Sr Mechanical 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 

Intuitive designs and manufactures highly complex robotic systems for use in minimally invasive surgical applications. Our da Vinci® Surgical Systems design engineering team is committed to utilizing cutting-edge research and technology to develop innovative solutions for our current and next generation surgical robot systems.

The Senior Mechanical Engineer works in and/or leads cross-functional teams to maintain and improve the design, production, and service of the da Vinci® Surgical System.  They will determine root cause of complex problems with electro-mechanical components, manufacturing process, and system performance.  They will identify mechanical design and manufacturing process solutions to improve performance, cost, and reliability. They will also perform the development, documentation, verification, and implementation of these solutions.  

Essential Job Duties 

• Work in or lead cross-functional project teams to design, develop, and verify new product design or modifications to robotic or other complex mechanisms.
• Investigate and determine root cause of both latent and emerging design, manufacturing, or material defects
• Develop, design, test, document, and implement solutions for these defects according to corporate standard and departmental operating procedures
• Design components and produce mechanical drawings in a government regulated environment for volume manufacturing processes, which may include cast metal, injection molded plastic, sheet metal stamped, and others
• Perform various types of detailed engineering analyses (tolerance stack, process simulation, structural FEA) to ensure fit/form/function of complex tooled parts
• Work with supplier engineering to identify, develop, and implement alternate part fabrication methods and sources to reduce hardware cost and/or improve strength of supply chain
• Develop and execute design verification/validation test protocols and document results in test reports
• Provide mechanical engineering support for resolution of field and manufacturing issues

• Support product risk assessments, Corrective and Preventive Actions, and quality/regulatory audits as required
• Provide advice, mentoring, and guidance to advance the technical and business expertise of colleagues

• Establish individual and team goals consistent with overall project goals

Required Skills and Experience 

• Self-driven with the ability to excel in a high-energy, small, focused team environment, to maintain a strong sense of shared responsibility and shared reward, and to make work fun and interesting.
• Proficiency in CAD (Solidworks preferred), including complex assemblies, GD&T, and functional dimensioning.
• Proven ability to identify issues, bring clarity and transparency, and lead a team effectively to appropriate product solutions
• Comfortable with all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, implementation, debug, verification, qualification, and transfer to Manufacturing.
• Proven proficiency at failure analysis
• Demonstrated mechanical design and analysis skills, including statics, dynamics, kinematics, strength of materials and stress analysis
• Strong understanding of component selection criteria and materials as they relate to design and manufacturability
• Experience with design for reliability, manufacturability, and assembly
• Comfortable operating machine shop, measurement and test equipment
• Ability to communicate effectively (written, oral) across all levels and organizations
• Ability to mentor other engineers
• Ability to travel up to 10% time
• A real excitement to learn and get to the bottom of tough technical problems
• Passion for solving difficult technical challenges

Required Education and Training 

• BSME required with 8+ years or MSME (preferred), with 6+ years of industry experience in developing commercial mechanical and electromechanical robotic products

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Surgical or medical device product experience is a plus.
• Effective collaboration with multi-disciplinary functions like clinical, human factors, industrial design, interaction design, etc.
• Comfortable using Matlab, Python, or similar software
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with metal casting manufacturing processes and parts are a strong plus.
• Experience with designing hardware products in a regulated industry is desired; comfort with concepts of design input, design output, traceability, and risk analysis
• Regulatory agency experience including UL, CE, and FDA approval processes

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.