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

This position leads and manages a multidisciplinary group of engineers and technical personnel responsible for the design, development, documentation, verification, and improvement of complex mechanical, optical, and electromechanical medical products. This role provides vision and fosters an environment of creativity, risk-taking, and effective execution aligned with customer needs and business objectives. The role involves setting team objectives, prioritizing work, and supporting cross-functional collaboration to ensure successful product development and transfer to manufacturing within a regulated environment. This role balances hands-on technical contribution with leadership to drive team success.

Essential Job Duties

• Provide leadership and vision for the SP Endoscope Product  Engineering team to encourage creativity and crisp execution.
• Develop compelling and robust product architectures aligned with customer and business goals.
• Establish team objectives and individual work goals consistent with overall product development plans.
• Assign tasks, set priorities, establish metrics, and track progress to ensure project success.
• Manage, coach, and mentor engineers, junior managers, technicians, and support staff.
• Ensure adherence to design history file guidelines, FDA and regulatory requirements, and hold design reviews in accordance with product development procedures.
• Support development of functional specifications, risk documents, and design controls.
• Lead or contribute to all phases of the product development lifecycle including design, implementation, verification, validation, and transfer to manufacturing.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Manufacturing, Materials, Test Engineering, Regulatory, Quality, and Service to facilitate product transfer and sustainment.
• Provide administrative leadership for planning, staffing, budgeting, and project/program cost tracking.
• Manage supplier relationships and coordinate with external partners to support product development.

Required Experience and Education

• Minimum 10 years experience in mechanical design engineering or related fields with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong understanding of all stages of the product development lifecycle, including design, testing, and implementation.
• Proficient in using CAD and analysis tools to enhance design quality.
• Broad knowledge of systems involving robotics, sensors, motors, and intricate mechanical assemblies.
• Strong skills in project management, planning, and managing changes.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and documentation abilities.
• Proven ability to lead and influence teams across various functions.

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.