…”
Show it by: Shows how they aligned people with different goals; Explains how they handled a 'no' from someone senior.
Leadership and mentoring Core
In the posting: “Early-career engineers will own a focused portfolio of parts with strong mentorship;” · “You can run a productive technical meeting with a supplier engineering team one hour, then write a crisp summary of risk and recommended actions for Neuralin…”
Show it by: Describes setting direction or a standard others followed; Names someone they coached and what changed for them.
Data and analysis Core
In the posting: “Proficiency with common engineering and data tools (e.g., SolidWorks or equivalent CAD for reading models, Minitab or Python/R for data analysis, ERP/PLM sys…” · “Working knowledge of the core supplier-quality toolkit: PPAP, APQP, PFMEA, control plans, First Article Inspection (FAI/AS9102), Measurement System Analysis …”
Show it by: Uses a number to describe the situation or the result; Explains what the data showed and what was done with it.
Adaptability and learning Core
In the posting: “Comfortable in a hands-on, fast-moving, ambiguity-tolerant environment where you are expected to own outcomes, not just tasks — and to make sound decisions w…” · “Flexible time off *Temporary Employees & Interns excluded”
Show it by: Describes learning something new quickly and using it; Shows a change of plan and how they adjusted.
Problem solving Supporting
In the posting: “Lead containment, root cause, and corrective action (8D, RCCA) for non-conforming material;”
Show it by: Describes a real problem, the options considered and the one chosen; Shows how the cause was found, not just the fix.
Ownership and accountability Supporting
In the posting: “Own industrialization end-to-end for a portfolio of parts spanning mechanical, electromechanical, electronic, optical, and materials commodities going into t…”
Show it by: Takes a task from start to finish without being chased; Owns a mistake and what was changed after it.
Customer focus Supporting
In the posting: “Because Neuralink’s products are implanted in patients, the bar for supplier quality, traceability, and process discipline is exceptionally high — your work …”
Show it by: Puts the customer's need in their own words; Shows a result for the customer, not only for the company.

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Built from this posting (8):
Walk me through a piece of work where you used your strongest technical skill. What exactly did you do? From this posting
Tell me about a time you had to explain something complex to someone outside your field. From this posting
Describe a time you worked with another team to deliver something. What was your part? From this posting
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Tell me about a problem you solved using negotiation. From this posting
Tell me about a difficult problem you solved at work. How did you find the cause? From this posting
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Describe a time you worked with doctors, nurses or other staff to solve a problem for a patient. Healthcare
How do you protect patient privacy in your daily work? Healthcare
Your shift is short-staffed and several patients need you at once. How do you prioritise? Healthcare
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A patient's family member is angry and blames you for a delay. What do you do? Healthcare
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Describe a time you handled an upset customer or colleague.
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Give an example of a mistake you caught before it caused a problem.
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Describe a process you improved.
Do you have any questions for us?
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You seem overqualified for this role. Why do you want it? Difficult question
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