Skip to main content

Product Manager, SP Core Instruments and Accessories

  • Palo Alto, CA, United States
  • Not Remote
  • Engineering
  • JOB217576
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

Da Vinci SP Product Overview

As a colleague of the da Vinci SP® Product Management Team, you will be part of an innovative surgical platform that is changing the way physicians perform soft tissue surgery. Da Vinci SP is approved in multiple countries to perform a variety of surgical procedures with innovative approaches surfacing from physicians globally. The result is patients recovering faster and going home sooner than other soft tissue modality options1. Even minimally invasive prostatectomy, made reproducible by Da Vinci Systems over a decade ago, is being reimagined by surgeons and performed via new approaches to preserve healthy tissue, leading to faster recovery and postoperative discharge in as little as a few hours after surgery.2

Primary Function of Position

The SP Core Instruments and Accessories (I&A) Product Management role for will be responsible for leading the development of SP core I&A surgical products from concept to launch. This includes the full range of product management responsibilities, focusing on user needs finding, product definition, roadmap development, global launch planning and sustaining product management. Responsibilities include market research, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration with cross-functional teams like Engineering and Product Design. Also coordinating with Marketing and Sales to develop product strategies, including pricing and go-to-market plans, ensuring successful product launches. 

Essential Job Duties

Downstream Product Management

  • Own in-country product performance — monitor adoption, utilization, and customer experience across clinical, operational, and commercial dimensions to identify improvement opportunities.
  • Translate field insights into action — convert voice-of-customer feedback, post-market data, and field observations into clear product requirements, prioritization recommendations, and roadmap inputs.
  • Lead SIOP contributions — drive Product Management's role in Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning, including forecasting, SKU planning, allocation decisions, and launch ramp support.
  • Drive product quality and supply continuity — proactively identify, prioritize, and resolve quality and supply issues in partnership with engineering and commercial teams throughout the product lifecycle.
  • Enable commercial teams — transfer product knowledge to training, marketing, and sales organizations; serve as the subject matter expert for product troubleshooting and escalations that cannot be resolved in-region.

Business Analysis

  • Analyze multi-dimensional data — synthesize market, customer, competitive, financial, and operational data to inform product decisions and strategic business recommendations.
  • Define success metrics and KPIs — develop performance indicators that tie product outcomes to user needs, business objectives, and key value propositions.
  • Support financial planning — partner with Finance on forecasting, lifecycle planning, and business case development, including competitive assessments to drive data-informed decision-making.
  • Integrate research insights — combine qualitative and quantitative research (user behavior, product usage, performance metrics) into clear product positioning and value propositions.

Product Rollout and Launch

  • Identify unmet needs and define solutions — articulate customer gaps and propose feature enhancements or next-generation solutions aligned with portfolio strategy, evaluating options based on business requirements and potential impact.
  • Collaborate on launch strategy — Create product claims, value propositions, pricing inputs, and internal product knowledge transfer for commercial teams. Work with global and regional marketing teams on go-to-market strategies that support successful product introduction.
  • Lead cross-functional execution — manage end-to-end rollout processes including product pricing, introduction timing, phase-in/phase-out plans, and internal and external training plans, primarily in the U.S. with global support as needed.
  • Measure post-launch performance — track and communicate adoption, customer feedback, and performance data to inform continuous improvement.
  • Establish a compelling narrative — connect vision and scope to motivate cross-functional teams and secure stakeholder alignment throughout the launch process.

Roadmap Development

  • Serve as the field-to-product conduit — provide actionable, real-time insights from field teams, clinician interviews, site observations, and KOL interactions to the product management team.
  • Conduct market and technology research — monitor clinical literature, emerging technologies, competitive landscape, and market dynamics (including Ion endoluminal platforms) to inform roadmap priorities.
  • Shape product strategy — define and drive data-driven product strategy and requirements based on customer needs, business viability, and technology feasibility, progressively burning down risks through development.
  • Build business justification — develop compelling business cases for new products and features by working with customers and internal stakeholders, including competitive assessments and forecasts.
  • Drive alignment and prioritization — evaluate tradeoffs, risks, and opportunities across the roadmap, building consensus among cross-functional stakeholders to maximize customer value.
  • Communicate product direction — champion the product strategy, manage the portfolio, and engage stakeholders effectively to achieve organizational alignment.

Qualifications

Qualifications

Experience and Education

  • Minimum Bachelor’s degree, preferably with a major in science, engineering or business.
  • Minimum 4 years in a medical device role.
  • Minimum 6 years cumulative professional experience in product management, marketing, engineering, business development, or equivalent role.

Communication and Collaboration

  • Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams.
  • Excellent teamwork skills with a proven ability to collaborate across multiple disciplines, including engineering, design, marketing, sales, and customers, to ensure product success.

Technical and Analytical Skills

  • Exhibit a strong sense of ownership, with the ability to thoroughly explore user needs and navigate technical design constraints.
  • A data-first mindset and strong quantitative skills to analyze open-ended problems, leveraging data to steer cross- functional teams toward effective decision-making.
  • Preferably have experience in the operating room, providing practical insights into product usability and constraints.

Product and Market Insight

  • Passion for details, design, clinical value, and building a delightful user experience.
  • Experience with minimally invasive surgery preferred.

Leadership & Breadth

  • Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines efficiently.
  • Self-directed with awareness to proactively seek advice and develop professional skills, demonstrating a self-starter mentality.

Working Conditions

  • Ability to travel up to 25% of the time, including occasional international or weekend travel as required by the job.
  • Product management team members are expected to be in office Monday – Thursday.

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.

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 base compensation ranges are listed.

Base Compensation Range Region 1: $147.600 USD - $212.400 USD
Base Compensation Range Region 2: $125.500 USD - $180.500 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