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.
Were 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.
The Future Forward organization is Intuitive’s advanced concepts group. We explore emerging technologies, prototype next-generation solutions, and build software experiences that shape the future of robotic-assisted surgery.
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
The Physician – Corporate Strategy is a physician innovator embedded within Intuitive’s early-stage incubator. In this role, you will identify high-impact clinical needs, shape new technology opportunities, and translate clinical insight into actionable development pathways. Working closely with engineers and clinical partners, you will help define how new platforms are applied in real-world care and guide early-stage de-risking efforts that determine which ideas advance.
Essential Job Duties
Identify and validate unmet clinical needs through clinical immersion, research, and voice-of-customer engagement
Translate clinical insights into structured hypotheses, development plans, and experimental pathways
Partner with engineers to define clinical requirements, workflows, and performance goals for new technologies
Lead early-stage clinical de-risking efforts, including preclinical and early feasibility work
Design and evaluate novel procedures and workflows enabled by new platforms
Collaborate with cross-functional partners (regulatory, reimbursement, product, and strategy) to shape clinical indications and commercialization pathways
Engage with key opinion leaders and external partners to inform development and validate concepts
Qualifications
Experience and Qualifications
Demonstrated ability to identify and validate unmet clinical needs through observation, research, and clinical immersion
Ability to translate clinical insights into structured hypotheses, development plans, or experimental approaches
Takes ownership of problems and operates independently in ambiguous environments
Skilled in leading voice-of-customer interviews to inform and guide early-stage product development
Proven ability to foster cross-functional collaboration across engineering, clinical, regulatory, and business teams to drive project milestones
Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, early-stage environments with limited structure and evolving information
Strong communication skills, including verbal, written, and presentation abilities, with the ability to convey complex clinical concepts to diverse audiences
Familiarity with early-stage development processes, including clinical de-risking and feasibility studies preferred
Curiosity and interest in building new technologies or transforming clinical care delivery
Education and Training
MD or DO with training in a surgical or interventional specialt
6+ years of clinical training post-medical school
Candidates with fewer years of clinical training may be considered if they demonstrate additional experience in innovation, clinical research, or product development
Biodesign or equivalent needs-based innovation training preferred
Additional Information
Working Conditions:
Must be available to work full-time onsite in Sunnyvale, CA
Will require travel to clinical sites, customer locations, or conferences (up to 25%)
May involve standing or walking for extended periods during clinical observations or procedures
Must be able to lift up to 20 lbs occasionally (e.g., for transporting prototypes or equipment)
Ability to meet hospital credentialing and compliance requirements for clinical site access (e.g., vaccination)
We are an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer.
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.
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: $226,400 USD - $339,600 USD
Base Compensation Range Region 2: $192,400 USD - $288,700 USD
Shift: Day
Workplace Type: Onsite - This job is fully onsite.
