Principal Modeling 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

The Principal Modeling Engineer will play a critical role in the development of next-generation robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) systems.  Specifically, this role will lead the thermal management of the 3D surgical viewer, including displays, lights sources, cameras, computing and processing printed circuit boards.  This position will also play a key role in the finite element modeling and modal analysis of the structural design on the robot sub-system. This role will also be involved in modeling of printed circuit boards for thermal management of integrated circuits and associated heat sink designs, forced-air cooling fans, etc.

Successful candidates will exhibit a hands-on approach, a sense of ownership, and commitment to shared responsibilities, actively contributing to both the sustainment of existing capital equipment and the advancement of new surgical technologies that meet the evolving needs of customers and the business.

Essential Job Duties

• Provide finite-element models of proposed electro-optical system designs for next-generation 3D surgical viewer to create a thermal-management concept and detailed design and models for key structural electro-mechanical sub-systems on the RAS system
• Create thermal management budgets for displays in the surgical viewer and for the printed circuit board assemblies
• Work with design teams to develop test plans and perform design verification testing on thermal management sub-systems and coordinate with responsible functions for design validation when needed.
• Effectively communicate FEA model results and provide clarity in design tradeoffs with other design engineers to develop complete HW and SW solutions
• Perform advanced troubleshooting and failure analysis of failures.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams affected by changes.

Required Education, Skills & Experience 

• MS or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Applied Physics or closely related field and 5 years (minimum) work experience, 10+ years preferred. 
• Deep skill in the use and application of finite element analysis (FEA) tools such as Ansys (or equivalent)
• Skill in the use of 3D CAD modeling and generating 2D CAD part drawings and design specifications as needed.
• Knowledge of GD&T tolerance analysis, especially as applied to designs that are driven by thermal and structural FEA models.
• Ability to collaborate with manufacturing and suppliers to achieve cost effective and manufacturable designs.
• Knowledge of material selection for thermal management sub-systems, such as heat sinks, thermal pads, fans, thermos-electric coolers, thermal pastes, etc.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, process controls, design of experiments (DOEs) and capability analysis.
• Understanding of measurement capability and control.
• Hands on experience with developing and performing engineering tests including formal design verification including fixture design, data collection, analysis and reporting.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills suitable for a regulated environment.
• Effective collaboration with cross functional teams and suppliers.

Preferred Skills & Experience 

• Experience with medical device design and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Solidworks, Matlab, Ansys, Zemax and Windchill experience
• Experience with thermal management of electro-optical products, such as LCD and OLED displays, CMOS cameras, semiconductor light sources.
• Experience with printed circuit boards with integrated circuits requiring active thermal management

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.

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.