Senior Mechanical Engineer (Vision Equipment)

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.

Job Description

Primary Function of Position

As Senior Mechanical Engineer in the Vision Equipment team you will use your mechanical engineering design and analysis skills to design, develop and deploy equipment to test, measure, and calibrate vision/optical imaging products. These products include endoscopes, fiber optic light sources and near-eye displays. Equipment will be used in a production manufacturing environment and needs to meet performance, safety, ergonomics, reliability, consistency, and capacity requirements. Individuals in this role shall demonstrate precision mechanical design skills and work within cross-functional teams to develop custom optical & imaging test equipment.

Essential Job Duties

• Develop and continuously improve test and calibration equipment for high-performance endoscopes for “mid-volume products. Activities include:

  • Design, specify, prototype, document, procure, assemble, qualify, implement, and improve test equipment mechanical components and equipment.

• Work closely with engineering teams such as product development, test software, and process development to understand mechanical requirements, develop robust, reliable, and reproducible test and calibration equipment.

• Documentation to include generating equipment specifications, validation protocols, assembly instructions, preventative maintenance, and calibration (PMC) in addition to CAD component and assembly drawings.

• Analyze, debug and root cause measurement accuracy, reliability, repeatability, and reproducibility of equipment issues.

• Project manage equipment development projects that will involve coordination with manufacturing and software development teams.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum 8 years mechanical, equipment design engineering experience for a medium to high volume product.

• Strong analytical skills to understand, analyze and improve the accuracy, repeatability, and reliability of measurement equipment.

• Communication and documentation skills must be excellent. CAD experience (Solidworks).

Required Education and Training

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Opto-Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechatronics, or related area.

Workinn Conditions

• None

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with development of precision opto-mechanical test equipment preferred.

• New product introduction/development experience desirable.

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.