Senior Mechanical Design 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 Senior Mechanical Design Engineer works in and/or leads cross-functional teams to develop,
document, and validate new product designs of the da Vinci® Surgical System as well as improve existing
designs to meet the needs of our customers.

Essential Job Duties

• Create new product architectures for next generation instruments
• Conceptualize and analyze complex electro-mechanical assemblies, create theoretical models,
• conduct empirical confirmation and perform computer assisted simulations
• Design and develop mechanical parts and assemblies, with careful consideration for mechanical design, kinematics, materials (plastics & metals), and manufacturability
• Create product functional requirements and design specifications
• Perform design FMEA and support other risk analyses (clinical, process, supplier)
• Develop and perform component verification testing and product validation testing
• Provide engineering support to Manufacturing, Clinical, and Test Engineering teams to facilitate transfer of designs.
• Work collaboratively with remote/hybrid team members and multi-disciplinary teams
• Identify and research new vendors/processes to manufacture components

Required Skills and Experience

• Comfortable with all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, analysis, debug, verification, and transfer to manufacturing.
• Understand concepts of design input, design output, requirement traceability, and FMEA risk analysis
• Technical expertise with mechanism design, robotics and/or medical products
• Mechanical analysis including statics, dynamics, kinematics, stress, fatigue, thermal, and reliability
• Design, analyze and document components, structures, and mechanical assemblies in SolidWorks or similar CAD software
• Strong understanding of component or material selection criteria, and design for reliability and manufacturability
• Demonstrated knowledge of a wide variety of manufacturing processes with emphasis on high-volume processes
• Technical communication skills with suppliers
• Proficient in GD&T and tolerance stack analysis
• Strong hands-on prototyping skills such as 3D Printing and machine shop equipment
• Designing and executing experiments on strength or function
• Capable of using MATLAB to create or modify test scripts and system software
• Proficiency in failure analysis tools
• Manufacturing process development and creation of assembly instructions
• Demonstrated excitement to learn and quickly analyze tough technical problems
• Passion for creating robust, reliable products with a strong commitment to quality
• Sense of shared responsibility and reward
• Experience leading portions of departmental and cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives from concept through completion
• Detail oriented and meticulous in documentation
• Ability to communicate effectively (written, oral) across all levels and organizations
• Skilled in digital collaboration tools in hybrid team environment
• Ability to lead and mentor other engineers

Required Education and Training

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Biomedical or other engineering discipline may be acceptable with appropriate mechanical experience
• Minimum 8 years of experience designing and manufacturing electromechanical products (6 years with Master’s degree or 3 years with PhD). Work experience in an FDA or other regulated industry preferred. 

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.