Engineering Manager

About Vi Centra

Worldwide, over 30 million people with diabetes are insulin dependent. This means they need insulin to manage their blood glucose levels. They can either give themselves multiple daily injections, or use an insulin pump, which administers insulin on a continuous basis all around the clock.

At Vi Centra, we’re on a mission to design an insulin pump that delivers not just a best-in-class performance, but also gives our users an experience that empowers and excites them. Something a bit different from the usual medical experience!

Kaleido is one of the smallest insulin pumps in the world. We have 10 colour combos, from bright and joyful to sleek and chic. We want our users to wear their Kaleido proudly. Its size makes Kaleido discreet and easy to wear, so Kaleidoers can forget about diabetes (for a while, at least!) and focus on what truly matters - living their life on their own terms!

We are CE marked, with in-house development and manufacturing, a state-of-the-art HQ, and a diverse and energetic team hailing from over 30 countries worldwide! We’re backed by heavyweight investors like EQT, INKEF, Invest-NL, Partners in Equity, and Health Innovations, all helping us to launch our rocket ship journey and forge a steady course.

We’d love you to travel with us.

The position

The overall goal of the Manufacturing Engineering Team is to ensure that our internal manufacturing lines producing Insulin Cartridges and Infusion Sets are always available to reliably produce quality product in the volumes required to support Vi Centra’s ambitious growth plans.

The process engineers will focus on sustaining and continuously improving the internal validated manufacturing processes driving for product always meeting quality specifications, maximizing line output and reducing product cost. They investigate and resolve manufacturing process issues, identify and implement process improvements and ensure all required product & process changes and improvements are implemented through proper use of change control in close collaboration with R&D and QA/QC and while maintaining a validated process at all times.

The maintenance engineering team will focus on maximizing the availability/uptime of all manufacturing equipment, utilities and facility through robust business continuity risk assessment and solid maintenance systems/processes while continuously reducing the overall maintenance service cost.

They timely execute planned/preventive maintenance, deliver fast investigation and resolution for technical breakdowns minimize the time to recover and identify and implement technical improvements to manufacturing equipment and facilities all aimed at maximizing uptime of equipment and facilities.

As a leader and coach for his team, the Manufacturing Engineering Manager shall have good hands-on engineering experience enabling him to support team members on specific technical issues in a medical device regulated environment where required.

The ideal candidate will possess the ability to think strategically, has strong leadership skills, relevant technical expertise and will be pro-active/self-driven to a high degree and flexible to deliver solutions with the team in a very demanding – high growth environment requiring clear priority setting managing limited resource.

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager will be part of the Vi Centra Operations Leadership Team (OLT) reporting to the VP Operations and will in this Operations Leadership Team role be exposed to and required to contribute to overall Vi Centra Business and Operations Strategy development and implementation working closely with OLT colleagues responsible for Manufacturing, Manufacturing Scaling, Supply Chain and PMO – Project Management.

Main Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead, mentor, and support the manufacturing engineering team, assisting engineers in prioritizing work and making sound engineering decisions.
• Foster a collaborative and supportive work environment, promoting teamwork and knowledge sharing among team members.
• Support installation, validate and implement internal manufacturing processes and equipment. Ensure processes and equipment are supported on an ongoing basis.
• Develop and maintain the Manufacturing Engineering strategy aligned with the Vi Centra Business and Operations strategic goals and closely manage implementation of the strategy delivering measurable improvements towards the strategic goals. Ensure high standards are being set in delivering solid engineering support and allowing our manufacturing organization to deliver the required increasing volumes of high quality product.
• Focus on a culture of continuous improvement by providing a clear process that delivers real/measurable continuous improvement (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery) while supporting the team to develop the skills and gaining the experience to be successful.

• Work closely with R&D and QA/QC leadership to optimize collaboration across the departments and drive for clear processes and roles & responsibilities to ensure the Manufacturing Engineering Team can progress required projects/actions focusing on delivering a result and not having to debate process and approach continuously.
• Contribute to the development and monitoring of area budgets through cost and spending analysis.
• Stay informed about new manufacturing technologies and equipment to drive efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve competitiveness.
• Contribute to development and implementation of the Vi Centra manufacturing scaling and automation strategy working closely together with the Director Industrialisation & Automation on the Operations Leadership Team.

The ideal candidate to join our team should be energetic, positive and pro-active!

You’ll also have:

Education/Experience:

• Master’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, or related field).
• A minimum 8+ years of experience in a high volume/low cost manufacturing environment in the engineering function with a focus process development/validation, equipment/facility maintenance and continuous improvement both technical innovation and process optimization.
• Strong leadership and project management skills.
• Experience in medical device manufacturing is required, preferably experience on specific technologies like leak testing, ultrasonic welding and sterile barrier packaging systems.
• Proven track record of optimizing manufacturing/maintenance processes, delivering significant output increases and reducing both department and product unit costs.
• Experience with project management in a technical environment (new equipment installation, technical upgrade of equipment, facility expansion)
• Preferably experience with development, installation and supporting automation concepts on high volume discrete manufacturing processes.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities.

What we offer

In addition to working on a ground-breaking new product, you’ll be working in a small, friendly and highly motivated team; all ideas are welcomed, and great work is rewarded. We’re also offering:

• A competitive salary and additional 8% holiday allowance
• 25 days of holiday per year plus 13 “ADV” days per year, based on fulltime employment
• Pension scheme
• Subsidised gym membership and the opportunity to participate in a tax friendly bike scheme
• A work environment where you can develop your skills, learn from the best and be rewarded for your imagination
• Meaningful work with the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people with diabetes

Apply today

**We will start interviewing successful candidates without delay, therefore please submit your CV as soon as possible. If we like what we see we will contact you, if we don’t contact you within 4 weeks we’ve probably proceeded with other candidates but don’t lose heart as we might reach out to you if we have a different role or project we think might be a match**

If you've got any queries feel free to call +31 (0) 88 250 2900.

Vi Centra is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. Due to the international nature of the Company applications are only accepted in English and candidates must also have the right to work in the Netherlands.

We do not pay fees where speculative and unsolicited CV’s are submitted to Vi Centra or Vi Centra employees. Where this is not observed Vi Centra reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee.