Capability Development Manager Jobs in Santa Clara, CA

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies-like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion-have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.

We're a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful-because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you're ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you'll find your purpose here.

Primary Function of Position

The Director, Technical Learning & Capability Development reports to senior operations leadership and is responsible for the global strategy, governance, and execution of technical capability development programs supporting manufacturing, maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO), logistics, and other technical operations across the enterprise.

This leader will establish and continuously improve standardized technical training, certification, competency management, and workforce development programs that ensure employee readiness, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and organizational scalability. The role is accountable for developing enterprise-wide learning frameworks, skills matrices, qualification standards, and certification pathways that enable a highly capable technical workforce.

As a member of the Operations Leadership Team, this individual will partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Service Operations, Supply Chain, Planning, Regulatory Affairs, Human Resources, and business leaders to ensure workforce capability aligns with strategic priorities, operational capacity, new product introductions (NPI), and evolving technology requirements.

The Director will drive continuous improvement of technical learning systems, optimize training resources, and leverage data and performance metrics to accelerate workforce readiness, improve productivity, reduce quality risk, and support global operational growth.

Essential Job Duties

• Lead the design and execution of training programs and learning strategies aligned with the Operations business priorities and global strategy.
• Design and oversee technical training programs for technicians and material handlers and establish a framework to monitor training delivery quality via the use of standardized processes for onboarding, competency checks and training assessment tools.
• Drive innovation in learning delivery through blended, digital, and experiential approaches, enabling scale.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of training professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Establish a framework for measuring and evaluating learning effectiveness and impact, using data to improve training programs and demonstrate business impact.
• Manage budgets, resources, and equipment to ensure cost-effective and high-quality learning solutions.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in: Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Biomedical) or Manufacturing Engineering Technology or Operations Management or Supply Chain / Industrial Technology or equivalent technical experience

• 12+ years of experience leading technical training, workforce development, learning programs, manufacturing operations, service operations, engineering organizations, or related technical environments

• 5+ years leading managers and technical training organizations supporting large-scale operational or technical workforces

• Demonstrated experience building and scaling workforce capability programs in complex technical environments

• Experience developing competency frameworks, certification programs, qualification systems, and skills matrices

• Experience partnering with operational, engineering, quality, and business leaders to translate technical requirements into effective workforce development programs

• Experience implementing and scaling learning management systems (LMS), certification tracking systems, or workforce development platforms

• Strong understanding of adult learning principles, instructional design methodologies, and organizational capability development

Nice to have: 

• Experience supporting organizations operating in regulated, quality-driven, or highly controlled environments

• Experience driving organizational change, workforce readiness, and capability development during periods of growth and transformation

• Demonstrated ability to align workforce capability initiatives with business objectives, operational performance, quality outcomes, and productivity goals

• Strong program management, organizational leadership, and change management skills

• Excellent executive communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills

• Experience supporting manufacturing, service operations, logistics, distribution, healthcare, medical device, aerospace, defense, semiconductor, or other highly technical industries

• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) or operational readiness initiatives

• Knowledge of regulated environments including FDA, ISO 13485, GMP, or similar quality systems

• Experience supporting technical certification programs for manufacturing, repair, maintenance, engineering, or field service organizations

• Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or operational excellence experience

• Experience leading global workforce development organizations

• Experience supporting automation, digital transformation, or enterprise-scale capability initiatives

• Exposure to manufacturing, repair, failure analysis, warehouse operations, or supply chain environments

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 employeeswho 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'sstart 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.