Susane Vargas

Experience

• 

  Boston Scientific

  Jan 2004 - Aug 2024

  Senior Manufacturing Engineering Manager (2019–Present) Spencer, INRecruited to direct manufacturing engineering for production unit with 27 manufacturing lines and 540 finished product codes. Build, lead, and upskill 19-member engineering and equipment maintenance team. Craft strategic plans, manage budget and resources, and leverage $4.5M in capital investments to drive innovation and meet demand while controlling costs. - Generated Millions value via efficiency improvement projects and new technology investments. - Embarked on lights-out automation initiative to increase production capacity as lead on strategic planning, process development, and system integration. - Opened new revenue-generating opportunities, trimmed component costs 45%, and increased ease of manufacturing with proactive design changes. - Reached 98% equipment availability (up from 90%), delivered annual savings, and elevated service quality by implementing equipment maintenance program supporting 24/5 production. - Reshaped team to introduce critical chemical, materials, mechanical, and electrical engineering capabilities; drove staff retention through innovative strategies; and supported multiple team members in securing promotions. - Championed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging via leadership roles in multiple employee resource groups and as mentor to rising female technical talent. - Sustained exceptional performance with 0 non-conformance findings throughout Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP), ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS) reviews, and internal audits. Show less Senior Research & Development Manager—Urology & Pelvic Health (2016–2019) Marlborough, MAPromoted to direct sustaining R&D engineering efforts for medical devices manufactured in Costa Rica, Ireland, and the U.S. with a combined $100M value of production (VOP) and $500M in revenue. Managed strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting, and resource allocation. Led and developed 15 engineers. - Reimagined sustaining R&D engineering structure to strategically embed staff at global manufacturing sites with approach that elevated cross-functional collaboration and operational efficiency and enabled high-impact, cost-saving design changes with model later adopted across other sustaining R&D engineering divisions. - Empowered engineering team to grow and advance by introducing technical mentorship and product subject matter expert programs that encouraged skill development and full product ownership. - Coached 4 engineers to seamlessly integrate product lines into portfolio and incorporate offerings into Boston Scientific quality management system following organization’s post-acquisition integration of Augmenix and nVision - Instituted multiple communication channels , including cross-functional alignment meetings and a lab newsletter, to eliminate obstacles, drive cooperation across sites, and reinforce safety and compliance. - Founded and led division’s first roundtables convening women engineers and promoting diverse, inclusive workplaces.- Won Sustaining Engineering Leadership Award for excellence in resource utilization, cross-training, and culture building. Show less Senior Quality Engineer—Endoscopy, Urology & Pelvic Health (2014–2016) Marlborough, MAOversaw alliance quality management for original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and contract manufacturers. - Partnered with strategic operations as quality lead for acquisition due diligence, directing assessment of targets’ quality systems, identifying risks, and facilitating integration.- Played leadership role in key division projects including integration following $62M+ acquisition of Xlumena, a venture-backed medical device company providing minimally invasive solutions, and major system implementations (electronic corrective and preventative action capabilities and product data management platform). - Received Above-and-Beyond Award for leadership on quality knowledge development committee. Show less Process Development Quality Engineer Supervisor (2008–2011) Heredia & Coyol, Costa RicaManaged and developed 4 engineers. Formed productive alliances with division leadership. - Spearheaded development of Coyol’s first product development quality engineering department, establishing team structure, processes, and systems to facilitate launch of new products and line extensions. - Guided design transfer activities to deliver 3 line extensions covering endoscopy (single-use biopsy forceps), urology (ureteral stent) and cardiology (guidewire). Show less

  • Senior Manufacturing Engineering Manager

    Jan 2019 - Aug 2024

  • R&D Sustaining Engineering Manager

    Jan 2016 - Jan 2019

  • Supplier Quality Engineer

    Jan 2014 - Jan 2016

  • Senior Quality Engineer - Endoscopy

    Jan 2013 - Jan 2014

  • Senior Quality Engineer—Urology & Women’s Health

    Jan 2011 - Jan 2013

  • Design Quality Assurance Supervisor

    Jan 2008 - Jan 2011

  • Process Quality Engineer

    Jan 2004 - Jan 2008
• 

  Johnson & Johnson MedTech

  Sept 2024 - now

  Associate Director Product Development