Staff Optical 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.

Surgeons need to see clearly in order heal their patients. Surgeons use the daVinci Surgical System for extended continuous duration under the intense stress of a surgical environment. Visual clarity and precise representation of the surgical field along with ease of use and optical comfort across the broad spectrum of surgeons are pillars of Intuitive’s vision products.

The Optical Engineer will utilize creativity and sound engineering judgment in the design of medical capital equipment components for volume manufacturing processes. The Optical Engineer is expected to use modeling and analytical skills to conceptualize, develop, and verify new optical components and sub-systems in the Intuitive Surgical Viewer. This position will be responsible for key system components and will interface with suppliers and manufacturing to build high-quality hardware prototypes and productize new designs. The Optical Engineer should be capable of making sound decisions when faced with the time constraints and ambiguous or incomplete information typical of research and development.

It is desired that this position maintain an awareness of developing optical imaging techniques related to surgical imaging, augmented reality, and human perception.

This role will provide critical technical assistance when working with outside development partners for custom components and sub-assemblies. Our development partners should know about and share in Intuitive’s mission so they can feel and understand the need for high quality and operational excellence. Strategic development of the supply chain must be a priority.  

Skill/Job Requirements:

• Masters Degree with 8 years of experience or PhD with 5 years of experience in Optical Engineering or Sciences, EE or Physics, with 3 years of display or optical industry experience

• Skill in the use of at least one standard optical CAD package such as Zemax or Code V

• Experience in optical and opto-mechanical tolerance analysis

• Experience in designing molded plastic optics and light pipes, using non-sequential ray trace CAD tools

• Familiar with light sources such as LEDs and laser diodes and designing optics to process those light sources

• Understanding of standard lens fabrication technologies and their limits

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to meaningfully engage deeply technical individual contributors on specific activities

• Experience in practical lab methods to test optical phenomena associated with light sources, spatial light modulators, and complex optical systems

• Experience in data acquisition methods for gathering critical empirical data on prototypes of 3D display systems

• Basic familiarity with human visual perception, sources of visualize discomfort in 3D vision systems and evaluation methods

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.