Thoratec Switzerland GmbH – Abbott Medical | Zürich

Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, part of Abbott Medical, develops and manufactures life‑saving mechanical circulatory support devices—CentriMag and HeartMate 3—supporting patients with advanced heart failure around the world.

We are expanding our team in Zürich and are looking for a:

Manager NPI Engineering

A leadership role at the intersection of innovation, manufacturing excellence, and patient impact.

Why This Role Matters

This is a highly crossfunctional position where your leadership will directly influence how breakthrough technologies move from design into safe, reliable, real world manufacturing. You will guide a diverse team of engineers, shape future products, collaborate across multiple sites, and play a vital role in delivering therapies that truly change lives.

We welcome applicants who bring curiosity, empathy, and strong collaboration skills alongside their technical expertise. If you enjoy leading people, building processes, and working in an environment where every voice is valued, this could be the perfect next step.

What You’ll Be Doing

Key responsibilities and activities

• Build up and lead the NPI team comprising of up to 8 engineers (software, electronics, mechanics).

• Together with the relevant cross-functional stakeholders:

• Define work packages for the design transfer to manufacturing in compliance with internal and external procedures and regulations

• Estimate time and cost of the design transfer work packages

• Coordinate and synchronize your activities closely with the cross-site program management, R&D, supply chain, quality engineering, manufacturing engineering, production, OPEX and finance.

• Ensure design for manufacturability, assembly and test according to best practices.

• Prepare plans and execute them to set up and qualify new production lines.

• Define and implement within the plants the necessary processes to guarantee the availability of components, resources, tools, equipment and the high quality of the products delivered.

• Perform the risk analysis & reporting, risk review boards, define and implement mitigation actions.

• Establish efficient lines of communication to ensure commitments and deadlines are met and issues are resolved.

• Define and follow KPIs’ to measure the timeline, cost, and quality of the design transfer.

Your Profile

We encourage applications from individuals who may not meet every requirement—if you believe you can make an impact, we want to hear from you.

Must‑Have Qualifications

• Master’s degree in science or engineering

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in NPI, industrialization, or product creation

• Minimum 5 years in MedTech or pharma; strong knowledge of ISO13485/FDA21CFR820/MDR/GMP

• Minimum 3 years of people leadership

• Strong project management experience (cross‑functional and multi‑site)

• Excellent communication skills

• Fluent English (negotiation level)

Nice‑to‑Have

• Further education in business, project management, or leadership

• Fluent German

• Experience in fast‑paced, regulated environments

• A structured, analytical mindset with a collaborative working style

• Openness to diverse cultures and ways of working

Do you like the sound of this job and think you’ve got what it takes? Then send us your CV today. We look forward to receiving your application as pdf.