Our culture defines us


Our mission-driven, patient-focused culture is the DNA that makes us uniquely Intuitive. In fact, it’s a primary reason people come here for a job, and stay for their career. We all play a role in shaping our culture by holding each other and ourselves accountable to it each and every day.

Intuitive has been built by the efforts of great people from different walks of life. Our outstanding team, with diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and ideas, has helped pioneer—and continues to be a leader in—the market for minimally invasive, robotic-assisted surgery. Our surgical and endoluminal systems serve a diverse and global community of healthcare professionals and their patients.
Three Intuitive employees collaborating in a meeting
Intuitive's mission
We believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints.
Who we are
At Intuitive, we work together to advance minimally invasive care and strive to achieve meaningful progress daily with small teams of outstanding people. Innovation is essential to our success. We seek to learn from everyone, copy no one, and challenge the status quo. We approach our work with humility and our colleagues with kindness. Mutual respect, inclusive practices, and diversity of thought are necessary. We believe great work should be rewarded, and we believe in the shared, long-term ownership in Intuitive’s success. 
Two Intuitive manufacturing employees sharing ideas

"There are no passengers on our ship, only crew members."
Lonnie M. Smith
Chairperson of the Board of Directors, 1997–2020
CEO of Intuitive Surgical, 1997–2010
Intuitive manufacturing employee smiling

Character, Capacity, Energy, and Experience (CCEEs)
When you become a team member at Intuitive, you’ll hear the acronym CCEE. The CCEEs summarize key personality traits of who we seek to hire and who stays long term.
Learn about CCEEs and how we hire.

Individual and leadership expectations
On day one, you’ll be presented with our list of expectations for individual contributors and people leaders. These lists describe how we are expected to perform our work at Intuitive, are displayed on the walls of our meeting rooms, and are considered in performance reviews.
Intuitive clinical affairs employee smiling at corporate headquarters in Sunnyvale
Intuitive senior designer employee with daughter on Bring Your Kids to Work Day

Fun and family friendly
We like to provide our teams with lots of opportunities throughout the year to connect outside of work, celebrate cultural holidays, acknowledge each other’s achievements, and have fun with their families. Some of our favorites include our Annual Gala, Bring Your Kids to Work Day, the Annual Family Picnic, Holiday Party, and more.

Employee resource groups (ERGs)
Our voluntary employee resource groups are founded and led by team members to create community, and support professional development. ERGs host events to cultivate an inclusive culture, provide education and awareness, and support the recruitment and retention of diverse and talented people. 
Woman creating rangoli for a Indian Diwali festival of lights
Corporate sustainability
At Intuitive, corporate sustainability is our commitment to creating sustainable value for patients, physicians, hospitals, payers, employees, and shareholders.

Our mission guides and informs us to make a difference locally and globally in how we innovate, operate, and serve.
Learn More
Manufacturing engineer working on robotic arm prototype

Find your new career at Intuitive