Manufacturing Equipment 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

Participate in the specification, design, sourcing, construction, upgrade, sustaining, and maintenance of manufacturing and test equipment used to produce minimally invasive surgical robotic instruments and accessories. This manufacturing equipment will range in complexity from catalog process equipment to custom automated electromechanical systems. Processes include heat staking, ultrasonic welding, laser welding, leak testing, pressing, crimping, and tray sealing.

Essential Job Duties 

• Specify the requirements for, and manage the creation of, manufacturing equipment which can be designed and fabricated by third parties. Jointly develop custom tooling based on ISI’s product form factor.
• Evaluate performance, re-design, upgrade, and optimize existing production equipment.
• Design and build manufacturing tooling components which are deemed too proprietary or complex to develop out of house.
• Duplicate existing manufacturing equipment including orders, inventory, assembly, installation, and validation in production.
• Recommend and implement improvements to documentation, functionality, and assembly of equipment to optimize for cost, performance, consistency, and speed of delivery.
• Qualify manufacturing equipment to ensure the fulfillment of all requirements including IQ/OQ/PQ validation and verification activities. Ability to create and execute quality documentation for internally and externally designed production equipment. 
• Develop and manage supplier and factory acceptance test protocols.
• Develop production processes including automation parameters for electronic controls, pneumatics, laser welding, laser marking, heat staking, ultrasonic welding, crimping, pressing, thermoforming, tray sealing, and more.
• Perform engineering studies to characterize equipment process windows.
• Determine troubleshooting, maintenance, consumables, spares, and calibration procedures for each piece of equipment and train relevant personnel to perform and manage them.
• Thoroughly document all aspects of the equipment, including its requirements, design, operation, and qualification in compliance with Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP).
• Improve equipment quality and reliability using DFX, Six Sigma, SPC, Gauge R&R, and similar quality tools.
• Provide equipment-related technical support to on-going production operations including maintenance, spare parts, repairs, and documentation of support activities.
• Advocate techniques for world class equipment & tooling design for manufacturing, assembly, and product test.
• Support product cost reductions derived from equipment and tooling used in manufacturing.
• Travel to our production plant in Mexico to ensure technology transfer to Mexicali personnel. Occasionally travel domestically and internationally to suppliers.

Required Skills and Experience 

• BS Engineering with 3 years minimum related experience.
• Experience in the development of complex integrated equipment or products preferred.
• 3D CAD capability required, SolidWorks, PTC Windchill preferred
• Experience with PLM software, ECOs, BOM creation and management
• Familiarity with PLC systems, sensors, and manufacturing equipment.
• Great attitude, eagerness, willing/able to take initiative, works well with others in team environment.
• Strong analytical skills including FMEA, tolerance analysis, and statistical methods.
• Familiarity with regulated Quality Systems, especially medical device regulations, a plus.
• Able to travel periodically up to 25%.

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.