Senior Executive, CHI - Kaizen Office
Mechanical Engineer (Senior Executive), Centre for Healthcare Innovation Living Lab, Kaizen Office, Centre for Healthcare Innovation
About the role: Are you a problem-solver with a deep passion in designing physical products to improve the healthcare experience and health outcomes of patients and residents, as the well as the working experience of healthcare workers? If so, this may be the job for you! The Centre for Healthcare Innovation Living Lab (CHILL) is an in-house prototyping and testing lab under the Centre for Healthcare Innovation (CHI). We work with healthcare professionals from the National Healthcare Group – including Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Woodlands Hospital, Institute of Mental Health and NHGP Polyclinics - to design, prototype, test and scale product innovations.
If you do join our team, you will be involved in:
1. Prototyping: Develop low- to middle-fidelity prototypes to enable proof-of-concept and proof-of-value testing. This would involve:
a. Creating and/or updating CAD models, drawings, and documentation using tools such as Rhinoceros 3D, Fusion 360, and Adobe Illustrator.
b. Exploring appropriate materials, components, and mechanisms for prototype development.
c. Building prototypes using rapid prototyping techniques, including 3D printing, machining, and basic fabrication methods.
d. Supporting the definition of colour, material, and finish (CMF) specifications based on user and clinical requirements.
e. Assist in incorporating design-for-manufacturing considerations into prototype development to support future scalability.
f. Ensuring design activities align with applicable medical device standards, regulatory requirements, and design control processes where relevant.
2. Operations & Facilities Support: Support the smooth day-to-day operations of the CHI Living Lab (CHILL) and project activities by ensuring facilities, equipment, and workspaces are well-maintained and operational. This includes:
a. Monitoring the condition and readiness of workspaces, meeting areas, storage spaces, testing environments, and prototyping facilities.
b. Supporting the setup and maintenance of equipment, materials, and resources required for project activities, workshops, demonstrations, and user testing sessions.
c. Ensuring compliance with workplace safety requirements, operational procedures, and housekeeping standards.
d. Assisting in the inventory management of equipment, consumables, and materials, and coordinating replenishment or maintenance activities where required.
3. Vendor management: Work with external vendors and suppliers to support prototype development and product manufacturing activities. This includes:
a. Preparing technical specifications and requirements for vendor procurement and engagement.
b. Supporting clarification requests and documentation throughout the procurement process.
c. Coordinating with vendors on design, manufacturing approaches, timelines, and deliverables, while maintaining records of discussions and change requests.
4. Documentation and managing intellectual property: Maintain accurate and comprehensive project documentation throughout the product development lifecycle. This includes:
a. Preparing and updating project records, technical documentation, and design files in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs).
b. Supporting efforts to protect product intellectual property by working with the National Health Group's Intellectual Property Office and relevant stakeholders, where applicable.
Where needed, you will also be required to support the team in:
1. Concept Development: Support the identification and development of innovative healthcare solutions by working closely with healthcare professionals and external users (e.g., patients, caregivers, and residents) to understand user needs and problem areas. This includes: a. Participating in ideation and concept development activities and supporting the evaluation and prioritization of concepts for prototyping and testing.
2. Testing: Support the testing and evaluation of prototypes to validate user needs, technical feasibility, and product value. This includes:
a. Assisting in the design and execution of user testing activities in both controlled and real-world settings.
b. Contributing recommendations for design improvements and next steps based on testing insights.
3. Capability building: Supporting the conduct of workshops / programmes to build healthcare workers’ capabilities in prototyping and testing.
4. Showcase and profiling CHILL’s work: Showcase CHILL’s resources, expertise and past projects to visitors and/or support projects that help to profile CHILL to targeted stakeholders.
Skills and Qualifications:
• At least 2-3 years’ experience as an engineer, with a strong portfolio of physical products and experience in the scope of activities listed above, ideally with a large organisation or have supported clients from large organisations.
• Ideally, with prior experience in creating physical prototypes.
• Exposure to working with external vendors, suppliers, or manufacturers for prototype development and/or product manufacturing is advantageous.
• At least an Engineering diploma or related fields. • Understanding Engineering fundamentals, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Proficient in using engineering / industrial design tools to create various visualisations (e.g. 2D sketches, 3D designs, 3D prints). Such tools could include Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, Solidworks/Autodesk, Rhinoceros 3D, and Figma.
• Strong interest in product design for healthcare. • Experienced in supporting the facilitation of co-creation and design workshops.
• Basic understanding of product development methodologies.
• Ability to work both independently and in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Basic stakeholder project management