Senior Mechanical Engineer, Robotic Accessories

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. 

Were 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. 

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. 

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
Intuitive Surgical designs and manufactures highly complex mechanical systems (including instruments and accessories) for use in robotic surgery. This role is on a new platform development team designing a flexible GI Robotic System.  The Senior Mechanical Design Engineer is responsible for developing, documenting, verifying and validating new product designs, as well as improving existing designs to meet the needs of our customers.

Essential Job Duties

• Lead project development teams on accessory development projects or portions of large architectural development projects
• Design and document components and assemblies for accessories and related mechanisms for robotic surgical systems
• Investigate clinical requirements
• Create product functional and design specifications
• Create product architectures
• Analyze and test product prototype designs
• Develop and perform component verification testing and product validation testing
• Develop suppliers to manufacture components
• Develop initial tooling, fixtures and processes to assemble prototype components
• Develop initial product assembly instructions
• Support pilot production of final product by troubleshooting process and component problems
• Provide engineering support to Manufacturing, Procurement, Test Engineering, and Customer Service to facilitate transfer of designs to production.
• Develop Design History Files per FDA requirements
• Act as technical mentor to Mechanical Engineers
• Serve as Mechanical / Design Engineering member of Design Review Boards
• Document, prepare and review patent submissions
• Review regulatory submissions
• Assess field reliability data and improve existing product designs as necessary

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum 8 years experience designing commercial mechanical products; preferably medical device products
• Proficiency using CAD to design and document mechanisms; SolidWorks preferred
• Hands-on engineering with the proven ability to work well in a team environment and drive individual projects
• Comfortable with all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, implementation, debug, verification, validation and transfer
• Mechanical design and analysis skills, including statics, dynamics, kinematics, strength of materials and stress analysis
• Good communication and documentation skills
• Comfortable operating test, measurement and machine shop equipment
• Strong understanding of component selection criteria, and design for manufacturability, assembly and reliability
• Proficiency in standard business software (MS Office, etc.)
• Proficient at process development and creation of assembly instructions

Required Education and Training

• BSME required, MSME preferred

Working Conditions

NA

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.