Sr. Industrial 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:
The Senior Industrial Engineer will lead efforts to improve the efficiency of physical and transactional processes throughout the organization. In this position, the Senior IE will drive step-level improvements and manage cross-functional projects of moderate to large scope across manufacturing operations. The Senior IE will mentor junior staff and be considered a technical SME. The candidate should have a strong track record of continuous improvement results, significant experience managing cross-functional projects, and executive presence.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Cross-functionally lead and ensure successful execution of Industrial Engineering projects and activities including value stream mapping, value analysis, design reviews, capacity analysis, new product development and introduction, new line or facility start-up, and facility design.
• Evaluate operations and identify Continuous improvement opportunities, utilizing data analysis and metrics to build a business case, and deliver on execution.
• Monitor operational metrics including labor hours, production efficiency, product cycle time, lead time , WIP levels, and lead cross functional teams to improve key operational metrics.
• Plan and maintain production line capacity through S&OP cycle.
• Review and analyze work cell layout, process flow, material flow, etc. Assess best practices. Recommend cost-effective solutions for improving the utilization and efficiency of personnel, equipment and/or physical space. Lead projects that will result in improved costs and/or enhanced quality.
• Successfully navigate and implement significant change, managing resistance across impacted teams and take action to reinforce the change effort.
• Perform strategic what-if analyses and communicate findings effectively to senior levels of management. This may include assessing long-range capacity forecasts from analysis to recommendations and justification for facilities, equipment, and/or manpower requirements for new or sustaining product ramp.
• Coordinate large building or multi-cell layout changes. Utilize knowledge and experience to drive optimization of physical space to meet requirements.
• Run structured technical problem-solving investigations and utilize data driven analysis to provide recommendations and solutions to achieve improvement.
• Perform duties and train in the areas of time standards, line balancing, simulation modeling, cost estimation, manpower planning, and continuous improvement.
• May design metrics, calculation methods and/or data collection and reporting systems.
• May build advanced models from the ground up.
• May maintain existing reports or dashboards as required.

Skills, Experience, Education, & Training:

Base Requirements

• Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering, or related discipline, and 8 years minimum experience in leading continuous improvement projects or Master’s Degree with 6 years experience
• NPI manufacturing process development / product launch experience is highly desirable
• Facility design experience with AutoCAD software required
• Simulation modeling experience (e.g. Simul8, Arena, etc) required
• Demonstrated experience in Lean implementation with Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification required
• Strong verbal communication, group presentation skills and facilitation skills required.
• Capable of defining requirements for new metrics/visualizations and capable of translating data into insights and learnings and influencing action plans.
• High level of proficiency as a project manager. (equivalent experience of a certified project manage (
• Ability to lead moderate to large cultural and behavioral change management initiatives successfully.
• Proven ability to manage many projects concurrently and in a timely fashion.
• Understands implications of change and can work within Quality Systems.
• Minimal travel required (<10%).

Preferred Requirements

• Data analysis skillset (e.g. Tableau, SQL, R, etc.) preferred.
• Experience or knowledge of SAP/S4 ERP system preferred
• Experience working in medical device manufacturing and knowledge of industry regulations preferred.
• Black Belt certification with project experience preferred.

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.

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].