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 Position
The Endoluminal instrument design group at Intuitive is a dynamic and multidisciplinary team
developing tools for the next-generation of minimally invasive surgical robotics.
We are seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer with a focus on injection molding technology to
conceptualize, develop, and verify new mechanical design concepts for the next generation of
minimally invasive robotic flexible instruments. You will leverage your creativity and engineering
analysis to the design of kinematics and user interfaces to ensure mechanical robustness from
concept through verification and scaled manufacturing. The successful candidate will have both
the technical depth to resolve complex mechanical, materials and manufacturing design issues
and the ability to work in an interdisciplinary team to troubleshoot to root cause higher level
system issues. This requires in-depth collaboration with cross-functional teams that will routinely leverage your technical and interpersonal skills as you develop a
shared understanding of the new product requirements.
Essential Job Duties
Mechanical Design
• Own mechanical assemblies for new instruments, focus on injection molding, from
concept through commercialization that meet demanding performance,
manufacturability, and reliability constraints using knowledge and experience to select
the optimal material and process (metal vs. plastic, molded vs. extruded vs. MIM vs.
formed, etc.).
• Understand and design to optimize interfaces with mechanic, electronic, optic, and seal
elements.
Rapid development and iteration of proof-of-concept and
high-fidelity prototypes of candidate architectures to satisfy
requirements.
• Complete detailed drawings and robust tolerance analysis
and update designs accordingly. Define engineering requirements and ensure candidate
designs are backed by robust data prior to design freeze.
• Perform detailed 2D/3D tolerance analysis, FEA/simulation, and statistical modeling to
ensure robust design margins.
• Troubleshoot component and prototype performance issues with speed, rigor, and
cross-functional collaboration.
• Develop test methods, fixtures, and measurement tools to evaluate the performance of
robotic catheters and sub-assemblies.
• Provide written protocols, reports, drawings, specifications, presentations, and perform
technical design reviews to solicit feedback on design activities on an ongoing basis.
Manufacturing, DFM/DFA, and Supplier Engagement
• Lead DFM/DFA discussions with cross-functional teams to understand key drivers of
product performance, durability, and ease of assembly.
• Partner with suppliers on development and troubleshooting efforts to supply reliable,
complex components and assemblies.
• Support transition to manufacturing, ramp-to-production, and lifecycle reliability
improvements.
• Investigate and determine root cause of emerging design or manufacturing defects.
Technical Leadership
• Utilize best-in-class mechanical design practices, precision engineering, tolerance-
driven design, and robust system integration.
• Interface with clinical and human factor engineering to inform designs and identify user
needs.
• Mentor and guide engineers on best practices in design and engineering with a
particular focus on designing for injection molding.
• Support intellectual property creation and technical documentation.
Qualifications
Required Skills and Experience
• 6+ years of mechanical design experience inclusive of plastic injection molding (PIM),
metal injection molding (MIM), and/or machining. Hands on plastic injection molding
experience is highly desirable, including but not limited to Scientific Injection Molding
(SIM) principles, plastic DFM, Silicone molding (LSR and/or compression molding).
• A passion for solving tough technical problems - strong mechanical intuition and
persistence to drill down to pinpoint root causes, solving problems using fundamental
principles.
• Self-driven to achieve individual and collaborative results in a high-energy, small,
focused team environment, to maintain a strong sense of shared responsibility and
shared reward, and to foster a positive and encouraging group culture.
• Proven expertise designing precision mechanisms and high-tolerance assemblies from
rapid prototyping to high volume manufacturing.
• Demonstrated ability to design precision mechanisms with complex tolerance stack-ups;
proficiency using CAD for complex assembly (SolidWorks strongly preferred).
• Experience with GD&T and other related ASME/ISO drafting standards and tolerance
stack analysis.
• Strong command of 2D/3D statistical tolerance analysis, system stack-up modeling, and
mechanical simulation tools.
• Experience with Finite Element Analysis, particularly using ANSYS.
• Mechanical design and analysis skills, including statics, dynamics, kinematics, and
strength of materials.
• Inclination towards hands-on engineering with the ability to work well in a team
environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including cross-functional presentation
and management-level technical communication.
• Excellent organizational skills; able to manage multiple fast-paced efforts simultaneously
while maintaining clarity of goals and priorities; strong documentation habits
• Flexible to changing priorities and able to balance and prioritize multiple and competing
demands based on organizational goals and needs.
Required Education and Training
Minimum Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or
similar technical field
Working Conditions
• In-Office
Preferred Skills and Experience
• Experience with designing products in a regulated industry – familiarity with the concepts
of design inputs, design outputs, traceability, and risk analysis.
• Experience with metals, plastics, fabrication methods outside of injection molding such
as castings, extrusions, sheet metal, bonding and adhesives.
• Experience in several of these areas: concept development, design analysis, hands-on
prototyping, hands-on fabrication, and performance and reliability testing.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and able to build clarity and consensus among cross-
functional stakeholders.
• Comfortable coding in Python, Matlab, C/C++, Labview, Arduino or similar tools.
• Experience with statistics and design of experiments.
• Firsthand machining experience and familiarity with test and metrology equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to think at a systems level, interface between multiple design
groups, and negotiate conflicting requirements.
• Knowledge of component manufacturing processes such as injection molding, extrusion,
machining, wire EDM, MIM, heat treatment, electropolishing, laser welding, etc
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.
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: $162,800 USD - $234,200 USD
Base Compensation Range Region 2: $138,400 USD - $199,100 USD
Shift: Day
Workplace Type: Set Schedule - This job will be onsite weekly, the percentage of onsite work will be defined by the leader.
