Skip to main content

Therapy CDE Lead - Tissue

  • Sunnyvale, CA, United States
  • Not Remote
  • Engineering
  • JOB215500
Clinical Development Engineering

Company Description

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.

Job Description

Primary Function of the Position

In this very senior role, the individual will work on solving complex, multidisciplinary problems that have significant impact across multiple programs. The position requires deep clinical expertise, strong technical acumen, and experience in preclinical evaluation and physician engagement to develop robust evaluation strategies having to do with tissue.

This role serves as a key cross-functional stakeholder, partnering closely with Design Engineering to inform product decisions. In collaboration with Medical Office and Product Management, the individual identifies unmet clinical needs and drives the definition, development, and validation of innovative product solutions.

The individual will explore and evaluate new endoluminal therapeutic applications in preclinical settings around tissue. As a tissue subject matter expert, they will lead cross-functional teams and mentor others through complex problem-solving efforts.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Apply in-depth knowledge of tissue therapeutic clinical procedures and medical technologies for needs discovery and evaluation strategies.
  • Collaborate with medical officers, physicians, and clinical users to understand clinical needs.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams (Design Engineering, Product Management, Quality, Regulatory) to define product requirements.
  • Develop evaluation strategies including product characterization and tissue-effect assessments.
  • Assess clinical risks and define mitigation strategies.
  • Drive decision-making and escalate critical issues appropriately.
  • Lead planning and execution of evaluation and product launch strategies.
  • Mentor and guide junior team members.

Qualifications

Skills and Qualifications

  • 4 year degree & Master’s degree in Engineering, Biology, or related field.  PhD is a plus
  • 15+ years in the medical device industry.
  • 10+ years in clinical development and preclinical evaluation.
  • Demonstrated experience with pre-clinical model development and validation of Class III products
  • Must be an expert on tissue and show it throughout your resume. 
  • Strong understanding of complex engineering systems.
  • Experience collaborating with physicians.

Nice to have:

  • Experience working cross-functionally across product development teams.
  • Experience driving products from concept through commercialization.
  • Experience in validation strategy and testing.
  • Self-motivated and able to work independently.
  • Effective communicator.
  • Willingness to travel up to 15%.

Additional Information

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.

Base Compensation Range Region 1: $186 100 USD - $267 900 USD
Base Compensation Range Region 2: $158 200 USD - $227 700 USD
Shift: Day
Workplace Type: Set Schedule - This job will be onsite weekly, the percentage of onsite work will be defined by the leader.

**Important Notice to Job Seekers: Beware of Recruitment Scams**

We have been made aware of fraudulent job offers being sent to candidates by individuals posing as representatives of our company. Please be advised that we would never extend an offer of employment to anyone who has not formally submitted an application through our official careers site and completed our formal interview process.

To protect yourself from potential scams, please ensure that any communication you receive regarding job opportunities at our company directs you to our careers site (https://careers.intuitive.com/en/) for application submission.

The Future is Intuitive

At Intuitive, we envision a future where care is more connected, customized, and intelligent—so the question won’t just be how long we live, but how well.

Team members in HR, Engineering, and Analytics standing together with blue background

Work at Intuitive

Our culture defines us.

Our culture is driven by passionate people who truly want to make a difference. Learn more about our unique environment and the characteristics of people who thrive at our company.

Learn about our culture

Benefits

Our benefits overview.

We believe in supporting happy and healthy teams. As a valued team member, your benefits extend far beyond your hourly pay or salary. Learn more about our benefits and perks.

Explore employee benefits
Financial Offerings

Financial offerings

We're here to support your short- and long-term goals.
Family Support

Family support

At Intuitive, we believe in the importance of family and seek to foster a family-friendly culture.
Healthcare Plans

Healthcare plans

Like the patients we serve, your health is also very important to us.
Growth & Development

Growth & development

Your personal and professional growth and development is important to you--and to us.
Generic 2

Not yet ready to apply?

When you join our Talent Community, we‘ll keep you informed about all things Intuitive, including new job openings, employee stories, and company news. You’ll see how every day we‘re proving what‘s possible—for our careers and for minimally invasive robotic surgery.

Join our Talent Community