Staff 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
At Intuitive, we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. By combining ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints. We are looking for team members with exceptional character who have the capacity to simplify complex problems and the energy to deliver solutions urgently to our patients. Intuitive Accessories are the interface between all aspects of the da Vinci system and enable safe and effective robot-assisted surgery. Our customers interact directly with Accessories in every surgical procedure, and they serve a critical role in customer satisfaction and patient outcomes. The Staff Mechanical Design Engineer for Single-Port (SP) Accessories will support development and production of existing and new products. This position requires a hands-on, technically strong engineer to dive deep into solving engineering challenges, and to provide high-level assessment of risks and opportunities. Projects will include a mix of sustaining existing products and new product development, including improvements for cost savings and manufacturability to enable significant volume growth, enhancements to increase customer satisfaction, and improving reliability.

Essential Job Duties
• Drive Design efforts to optimize performance, manufacturability and reliability of existing and future Da Vinci SP Accessories.
• Develop components and product mechanical drawings in a regulated environment for high volume manufacturing processes, including plastic injection molding, thermoset compression molding, extrusion, and machining.
• Design for manufacturing and automation, sterilization processes, and biocompatibility.
• Work cross-functionally with Manufacturing Engineers, Systems Analysts, Clinical Development Engineers, Human Factors Engineers, and Supplier Engineers.
• Review and understand product functional requirements and design specifications.
• Provide mechanical engineering sustaining support for resolution of manufacturing and field issues.
• Investigate and determine root cause of design, manufacturing, or material issues.
• Research, understand, and design to relevant product-specific international standards.
• Develop, implement, test, and document solutions that meet clinical, functional, and product requirements.
• Perform and document risk analyses (FMEA) and implement effective mitigations, following design control processes.
• Help identify and develop vendors to manufacture components.
• Develop initial fixtures and processes to assemble components.
• Develop product and component verification testing and product validation testing
• Support production of final product by troubleshooting process and component problems

• Provide engineering support to Manufacturing, Materials, Test Engineering, and Service to facilitate transfer of designs.
• Develop, implement, test and document solutions for these opportunities according to corporate standard and departmental operating procedures
• Mentor other engineers and champion best practices for mechanical design 

Required Skills and Experience
• Proficiency using CAD to design and document mechanisms; SolidWorks strongly preferred
• Good communication and documentation skills
• Experience in designing high volume consumable medical products
• Strong working knowledge of GD&T
• Experience with complex interface compatibility and tolerance analysis
• Demonstrated knowledge of high-volume component manufacturing processes (including injection molding, plastics films, extrusions, thermoforming, and plastic bonding methods)
• Demonstrated knowledge of materials (preferably plastics, silicones, polyurethanes, isoprenes) and material properties. Ability to apply knowledge of engineering materials and component selection criteria to product designs through strong concept development, design analysis, hands-on prototyping, and reliability testing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to think at a systems level, interface between multiple design groups, and negotiate conflicting requirements.
• Comfortable with all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, implementation, debug, verification, qualification, and transfer.

• A passion for solving tough technical problems - Strong mechanical intuition and persistence to drill down to pinpoint root cause of problems, solving problems using fundamental principles.
• Ability to communicate effectively (written, oral) across functions, including presenting to a technical audience
• Prior experience working in medical device or other regulated industry

Required Education and Training
• Minimum education: BS in Mechanical Engineering required, MSME preferred. Biomedical or other engineering discipline may be acceptable with appropriate mechanical experience.

• Minimum 12 years of hardware product design experience preferred with undergraduate degree; minimum 8 years with graduate degree

Working Conditions
• Ability to lift 30 lbs. without assistance.

Preferred Skills and Experience (As applicable - Specific skills, knowledge, and experience that
are not required to perform the job, but are desirable to have)
• Comfortable operating machine shop tools/equipment, Rapid prototype equipment (3-d printers, laser cutters etc.), measurement and test equipment
• Knowledge in additional manufacturing processes such as extrusion, blow molding, ultrasonic welding, RF welding, heat staking, and laser welding
• Comfortable with concepts of design input, design output, traceability, and risk analysis
• Ability to handle ambiguity effectively and oversee multiple projects at once
• Knowledge of ISO requirements and GMP guidelines. Experience with FDA regulations and medical device design control a strong plus

• Experience leading departmental or cross-functional projects/initiatives from concept through completion
• Knowledge of sterilization methods, biocompatibility, and packaging of medical devices

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.