Manufacturing Engineer

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

Contribute your technical manufacturing, equipment design and project management skills to a dynamic manufacturing engineering team creating precision instruments for minimally invasive robotic surgery.

The role requires active participation in a manufacturing engineering organization in order to refine electro-mechanical components, assemblies, process documentation, tooling and test methods to improve efficacy, reliability, manufacturability and cost for surgical robotic instruments.

Essential Job Duties

• Contribute to a collaborative team, which is focused on continuous improvement
• Employ Design for Manufacturing/Assembly (DFx) to develop optimal product architecture in terms of reliability, quality, and cost.
• Specify, design, document, and procure the equipment necessary to perform each process step.
• Plan, budget, and provide the production equipment necessary to meet manufacturing capacity requirements.
• Define lean manufacturing process flows to maximize production efficiency.
• Author process FMEA’s to identify and address potential manufacturing defects and minimize risks to patient safety.
• Validate manufacturing equipment and processes to ensure efficacy and compliance with applicable requirements.
• Maintain and improve production quality, yield, cost, and capacity.
• Maintain compliance with medical device quality system including corrective action closure, discrepant material disposition, and Engineering Change Order (ECO) implementation.
• Evaluate and help in the selection of suppliers for mechanical parts if required.
• Help resolve supplier quality issues.
• Update and revise Manufacturing Process Instructions (MPIs) to ensure accuracy and completeness
• Address line support issues as they arise; Document and report any variances, problems, issues, or concerns on all aspects of the manufacturing process
• Provide production personnel with expectations and performance feedback regularly in the production process
• Understand, train personnel, and enforce strict adherence to the applicable Department Operating Procedures (DOPs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the Quality System
• Maintain up-to-date and accessible training records for MPIs and Quality System documents
• Assist in setting and attaining quarterly and annual production goals
• Learn and enforce company safety policies and practices
• Active participant in quality improvement initiatives, providing feedback to find the root cause and problem-solving.

Required Skills and Experience

• Excellent organizational skills; able to manage multiple fast-paced assignments simultaneously
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally across a range of technical disciplines and cultures with a broad slate of stakeholders, including management, peers, customers, and suppliers
• Ability to solve complex technical problems with equipment and/or manufacturing processes

Required Education and Training

• B.S. degree in engineering discipline required
• M.S. degree in engineering discipline preferred

Working Conditions

• None

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 2 years of experience in NPI, manufacturing, or design engineering supporting complex mechanism manufacturing experience
• Knowledge of a wide range of manufacturing processes, such as machining, injection molding, MIM, crimping, welding, soldering, or joining with adhesives
• Quantitative process development skills in areas such as (p)FMEA, tolerance analysis, DoE, SPC, GR&R, and CpK
• Experience with Mechanical CAD (Solidworks) and PLM (Agile) software
• Prior experience with the Design Control processes for medical devices
• Experience in an ISO 13485, ISO 9001, or medical device manufacturing environment

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 employees
who 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’s
start 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.

Accommodation & Accessibility Notice:

Intuitive is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation during any part of the application or interview process, please contact People Services at [email protected].

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.