Engineering Director, Focal Therapies

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 Future Forward organization is Intuitive’s advanced concepts group. We explore emerging technologies, prototype next-generation solutions, and build software experiences that shape the future of robotic-assisted surgery. 

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 the Position

The Engineering Director, Focal Therapies will report to the Senior Director, Advanced Product Development, Focal Therapies, who oversees the new Focal Therapies Platform in Future Forward.  Future Forward is responsible for integrating new technologies and capabilities into new and existing Intuitive products aligned with our patient first mission. This is a unique opportunity to lead cross-functional teams focused on developing new solutions to address significant unmet patient needs.

The Engineering Director, Focal Therapies leads the strategy, design, development, documentation, and verification of new and derivative complex robotic platforms, flexible medical instruments, and system accessories in support. The will take full ownership of end-to-end technical development from early concept through launch. They will lead multiple managers and are responsible for helping lead the identification and creation of product requirements and driving the design, development, project schedules, and product performance against those requirements as well as the management of multiple groups of managers and engineers to ensure efficient product development that meets market, patient, user, and business needs. The successful candidate will coordinate team efforts across multiple projects, manage personnel efficiently, and ensure project milestones are met despite time constraints and evolving information typical of new product development.

In addition to being a proven people leader, success in this role will require strong patient-focused product definition and engineering acumen within the area of medical robotics and instrumentation. Previous experience successfully managing the development of medical technologies from early concept to product readiness is essential for success in this role.  

The successful candidate must have substantial people-management experience across multiple teams or programs, strong technical depth in relevant areas, and a proven track record leading complex product development efforts to successful outcomes. They must excel in a high-energy, focused, team environment, and have a commitment to high quality products with a patient first focus.

Key Responsibilities

• Set long-term strategic technical product vision aligning team goals with business priorities
• Direct the HW/SW, Systems technical development of multiple programs concurrently, including oversight for early stage NPI, Supply chain and test engineering.
• Own and lead multiple technical product development teams through early-stage de-risking, product development, and business validation of priority product opportunities, using resource aligning, goal setting and tracking, career growth, performance management, hiring, budgeting and spend management.
• Set direction for hardware and software engineering teams on the best methods to satisfy and verify design requirements, ensuring design outputs are successfully integrated into effective system designs across programs.
• Define performance expectations and ensure effective communication across all team levels
• Anticipate roadblocks and remove silos for seamless execution of priorities
• Represent program status ably in interactions externally with key customer collaborators and internally within the company.
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership through informal and formal meetings and communication.
• Be a member of the leadership team of Future Forward Growth Opportunities.

Experience and Abilities

• Successful experience in hospital-based medical technology realization from initial customer need identification through product launch.
• Proven ability to provide technical, and tactical leadership for staff and peers, in startup medical technology environment within a larger organization (entrepreneurship).
• Proven ability to hold both a program vision and drive effective tactics to achieve objectives; ability to lead a complex, high visibility/high impact project with multiple sub-teams within the program.
• Proven ability to engage key stakeholders and actively seek ways to leverage technology to better address opportunities and challenges.
• Evidence of strong communication both within a team and with key opinion leaders (KOL’s), regulatory authorities and customers.
• Evidence of successful development and leadership of a team of high capability technical professionals.
• Evidence of robust problem-solving skills and critical thinking.

Additional helpful attributes/experiences

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in an engineering, scientific or healthcare-related discipline
• Requires 15+ years of relevant progressive people and operations leadership experience
• Leadership of medical technology projects from inception through field validation to launch; Strong understanding of medical product ecosystem services
• Proven skills in quantitative analysis and data-driven decision making
• Experience with intellectual property fundamentals
• Demonstrated capacity to relate to all levels of employees
• Willingness to travel:  20% travel / some Intl.

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.