Staff Mechanical Design Engineer - New Product Development

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 R&D group within Intuitive Surgical is searching for a staff mechanical engineer with a focus on the mechanical design of surgical instruments, contributing to the exploration of a novel system concept and optimization of established system concepts for a new application of surgical robotics. This role is an exciting opportunity to join a small and innovative team focused on successful implementation of product development.

The Instrument and Accessories team at Intuitive is a cross-functional team dedicated to the creation of innovative medical robotic tools and technologies. We create transformational technologies to address the major pain points and unmet needs in our healthcare system.

Joining Intuitive Surgical means joining a team dedicated to using technology to benefit patients by improving surgical efficacy and decreasing surgical invasiveness, with patient outcomes as our highest priority. The Staff Mechanical Engineer will focus on the development of robotic surgical instruments for minimally invasive surgical applications. The successful candidate will have both the technical depth to resolve complex mechanical, materials and manufacturing design issues and the ability to work in an interdisciplinary team to troubleshoot to root cause higher level system issues. They must excel in a high-energy, focused, small-team environment, and have a commitment to high quality prototypes and concepts and a demonstrated record of developing and creating innovative engineering solutions. A strong sense of shared responsibility and reward is required as well as a commitment to high product quality.

Essential Job Duties

Design and develop novel robotic surgical instruments, including design and procurement of components, prototype assembly and builds, and design and development of testing and assembly fixtures and methods.

• Work in a small, cross-functional team to define and develop product requirements and functional specifications for robotic instruments, subsystems, and systems
• Analyze and test product prototype designs, critically analyze results, and present results to the engineering team
• Provide written protocols, reports, presentations, and perform technical design reviews to solicit feedback on design activities on an ongoing basis
• Development and documentation of mechanical design and manufacturing documentation including: inspection procedures, assembly instructions, new manufacturing processes, test methods, purchase specifications, BOMs, component / assembly drawings per the company’s operating procedures
• Create and maintain SolidWorks CAD databases, including components, assemblies, and detailed drawings
• Contribute to and make decisions based on risk assessments, industry standards, and regulatory frameworks
• Observe pre-clinical and clinical cases and interface with clinical experts to inform designs and identify user needs through workflow analysis
• Document, prepare and review patent submissions

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum BS (Mechanical Engineering or related engineering field) required
• Minimum twelve (12) years of experience taking products from concept to production, 8 years with MS or 5 years with PhD (medical product experience preferred).
• Familiarity with all phases of the product development lifecycle including requirements generation, design, verification, validation and transfer.
• Experience using GD&T and other related ASME/ISO drafting standards and tolerance stack up analysis.
• Proficiency using CAD to design and document mechanical designs (SolidWorks preferred).
• Proven ability to apply the basic laws of physics to understand and achieve quick and reliable solutions to engineering problems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills such as finite element analysis, statistics, and design of experiments.
• Strong understanding of design needs for reliability and manufacturability.
• Proven ability to work well in a team environment and drive individual projects.
• Comfortable with standard mechanical and electrical measurement and test equipment.

Required Education and Training

• Minimum BS in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Materials Science or related engineering or scientific discipline, or equivalent work experience

Working Conditions

• Must be able to lift, carry and move 40 lbs.
• Routinely lifts, carries and moves 10 lbs.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Understanding of mechatronics, robotics, and servo-controlled systems strongly preferred.
• Experience developing software control algorithms a plus.
• Experience and skills in design of high volume (e.g. injection molded, MIM) components.

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.